James Landay keynote speaker

Professor James Landay is one of the world's leading authorities on human-centered artificial intelligence, human-computer interaction, and the future of technology. He is the Denning Director of the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence (Stanford HAI) and the Anand Rajaraman and Venky Harinarayan Professor of Computer Science in Stanford University's School of Engineering.

For more than three decades, James has been at the forefront of designing technology around human needs. His pioneering work in human-computer interaction helped anticipate many technologies that are now part of everyday life. Early design tools developed through his research foreshadowed platforms such as Figma and Canva, while his work on ubiquitous computing and health technology anticipated today's wearable devices. His research has consistently explored a fundamental question: How can we make powerful technology genuinely work for people?

As a co-founder of Stanford HAI, James has helped establish one of the world's most influential centers for artificial intelligence research, education, and policy. In 2026, Stanford brought its AI and data science initiatives together under Stanford HAI, with James leading the combined institute as Denning Director. The institute brings together expertise spanning computer science, medicine, economics, law, humanities, and other disciplines to advance AI that improves the human condition.

James' perspective on AI goes beyond what machines are technically capable of doing. He argues that successful AI must be designed by considering people, organizations, and society from the beginning—not simply evaluating the consequences after technology has already been deployed. This human-centered approach makes his insights particularly valuable to organizations navigating generative AI, automation, digital transformation, and rapidly changing relationships between people and technology.

Before Stanford, James was a professor at Cornell Tech, the University of Washington, and UC Berkeley. He also served as Director of Intel Labs Seattle and was chief scientist and co-founder of NetRaker, which was acquired by Keynote Systems. He holds a PhD in Computer Science from Carnegie Mellon University and a BS in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science from UC Berkeley.

Recognized for his lasting contribution to technology and design, James is an ACM Fellow, a member of the ACM SIGCHI Academy, and recipient of the prestigious ACM SIGCHI Lifetime Research Award.

Bringing together deep technical expertise, decades of research, and a compelling vision for technology's role in society, James gives audiences a clear framework for understanding the AI revolution—and, crucially, how we can shape it around the people it is meant to serve.