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Technology & AI keynote speakers

Zack Kass

AI Futurist — Former Head of Go-to-Market, OpenAI

Speaking feeFee on requestConfirmed for your date on request
  • Keynote · Fireside chat · Virtual
  • English
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Headliner can arrange a booking with Zack Kass or their representative. This profile is compiled from public sources; availability and fees are confirmed on request. A listing here does not imply endorsement, affiliation, partnership, or exclusivity.

Signature keynotes

What your audience walks away with

  • Outcome

    The Next Renaissance

    His signature keynote and the basis of his bestselling book. The culmination of 16 years at the vanguard of AI: a bold, hopeful narrative for how artificial intelligence — like the original Renaissance before it — will expand human creativity, problem-solving, and potential rather than diminish it. Built around his "unmetered intelligence" thesis and where human value concentrates in an AI economy.

  • The Next Great Company

    A practical guide for executives building organizations and teams fit for the AI age. What the highest-performing companies will do differently — how to structure teams, deploy AI at scale, and compete when intelligence itself becomes cheap and abundant.

  • Societal Thresholds

    Why the real constraint on AI isn't technology — it's us. Kass explains how cultural, ethical, and institutional readiness, not technical limits, will define the actual pace of progress, and how leaders should plan for the gap between what's possible and what's adoptable.

  • AI Strategy, Simplified

    From the person who commercialized AI at OpenAI: a clear roadmap for leaders to rethink and deploy AI across their organization — cutting through the noise to what actually moves the business.

  • Leveraging AI for Good

    AI as augmentation, not replacement — how to use it to lift workplace productivity and employee satisfaction, and where human judgment, creativity, and connection become the differentiators.

  • At the Edge of Quantum

    A forward-looking, science-forward talk on how quantum computing is poised to reshape cryptography, security, drug discovery, and AI itself — for audiences that want to see further over the horizon.

The story

Who Zack actually is

Zack Kass has spent more than 16 years at the forefront of artificial intelligence. He was one of OpenAI's earliest employees and its Head of Go-to-Market (circa 2021–2023), where he built out the company's sales, solutions, and partnerships teams and helped commercialize the large language models now reshaping nearly every industry — including some of the first successful enterprise deployments of generative AI, with partners such as Morgan Stanley.

Before OpenAI, Zack led revenue and sales teams at AI companies LILT and Figure Eight. He holds a BA from the University of California, Berkeley, and is based in Santa Barbara, California.

Today, Zack is a global AI advisor to Fortune 1000 boardrooms and governments — including Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, Samsung, and Amgen — helping leaders navigate and deploy AI at scale across 100+ cities and 20 countries. He is an Executive-in-Residence at the University of Virginia's McIntire School of Commerce, where he collaborates on AI's socio-economic impact and the future of work, and he chairs Ruder Finn's AI Advisory Council.

In January 2026, Zack published The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential (Wiley) — a USA Today, Los Angeles Times, and Publishers Weekly bestseller that debuted at #10 on the USA Today list and #6 on the LA Times nonfiction list. His optimistic, grounded perspective has been featured in Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, Business Insider, CNBC, Bloomberg, and the South China Morning Post, and he writes the widely read "Unmetered Intelligence" newsletter.

(Note: Zack is a former OpenAI executive and does not speak for or represent OpenAI.)

The receipts

Books & publications

  • The Next Renaissance: AI and the Expansion of Human Potential

    2026

    Zack's USA Today, LA Times, and Publishers Weekly bestseller. Drawing on his firsthand experience at OpenAI and 16 years in AI, he argues that — just as the original Renaissance transformed art, science, and society — an AI-driven Renaissance will redefine how we create, innovate, and flourish, with AI as a collaborative partner that expands what humans are capable of. It's the book form of his flagship keynote, and a strong primer for any audience preparing to host him.

Gravity

Career highlights & recognition

  • Milestone

    Former Head of Go-to-Market at OpenAI

    one of the company's earliest employees; built sales, solutions & partnerships and commercialized its AI/LLMs

  • Credential

    Global AI advisor

    to Fortune 1000 boardrooms & governments — Coca-Cola, Morgan Stanley, Samsung, Amgen (and more)

  • Recognition2026

    USA Today, LA Times & Publishers Weekly bestselling author

    The Next Renaissance (Wiley, Jan 2026); #10 USA Today / #6 LA Times

  • Credential

    Executive-in-Residence, University of Virginia (McIntire School of Commerce)

  • Credential

    Chair, Ruder Finn AI Advisory Council

  • Milestone

    16+ years

    at the forefront of AI; prior leadership at LILT and Figure Eight

  • Credential

    BA, University of California, Berkeley

  • Milestone

    Featured in Fortune, Newsweek, Entrepreneur, AdAge, Business Insider, CNBC, Bloomberg, South China Morning Post, McKinsey Author Talks

  • Milestone2026

    "Unmetered Intelligence"

    newsletter; featured at CES 2026 on natural-language operating systems

Booking with confidence

What to expect when you book Zack

  • 01

    Compiled from public sources

    This profile is built from public, verifiable material and stamped with the date it was last reviewed. Nothing here is a claim we cannot trace to a source.

  • 02

    Availability and fees, confirmed

    Tell us your date and brief, and we confirm Zack's availability and current fee on request. We never publish a fabricated figure or imply an exclusivity we do not hold.

  • 03

    Managed end to end

    From first inquiry to the day itself, Headliner handles briefing, contracting, and logistics, so your team can focus on the event.

Answers

Booking questions, answered

What is Zack Kass's speaking fee?

Zack's fee is provided on request. It varies by date, location, format, and whether the engagement is in person or virtual. Share your brief and we'll come back with current pricing and availability.

Is Zack Kass available for my event date?

Availability changes with Zack's schedule and the season. Tell us your date and we'll confirm whether Zack is open, and hold the slot while you decide.

How do I book Zack Kass for my event?

Zack Kass is booked through Headliner. Tell us your event date, audience, and goals, and we'll confirm availability and the next steps — typically within four business hours.

How much does Zack Kass charge to speak?

Zack's fee depends on date, location, format, and whether the session is in person or virtual. It is provided on request, so share your brief and we'll confirm a precise figure and availability.

Can I hire Zack Kass for a corporate event?

Yes. Zack is represented for speaking engagements through Headliner on a non-exclusive basis and regularly takes corporate keynotes, conferences, and leadership events. Share your brief to check availability.

Can I book Zack Kass for a virtual keynote?

Yes. Zack presents virtual keynotes as well as in-person sessions. Virtual fees are typically quoted below a live keynote, so tell us your format for a precise quote.

What formats does Zack offer?

Zack is available for Keynote, Fireside chat and Virtual engagements. We'll match the format to your audience and run-of-show.

What does Zack speak about?

Zack's keynote themes include Artificial Intelligence and Future of Work. Each talk is tailored to your audience and outcomes.

What languages does Zack present in?

Zack presents in English.

Where does Zack travel from?

Zack is based in Santa Barbara, CA and travels internationally for engagements; virtual sessions are also available.

Profile updated . Compiled from public sources — confirm current fees and availability with Headliner.

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