amy webb

• Emerging Tech Trend Report Every year, Webb provides a deep dive into the Future Today Institute’s annual research, covering dozens of industry sectors. She translates complex technological shifts—from AI to robotics—into actionable insights for business leaders.
• The Future of Artificial Intelligence Based on her extensive research into the "Big Nine" tech giants, Webb explores the geopolitical and social implications of AI. She focuses on how the concentration of power in AI development will reshape global economies and the fabric of daily life.
• The Genesis Machine: Synthetic Biology Webb examines the intersection of biology and technology, explaining how the ability to "program" life will revolutionize medicine, agriculture, and manufacturing. This topic focuses on the profound risks and rewards of the coming "bio-era."
• Strategic Foresight: Thinking Like a Futurist This session teaches leaders how to move beyond short-term "trend spotting" to build long-term resiliency. Webb introduces her methodology for identifying "signals" of change and using them to create robust corporate strategies.

speaker Bio: 

Amy Webb is an American quantitative futurist whose work sits at the intersection of technology, business, and society. She is the founder and CEO of the Future Today Institute (FTI), a leading foresight firm that serves a global client base including Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and non-profits. Unlike traditional "trend spotters" who rely on intuition, Webb is known for her rigorous, data-centric methodology. She emphasizes that the future is not something that happens to us, but rather something we actively build through the decisions we make today. Her work focuses on helping leaders recognize the early "signals" of change before they become mainstream disruptions.

Webb’s academic contributions are equally significant. She serves as a Professor of Strategic Foresight at New York University’s Stern School of Business, where she developed and teaches the MBA course on foresight. Her influence extends into the international policy sphere; she is a Visiting Fellow at Oxford University’s Säid Business School and has served as a Delegate for the United States-Japan Foundation. Her work often bridges the gap between technical innovation and practical application, ensuring that C-suite executives can translate technological shifts into sustainable growth and risk mitigation.

She is the author of several critically acclaimed and best-selling books. In "The Signals Are Talking: Why Today’s Fringe Is Tomorrow’s Mainstream," she outlines her framework for identifying the early indicators of disruption. In "The Big Nine: How the Tech Titans and Their Thinking Machines Could Warp Humanity," Webb provides a sobering analysis of the AI industry, split between the interests of Wall Street and the geopolitical ambitions of Beijing. Her more recent work, "The Genesis Machine," co-authored with Andrew Hessel, explores the transformative potential and ethical dilemmas of synthetic biology. These publications have solidified her status as a leading voice in technology ethics and long-term planning.

One of the most anticipated moments in the technology calendar is Webb’s annual release of the FTI Tech Trend Report at South by Southwest (SXSW). This report, which often spans hundreds of pages and covers hundreds of distinct trends, is widely regarded as a definitive guide for industry leaders. Through her research, she has accurately predicted the rise of various technologies, from the evolution of smart interfaces to the consolidation of the cloud computing market and the emergence of "Living Intelligence."

Before dedicating her career to foresight, Webb worked as a journalist covering technology and economics for the Wall Street Journal and Newsweek, based in Tokyo and Hong Kong. This background in investigative reporting informs her meticulous approach to evidence and facts. She holds a B.A. in political science, economics, and game theory from Indiana University and an M.S. from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism. Today, Webb remains a vital voice in global conversations regarding the ethics of emerging tech, ensuring that the human element is never lost in the pursuit of innovation. She is frequently consulted by the World Economic Forum and other global bodies to assess the systemic risks and opportunities presented by the next decade of technological advancement.

Summary: 2025 Tech Trend Report – "The Era of Living Intelligence"

The latest research from the Future Today Institute highlights a fundamental shift in the technological landscape, moving from isolated digital tools to integrated, adaptive systems. The 18th edition of the report focuses on the concept of "Living Intelligence"—the convergence of AI, advanced sensors, and biotechnology.

• Living Intelligence: The core theme explores how the fusion of AI with biological systems and pervasive sensing creates environments that can sense, learn, and adapt in real-time. This marks a transition from machines that process data to systems that interact with and modify the physical world.

• Large Action Models (LAMs): The report predicts a pivot from Large Language Models (LLMs) to Action Models. Instead of just generating text or images, AI is evolving into "Agentic AI" that can autonomously set goals, execute complex tasks, and interact with software and hardware without human intervention.

• The End of Rigid Robotics: Robotics is moving away from pre-programmed, repetitive motions toward adaptive systems. These "soft" and learning robots are capable of navigating dynamic, unpredictable environments in healthcare, agriculture, and logistics.

• Metamaterials & Atomic Engineering: Beyond software, the report emphasizes breakthroughs in engineered materials. These substances allow for "massless" energy systems and buildings that can regulate their own temperature, bridging the gap between digital intelligence and physical infrastructure.

• Unlikely Alliances & Geopolitics: As the cost of developing frontier AI models rises, the research identifies a trend toward massive consolidation and "unlikely alliances" between traditional competitors, alongside a growing push for sovereign technology stacks to ensure national security.

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