John C. Havens is the Executive Director of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethics of Autonomous and Intelligent Systems. With rapid developments in advanced AI technology, John plays an integral role in ensuring technologists prioritise ethical considerations when creating autonomous intelligent systems. The Global Initiative, backed by 700 volunteers, established a landmark ethical framework, which has been adopted by leading organisations, such as the OECD, UN, and IBM, as the basis for their AI principles. A highly influential figure in the tech world, John is highly sought-after for speaking engagements, talking on several topics, including IoT, social media, emerging media, AR, and AI.
Educated at Messiah University, John majored in history and theatre, graduating with a BA in History in 1991. For 15 years, he worked as a Principal Actor, appearing on Broadway, TV and Film and with notable brands, including Sony, AMEX and Mattel. In 2005, he wrote the first About.com Guide to Podcasting, identifying alternative sources of ROI on online media while social media was still in its infancy. John became Chief Connections Officer at Idea Champions in 2006, creating The Breakthrough Café. During the same year, he founded Podcast Vision and Voice, a media consulting firm, before becoming a Lead Organiser at PodCamp NYC.
In 2007, John joined Blog Talk Radio as Vice President of Business Development, providing counsel for leading clients, such as Ford, Walmart, PepsiCo, Harper Collins, The Pentagon and UPS. A distinguished expert in emerging digital technology, he became EVP of Social Media at Porter Novelli, working with prominent brands, including P&G and HP. In 2018, he became a Member of the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on Human Rights and Technology and Executive Director of The Council on Extended Intelligence. John also holds the role of Sustainability Practice Lead with the IEEE Standards Association.
A regular contributor to The Huffington Post, The Guardian and Mashable, John is the author of Heartificial Intelligence and Hacking Happiness. A thought leader in digital disruption, John has been featured on USA Today, Forbes, BBC News, Mashable, PR Week and Advertising Age. He now shares his industry-leading knowledge in speaking engagements, captivating audiences with the latest insights in AI, IoT, AR and emerging media.