Joerg Wuttke
Expert on Europe–China Trade and Investment; Partner, DGA–Albright Stonebridge Group
Peter Leyden
Futurist & Tech Expert | Former Managing Editor, WIRED | Author, The Great Progression | Founder, Reinvent Futures
Few voices have tracked the arc of technological change as consistently as Peter Leyden — from the dawn of the digital era at WIRED to the AI revolution reshaping the world today. Former managing editor of WIRED, bestselling author, and founder of Reinvent Futures, he helps senior leaders understand what is coming next and what it means for their organizations.
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Peter Leyden biography
Peter Leyden is one of America’s most compelling voices on the implications of transformative technology — a futurist, author, and strategic advisor who has spent three decades tracking how technological revolutions reshape economies, organizations, and society. He came to San Francisco in the early 1990s to help launch WIRED magazine alongside its founders, working his way to Managing Editor during the publication’s defining years as the cultural chronicle of the digital revolution. That front-row seat at the birth of the internet economy shaped an intellectual career unlike any other in the futurist space.
Futurist speaker Peter Leyden made his name as a thinker with The Long Boom (1999), a widely read book that forecast how the emerging digital economy would transform the world over the following 25 years — a prediction that proved remarkably prescient. The book was published in multiple languages and reached audiences far beyond the usual technology circles. Leyden develops this thesis through a popular Substack series with over 17,000 subscribers and a recurring event series, The AI Age Begins, which he has hosted in San Francisco as a gathering point for serious thinkers at the center of the AI revolution.
The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050
Leyden’s current and most ambitious project is The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 — a book contracted with HarperCollins, which also acquired all foreign language rights. The project argues that we are living through a rare inflection point in history: old systems built for the 20th century are giving way to new ones powered by artificial intelligence, clean energy, and bioengineering. Rather than treating these disruptions as threats, Leyden maps them as the foundation for an extraordinary leap forward. He develops this thesis through a popular Substack series and a recurring event series, The AI Age Begins, which he has hosted in San Francisco as a gathering point for serious thinkers at the center of the AI revolution.
As a speaker, Peter Leyden brings rare perspective earned across journalism, entrepreneurship, and decades of tech forecasting. His keynotes are known for dramatic visual storytelling — compelling images, original infographics, and a fast-paced delivery that leaves audiences energized and equipped with a genuinely new frame for understanding the forces shaping the next decade. Senior leaders, boards, and corporate audiences value his ability to answer four practical questions: What is really happening today? What is probably coming in the next decade? What is possible to achieve in the next 25 years? And what should we do now?
Peter Leyden Speaking Videos
Peter Leyden - The Paradigm Shifts of the 2020s & The Transformation Ahead
Peter Leyden - California is the Future - of American Politics
Peter Leyden Keynote Topics
We are living through one of history's rare inflection points — a moment when old systems give way and new ones emerge at scale. In this keynote, Peter Leyden reframes the turbulence of our era as the necessary friction of a profound transition, and maps how AI, clean energy, and bioengineering are converging to create an extraordinary opportunity for progress. Audiences leave with a new grand narrative that replaces anxiety with agency — and a concrete framework for thinking about the decade ahead.
Drawing on three decades tracking technological change from WIRED's founding to the AI age, Leyden walks audiences through four questions every senior leader should be asking: What is really happening now? What is probably coming in the next ten years? What is possible to achieve over the next 25? And what should we do today? This talk is less forecast than operating system — a durable mental model for reading signals, avoiding complacency, and making decisions under uncertainty.
AI is not a single technology arriving on a single timeline — it is a general-purpose platform reshaping every sector simultaneously, at different speeds and in different ways. Leyden draws on his experience hosting San Francisco's leading AI event series, The AI Age Begins, and his network of innovators at the frontier to give senior audiences a grounded, non-hyped view of where AI is creating genuine transformation, where the risks are real, and how smart organizations are adapting now.
Few keynote speakers can draw a straight line from the birth of the internet to today's AI revolution based on personal experience. Leyden was there at WIRED when the digital economy was still a theory, and he has spent 30 years refining the craft of strategic foresight. This talk examines the patterns that make technological transitions legible in advance, the forecasting failures that should humble even the most confident futurists, and the habits of mind that separate organizations that adapt from those that don't.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Peter Leyden
Why Peter Leyden?
Booking Peter Leyden for your event is a strategic choice for any organization navigating the uncertainties of the AI age. As one of America's most credentialed technology futurists — former Managing Editor of WIRED, author of the landmark book The Long Boom, and creator of the upcoming HarperCollins title The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 — Leyden brings a three-decade track record of getting big technological shifts right. He doesn't traffic in vague predictions or tech hype; his keynotes build clear, evidence-based frameworks that senior audiences can actually use. His fast-paced, visually rich presentations leave attendees with a new mental model for reading the next decade — not just inspired, but equipped. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check his availability and discuss booking options.
What is The Long Boom and why does it matter?
The Long Boom (1999), co-authored by Peter Leyden and Peter Schwartz, was a sweeping forecast arguing that the rise of the digital economy would drive a sustained period of global prosperity and transformation over the following 25 years. Published as the internet revolution was just gaining momentum, the book became an influential touchstone in Silicon Valley and beyond, shaping how a generation of entrepreneurs and investors thought about the future. Its core argument — that technology-driven transformation, if navigated well, produces broadly shared progress rather than just disruption — remains central to Leyden's thinking today.
What is The Great Progression?
The Great Progression: 2025 to 2050 is Peter Leyden's forthcoming book with HarperCollins (scheduled for release in January 2027) that lays out a new grand narrative for the AI age. It argues that the upheaval and disorientation many people feel today reflects a historic transition between eras — the dying of 20th-century systems and the emergence of new ones built on AI, clean energy, and bioengineering. Rather than a story of decline, Leyden frames this as an extraordinary opportunity to drive progress, reinvent institutions, and build a significantly better world over the next quarter century. The project also encompasses a Substack essay series and a physical event series in San Francisco.
What topics does futurist speaker Peter Leyden cover in his keynotes?
Peter Leyden's keynotes center on four interconnected themes: the AI revolution and what it actually means for business strategy; the broader wave of transformative technologies including clean energy and bioengineering; the geopolitical and economic shifts these technologies are accelerating; and strategic foresight — how organizations can position themselves for what is coming rather than just reacting. His talks are designed for senior executive and board-level audiences who need a credible, clear-eyed view of the decade ahead. For event inquiries and topic customization, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau.
How to book Peter Leyden as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Peter Leyden as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Peter Leyden's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Peter Leyden or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Peter Leyden speaking fee?
Peter Leyden speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Peter Leyden to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Peter Leyden.
How can I contact Peter Leyden?
We only work with Peter Leyden on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Peter Leyden and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Peter Leyden speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Peter Leyden for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Peter Leyden for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Peter Leyden is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Peter Leyden for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
