As a truly exceptional keynote speaker, stands out as a visionary leader whose presence would significantly elevate any event.
As the founder of Google X and a co-creator of Google’s self-driving car project (now Waymo), Sebastian has played a pivotal role in shaping the future of AI and mobility. His close working relationship with Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin during the early and most innovative phases of the company uniquely positions him to speak to the intersection of groundbreaking research, real-world impact, and entrepreneurial ambition.
Beyond Google, Sebastian also founded Udacity, which helped redefine online education globally, and Kitty Hawk, a pioneering flying car company. He is a true moonshot thinker whose projects have consistently pushed the boundaries of what’s possible in AI and beyond.
For an event aiming to showcase transformative ideas and the world’s most respected voices in tech, Sebastian Thrun is the ideal choice—not only for his accomplishments, but for the bold, forward-thinking mindset he brings to every stage.
In 2024–2025, Sebastian has been leading several high-impact initiatives:
- Hooglee – A new AI-powered video creation and social media platform backed by former Google CEO Eric Schmidt (his close friend). It’s poised to challenge TikTok by blending generative video tools with a content-sharing ecosystem, all while incorporating ethical safeguards like watermarks and AI detection.
- Moonshot Advocacy in India – At the Invest Karnataka 2025 summit, Thrun advocated for India’s leadership in moonshot innovations, emphasizing AI-powered aviation and low-infrastructure technologies that can reshape transportation and access.
- Stanford Research Projects – Continuing his role as an adjunct professor at Stanford, Thrun is involved in research projects focusing on:
- Home Automation: Enhancing household efficiency through robotics and machine learning.
- Skin Cancer Detection: Developing deep-learning vision systems for automated classification and tracking of skin conditions.
- Automated Email Reply: Creating AI systems for individualized email response predictions.
- Ultrasound and AI for Cancer Detection: Using AI for 3D reconstruction and tracking of internal growths to aid in early cancer detection.
- Continued Role in Online Education – As co-founder and chairman of Udacity, Thrun continues to shape the future of education through online nanodegrees and partnerships, including the globally impactful OMSCS program with Georgia Tech.
These initiatives reaffirm Sebastian’s reputation as a bold innovator who connects AI with real-world applications that benefit society at scale.