Scott Hamilton
Olympic Gold Medalist | World Champion Figure Skater | Cancer and Brain Tumor Survivor | Best-Selling Author
Philip Rosedale
CTO of Second Life | Founder of Linden Lab | Co-Founder of High Fidelity | Metaverse Pioneer
Founder of Second Life — the world's first metaverse — speaker Philip Rosedale returned full-time as CTO to lead the platform's next chapter. A pioneering voice on virtual worlds, spatial audio, and machine consciousness, he gives senior audiences an unfiltered view of what makes shared digital spaces actually work. Organizations book Philip Rosedale to understand how the internet, identity, and human connection are being rebuilt in 3D.
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Philip Rosedale biography
Metaverse speaker Philip Rosedale is the founder of Second Life — widely recognized as the world’s first metaverse — and one of the most influential voices on virtual worlds, immersive technology, and the future of human connection online. As Chief Technology Officer of Linden Lab, the company behind Second Life, he is once again leading the platform that introduced millions of people to a persistent virtual civilization.
Rosedale began his career as a young engineer fascinated with connecting people through technology. After creating FreeVue, an early Internet video conferencing product later acquired by RealNetworks, he served as CTO and Vice President of the company before founding Linden Lab in 1999. The launch of Second Life redefined what an open-ended virtual world could be, giving rise to entire economies, communities, and creative industries inside a 3D space. The platform anticipated almost every conversation now taking place about the metaverse.
From Second Life to Spatial Audio and Machine Consciousness
After Linden Lab, Rosedale co-founded High Fidelity, where his team developed spatial audio technology designed to make natural group conversations possible across distributed teams and virtual gatherings. He returned to Second Life full-time as CTO to expand the platform’s next chapter, including AI-driven captions, real-time translation, and richer accessibility. He also founded the California Institute for Machine Consciousness, a research initiative exploring how machines may experience awareness, and he champions FairShare, a group-based digital currency designed to reduce wealth inequality.
His work and views have been profiled by TechCrunch, Axios, and other major technology publications, and he is a regular voice in global conversations about virtual reality, identity, and the social fabric of online worlds.
As a speaker, Philip Rosedale offers leaders a rare insider’s view of what truly works — and what fails — when humanity gathers in shared digital spaces. His keynotes blend hard-won engineering insight with a philosophical curiosity about presence, community, and the long arc of the internet, making him an essential voice for organizations preparing for the next era of work, entertainment, and connection.
Philip Rosedale Speaking Videos
Philip Rosedale - VR and Virtual Worlds
Philip Rosedale: The Return to Second Life & the Future of the Metaverse/VR
Philip Rosedale Keynote Topics
As the founder who created Second Life and recently returned as CTO, Philip Rosedale offers leaders an unfiltered view of what actually happens when millions of people inhabit a shared virtual world. He covers what worked, what broke, and what the rest of the tech industry has yet to learn about persistent online communities, in-world economies, and digital identity. Audiences leave with a clear-eyed understanding of where the metaverse is headed and which strategic bets are worth making.
Rosedale traces the trajectory of VR from early experimental headsets to today's spatial computing era, then sets out what comes next. He explores the design and engineering challenges of presence — making people feel "really there" with each other — and the spatial audio breakthroughs that make natural conversation possible at scale. The talk maps practical applications across enterprise training, design collaboration, healthcare, education, and entertainment.
Drawing on three decades of building virtual worlds, Rosedale examines how the metaverse will reshape society, culture, and commerce. He addresses the hardest questions — moderation, identity, governance, and economic design — and shows why the human elements determine whether a virtual platform thrives or fails. Senior leaders get a framework for thinking about long-term strategy in an environment where physical and digital experiences increasingly converge.
As founder of the California Institute for Machine Consciousness, Rosedale explores one of the most provocative questions in technology: what happens when machines may experience something like awareness? He shares the latest research, the philosophical implications, and the practical considerations leaders must weigh as advanced AI is deployed in customer-facing, creative, and decision-making roles. The talk equips executives with the language and concepts to govern AI responsibly.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Philip Rosedale
Why Philip Rosedale?
Philip Rosedale is the founder of Second Life, the platform widely recognized as the world's first metaverse, and his return as Chief Technology Officer makes him the only keynote speaker actively leading a virtual world at this scale. He combines deep engineering authority with a philosophical perspective on identity, community, and human connection online — a rare combination that resonates with both technical and executive audiences. On stage, he is direct, unscripted, and intellectually generous, giving leaders a clearer map of where immersive technology is genuinely headed. Book Philip Rosedale through Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring an unmatched insider's view of the metaverse, virtual reality, and the future of digital society to your next event.
What is Philip Rosedale known for?
Philip Rosedale is best known as the founder of Linden Lab and the creator of Second Life, the persistent virtual world launched in 2003 that pioneered the concept of the metaverse. He later co-founded High Fidelity, a company focused on spatial audio for distributed teams and virtual environments, and he founded the California Institute for Machine Consciousness, a research initiative on machine awareness. In 2024 he returned to Linden Lab as full-time Chief Technology Officer.
What does Philip Rosedale think about the metaverse today?
Rosedale's view is grounded by two decades of operating one. He has been publicly skeptical of corporate metaverse hype, arguing that healthy virtual worlds require strong moderation, low-friction social interaction, and genuine creative ownership for users. He believes spatial audio, AI-assisted accessibility, and open economies are the levers that will move the metaverse from novelty to mainstream — not headsets alone.
What are the most popular keynote topics for Philip Rosedale?
His most-requested talks cover the future of the metaverse and virtual reality, the lessons learned from building Second Life, the role of spatial audio in remote collaboration, and the implications of machine consciousness for AI strategy. He tailors each talk to the audience, whether the focus is enterprise transformation, product design, or long-horizon strategy. To explore which topic best fits your event, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to bring Philip Rosedale to your stage.
How to book Philip Rosedale as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Philip Rosedale as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Philip Rosedale'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 Philip Rosedale or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Philip Rosedale speaking fee?
Philip Rosedale 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 Philip Rosedale 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 Philip Rosedale.
How can I contact Philip Rosedale?
We only work with Philip Rosedale on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Philip Rosedale and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Philip Rosedale 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 Philip Rosedale for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Philip Rosedale for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Philip Rosedale is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Philip Rosedale for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
