David Kushner

David Kushner is one of the most sought-after speakers and moderators in emerging technology and artificial intelligence—trusted to lead bold, incisive conversations with the world’s top experts at global conferences. A Princeton professor of journalism and award-winning author and podcaster, Kushner has spent over two decades chronicling the rise of digital culture, with work published in Wired, The New Yorker, and Vanity Fair. His reporting doesn’t just follow trends—it defines them. He is the author of more than a dozen books and graphic novels, including the cult classic Masters of Doom, which Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian called “the greatest business book ever written,” crediting it with inspiring him to start Reddit. It also helped inspire the creation of Oculus VR and is listed among Elon Musk’s favorite reads. His Rolling Stone articles inspired two major films: Zola, which defined the era of the Twitter heroine, and Silk Road, which chronicled the maker of the world’s largest online drug marketplace.

But what sets Kushner apart on stage is not just his credentials—it’s his ability to bring clarity, context, and storytelling brilliance to the most complex issues of our time: AI ethics, surveillance capitalism, brain-computer interfaces, and digital identity, to name a few. He’s known for his calm authority, sharp curiosity, and cultural fluency—helping panelists shine while anchoring conversations in real-world stakes. Organizers turn to Kushner not for flash or self-promotion, but for substance: a journalist who listens, a professor who elevates, and a storyteller who transforms complexity into meaningful, lasting dialogue.