Sean Gourley

Sean Gourley

Keynote Speaker: Physicist; Founder & Former CEO of Primer

Sean Gourley Biography

Sean Gourley is founder and former CEO of Primer and previously held the position of CTO at Quid, an augmented-intelligence company he co-founded. Before his time at Quid, he worked on self-repairing nano-circuits at NASA Ames.

He holds a PhD in physics from Oxford, acquired as a Rhodes Scholar, where his research focused on complex systems and the mathematical patterns underlying modern warfare. This research garnered significant recognition and was published on the cover of "Nature." Beyond academia, he has extensive experience as a political advisor, having briefed USCENTCOM at the Pentagon, addressed the United Nations in Vienna, and even ran for national elected office in New Zealand. He has also contributed to the field of nanotechnology as a co-founder of New Zealand's first nanotech company.

Gourley’s insights into the intersection of data science and policy decision-making have led him to deliver presentations such as "Big Data and the Rise of Augmented Intelligence" at TEDxAuckland and "Augmenting Humans to Make Better Policy Decisions." He also discusses the effects of disruptive technology across various sectors in his presentation "The New Corporate Intelligence." He remains active in several advisory roles, sits on the Knight Commission, serves on the Board of Directors at Anadarko (NYSE:APC), and is a TED Fellow, continuously exploring the synergy between human cognition and machine intelligence to enhance societal and corporate decision-making processes.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Sean Gourley and other top speakers and celebrities.

Sean Gourley Speaking Topics

The New Corporate Intelligence

Disruptive technology shapes the world, defining political, military, financial, and commercial opportunities and threats. Whether originating in academic research, in National Labs, or in privately held or public companies, these technologies can emerge with explosive impact, creating and destroying value. Yet there are few tools to track these innovationsat a global scale and at a pace that keeps up with the rate of change.

What if corporate strategists could literally draw a map to find growth opportunities? A technique called semantic clustering analysis makes this possible. When applied to technology entities worldwide, this analysis can reveal not only which innovation areas are thick with competition, but also where in the market there are opportunities, or white spaces, ripe for innovation. The result is a data-driven visual tool that can be used to drive corporate innovation strategy.

Augmenting Humans to Make Better Policy Decisions

What's smarter? A person, or a computer? Today, at least, the answer is both. Computers can't simply print out the answers to complex problems. Plenty of problems are opaque to raw computing power. From corporate strategy to geopolitics, a purely algorithmic or data-driven approach wont work. In this talk, Sean Gourley will look at ways to combine humans and machines to make better decisions. Well look at some specific examples, such as global space policy, to show how a blended approach improves results and adds to the cognitive ability of decision-makers involved in big, complex, seemingly intractable questions.

Sean Gourley Videos

The World of Artificial Intelligence | Sean Gourley | Hint Summit 2022
Primer CEO Sean Gourley on NLP, national defense, and ...
Sean Gourley: Mapping ideas worth spreading |TEDxTalks

How do I book Sean Gourley to speak at my event?

Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sean Gourley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sean Gourley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sean Gourley or any other speaker of your choice.

How much does it cost to book Sean Gourley for a speaking engagement?

Speaking fees for Sean Gourley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sean Gourley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

What topics does Sean Gourley speak about?

Sean Gourley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Military, Consulting, Inspirational, International Business, Innovation, Creativity, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Communication, Engineering, Science, World Affairs, Data, Physics, Culture, Leadership and Political.

Where does Sean Gourley travel from?

Sean Gourley generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.

Who is the agent for Sean Gourley?

AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Sean Gourley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sean Gourley for your next private or corporate function.

What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sean Gourley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.


Sean Gourley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics including Military, Consulting and Inspirational. The estimated speaking fee range to book Sean Gourley for virtual events is $20,000 - $30,000. Please contact us for live event fees. Sean Gourley generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Ayesha Khanna, Jim Carroll and Jana Eggers. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Sean Gourley for an upcoming event.

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 04/11/2024.

Sean Gourley Speaking Topics

  • The New Corporate Intelligence

    Disruptive technology shapes the world, defining political, military, financial, and commercial opportunities and threats. Whether originating in academic research, in National Labs, or in privately held or public companies, these technologies can emerge with explosive impact, creating and destroying value. Yet there are few tools to track these innovationsat a global scale and at a pace that keeps up with the rate of change.

    What if corporate strategists could literally draw a map to find growth opportunities? A technique called semantic clustering analysis makes this possible. When applied to technology entities worldwide, this analysis can reveal not only which innovation areas are thick with competition, but also where in the market there are opportunities, or white spaces, ripe for innovation. The result is a data-driven visual tool that can be used to drive corporate innovation strategy.

  • Augmenting Humans to Make Better Policy Decisions

    What's smarter? A person, or a computer? Today, at least, the answer is both. Computers can't simply print out the answers to complex problems. Plenty of problems are opaque to raw computing power. From corporate strategy to geopolitics, a purely algorithmic or data-driven approach wont work. In this talk, Sean Gourley will look at ways to combine humans and machines to make better decisions. Well look at some specific examples, such as global space policy, to show how a blended approach improves results and adds to the cognitive ability of decision-makers involved in big, complex, seemingly intractable questions.

Sean Gourley Videos

The World of Artificial Intelligence | Sean Gourley | Hint Summit 2022
Primer CEO Sean Gourley on NLP, national defense, and ...
Sean Gourley: Mapping ideas worth spreading |TEDxTalks

Sean Gourley News

  • How do I book Sean Gourley to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Sean Gourley for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Sean Gourley, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Sean Gourley or any other speaker of your choice.
  • How much does it cost to book Sean Gourley for a speaking engagement?

    Speaking fees for Sean Gourley, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fee for a virtual event is $20,000 - $30,000. For the most current speaking fee to hire Sean Gourley, click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.
  • What topics does Sean Gourley speak about?

    Sean Gourley is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics such as Military, Consulting, Inspirational, International Business, Innovation, Creativity, Artificial Intelligence, Technology, Communication, Engineering, Science, World Affairs, Data, Physics, Culture, Leadership and Political.
  • Where does Sean Gourley travel from?

    Sean Gourley generally travels from San Francisco, CA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances.
  • Who is the agent for Sean Gourley?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully secured keynote speakers like Sean Gourley for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Schedule button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Sean Gourley for your next private or corporate function.
  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Sean Gourley or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.
  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.
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