Adam Cheyer

Best known as a creator of Siri, Apple’s AI assistant, Adam Cheyer is a visionary pioneer in AI and computer human interfaces, an inventor holding 50 patents, and an engineering executive. He is one of the world’s most authoritative and engaging speakers on AI, the future of technology, and entrepreneurship/building successful startups, appearing before audiences from Cisco, Google, Dell, Visa, and other leading companies.

Cheyer’s more than 30-year career has been marked by both commercial success and his passion to use technology to make the world a better place. He has been a co-founder or founding member of five successful startups, four of which were acquired for their breakthrough AI technology. These include Siri, (sold to Apple where, working alongside Steve Jobs, he led server-side engineering and AI for the Siri assistant), Viv Labs (sold to Samsung, where as Vice President of R&D, Cheyer led product engineering and developer relations for Samsung’s voice assistant, Bixby), Sentient (massively distributed machine learning sold to Cognizant), and Gameplanner.AI (sold to Airbnb as their first acquisition as a public company). He also co-founded Change.org, the world’s largest petition platform, empowering more than 500 million people in 197 countries to drive change in their communities.

As Vice President of AI Experience at Airbnb, Cheyer worked to use generative AI to radically transform the platform into an intuitive “travel concierge.” He is an advisor to several companies including Project Voice Capital Partners, Otter.ai, Riva Health, Evolv Technology, Disruptel (acquired by Samba TV), Brilliant Labs, AI Sprouts, and Spatial Labs. Previously, Cheyer was Vice President of Engineering at Verticalnet (enterprise software) and Dejima (mobile software). He also spent more than a decade at SRI International, where his most recent role was as Chief Architect of CALO/PAL, the US government’s largest-ever funded AI project.

Cheyer has authored more than 60 publications and served on numerous boards and committees. He holds 50 issued patents in the areas of artificial intelligence, human computer interfaces, distributed computing, machine learning, conversational assistants, collective assistants, and more.

In addition to his pioneering work in technology, Cheyer is an award-winning magician who sometimes incorporates magic and mentalism into his keynotes. He has performed in front of heads of state, stadium crowds, and some of the most recognized magicians in the world, including David Copperfield, David Blaine, and Shin Lim. Adam also appeared before millions on TV as a guest on "Penn & Teller Fool Us."

Cheyer graduated with the highest honors from Brandeis University and received the “Outstanding Masters Student” award from UCLA School of Engineering.