Dr. Kai-Fu Lee: Ventura Capitalist

Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is an AI expert, venture capitalist, and bestselling author who helps organizations understand the future impact of artificial intelligence and technology.

Quick Facts:

  • Highlights:
    • Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures
    • Former President of Google China and VP at Google
    • Former executive at Microsoft, Apple, and Silicon Graphics
    • Expert on artificial intelligence, innovation, and global technology trends
  • Formats: Keynote Speaker and Artificial Intelligence Strategist
  • Audiences: Technology leaders, corporate executives, investors, policymakers, and organizations seeking insights into artificial intelligence, innovation, and the future of global technology.
  • Outcomes:
    1. Understanding the global impact of artificial intelligence on business and society
    2. Strategic insights on innovation, technology leadership, and AI development
    3. Practical perspectives on the future of work and emerging technologies
Reading time: 2 min
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  • Travels from: Beijing, China
  • **Fee range: On Request

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Talent Short Bio

Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is a globally recognized artificial intelligence expert, venture capitalist, technology executive, and keynote speaker whose work has shaped the global AI landscape. He is the Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures and President of the firm’s Artificial Intelligence Institute, where he supports groundbreaking startups and advances research in emerging technologies.

Before becoming a leading venture investor, Dr. Lee built an extraordinary career in Silicon Valley and China. He served as President of Google China and Vice President of Engineering at Google, helping establish the company’s presence in the Asian market. Earlier in his career, he held leadership roles at Microsoft, Apple, and Silicon Graphics, contributing to advances in speech recognition and interactive computing.

Dr. Lee is also a prolific author and influential voice on the future of artificial intelligence. His bestselling book AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order explores the global race for AI innovation, while AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future examines how AI may reshape society over the coming decades.

Dr. Kai-Fu Lee is a a venture capitalist, technology executive, writer, and an artificial intelligence expert. The Chairman and CEO of Sinovation Ventures and President of Sinovation Venture’s Artificial Intelligence Institute, Dr. Lee was the Vice President of Google, President of Google China and previously held executive positions at Microsoft, SGI, and Apple.  In 2023, he founded a  new AI startup to build ChatGPT-like apps for China.

A prolific author, Kai-Fu Lee has published ten books to date: “Artificial Intelligence” 2017, “Seeing Life Through Death” 2015, “Weibo Changing Everything” 2011, “Making A World of Difference 2009″, “To Student With Love” 2007, “A Walk Into The Future”  2006 and “Be Your Personal Best” 2005. His book, “AI Superpowers: China, Silicon Valley, and the New World Order” 2018, has become a New Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Bestseller.  His most recent book is ‘AI 2041: Ten Visions for Our Future

Graduating from Columbia University summa cum laude, Dr. Kai-Fu Lee earned his Ph.D in computer science from Carnegie Mellon University in 1998, where he remained as faculty staff member until 1990. Joining Apple Computers as a principal research scientist, he led research and development on the projects responsible for the Apple Bandai Pippin, PlainTalk, Casper, and GalaTea speech systems for Mac Computer.

After two years in executive roles with Silicon Graphics, Dr. Kai-Fu Lee joined Microsoft in 1998 and moved to Beijing. Helping to establish the Microsoft Research division there, he returned to the United States in 2000 to assume the role of corporate vice president of interactive services division.   In 2005, he joined Google, becoming President of Google China and a Vice President of Engineering at Google. In this role, he successfully launched Google.cn and helped establish Google’s place in the Asian market.

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