Neil Redding: The Near Futurist
Near Futurist and emerging technology keynote speaker Neil Redding helps leaders harness AI, spatial computing and ecosystem thinking to create practical innovation and sustainable growth.
Quick Facts:
- Near Futurist, Innovation Architect, keynote speaker and computer scientist.
- More than 30 years of experience with emerging technologies and innovation.
- Specialist in AI, spatial computing and ecosystem-centered design.
- Creator of the Near Future Framework.
- Formats:
- Keynote Speaker | Near Futurist | Future of Business Speaker | AI Speaker
- Audiences:
- Executives, leadership teams, innovators, technology leaders, strategists and organisations navigating AI, spatial computing, digital transformation and the rapidly evolving relationship between technology, business and human experience.
- Outcomes:
- Understand how AI, spatial computing and emerging technologies are reshaping the environments in which organizations create value.
- Identify practical opportunities to translate future-facing technology into new experiences, business models and sustainable growth.
- Shift from passively predicting the future to actively co-creating it through ecosystem thinking, experimentation and intentional innovation.
- Travels from: New York, NY
- **US Fee range: $20,001 - $35,000
Talent Services
Keynote Topics:
Orchestrate or Obsolete: Leading the AI-Powered Near Future
The problem isn’t AI — it’s our leadership model. We’re still leading like humans are the only ones in the room… as the room quietly fills with AI agents. AI systems are no longer just tools. They’re becoming active participants across the business, and will soon co-author every meaningful decision.
This is already happening, and the leaders who learn to orchestrate these new dynamics will redefine how business works. The ones who don’t will be outpaced by competitors moving at agentic speed. In this keynote, Near Futurist Neil Redding shows how leadership must evolve in the Agentic Era — from command and control to the orchestration of human–AI dynamics.
Key Outcomes
- A clear mental model for leading human–AI teams and businesses
- Practical daily leadership rituals for working with AI as an active participant
- A roadmap to building organizations that adapt in real time
The Near Future of Business With AI Agents
The world is shifting at an exponential pace — AI is no longer just a tool but an active participant in the evolution of business. We are entering the Agentic Era, where businesses will automatically adapt in real time to changes in supply chains, markets, geopolitics, and technology itself.
In this transformative keynote, Near Futurist Neil Redding demonstrates how businesses can shift from static machines to living, self-adjusting ecosystems. AI agents will play an essential role — co-creating business realities, shaping strategy, automating decisions, and executing increasingly complex agendas.
Attendees will leave with a new, actionable paradigm: AI as an active participant in our teams, workflows, and businesses. The near future of business is not merely efficient but continuously evolving — leveraging AI to drive sustainable growth and a resilient, thriving business.
Key Outcomes
- Key mindsets and strategic clarity for leveraging the Agentic Era’s enormous opportunity
- Practical tools and techniques executives can put into action immediately to lead the AI transformation of their businesses
- A blueprint for sustainable, symbiotic business growth
Co-Creating the Near Future with AI & Spatial Computing
The convergence of AI and spatial computing enables us to conjure what we dream into our shared reality — and into our evolving business models. In this talk, Near Futurist Neil Redding showcases new tools for practical co-creation of the future, starting with the near and even the now.
Drawing on wide-ranging inspiration including quantum mechanics theories, neuroscience, spiritual traditions, psychedelic insights, lucid dreaming and even entrepreneurial creation-from-nothing, we will experience the thin veil separating what is from what we dream. Welcome to the Near Future.
Key Outcomes
- Business models are no longer bound by past constraints – Gain strategic clarity on how AI enables previously impossible ways of working, creating, and operating
- AI and spatial computing are reshaping reality – Understand how these technologies enable new modes of work and co-creation
- Near Futurism bridges possibility with practical impact – Leaders will learn a new model for leveraging continuously-emerging opportunities to drive immediate business value
Talent Short Bio
Neil Redding is a Near Futurist, keynote speaker, Innovation Architect and computer scientist with more than 30 years of experience exploring how emerging technologies can reshape business, society and human experience.
Rather than simply predicting what comes next, Neil helps organisations connect future possibilities with practical action. His work focuses on AI, spatial computing and ecosystem-centered design, showing leaders how physical, digital and natural environments can work together to create new business models, stronger customer relationships and sustainable growth.
Neil has delivered keynotes at SXSW, Dubai Future Forum and Building the Future, as well as corporate events for organisations including Meta and Microsoft. Through his boutique consultancy, Redding Futures, he has worked with brands including Visa, Nike, Apple and Verizon.
Previously, Neil pioneered Near Future teams at organisations including MediaCom, Gensler and Thoughtworks, helping them explore emerging technologies and translate new possibilities into business opportunities.
Central to his work is the Near Future Framework, an approach designed to turn emerging technology potential into practical business value.
Videos
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Fee Range Information
All talent fees exclude travel and accommodation where required.