Ashkan Fardost
Global Speaker
Nominated for Swedish Speaker of The Year 2017.
I work with Speakersnet, a speakers’ bureau that represents a limited number of influential speakers with a solid international reputation. For booking requests and other inquiries, please send an email to info@speakersnet.se or call +46 8 545 688 66.
MY MISSION
To inspire change and help you leverage digitalization and the internet revolution.
SEE MY WORK
Talks, Television & Press
2019 Edition
At the beginning of each year I publish a full talk that summarizes last year’s topics and content. This is a way for me to close the past year, as I launch new material and new talks for the new year.
Interviews
I had the honor to be a guest on A Quest for Success — an in depth conversation led by Swedish entrepreneur and investor Isabella Löwengrip. We discussed everything from artificial intelligence to the future of education.
TEDx Talks
My contribution to TEDxÖstersund is one of the most watched internet of things talks. At TEDxBerlin I predict how genetic medicine will replace lifelong symptomatic treatments. At TEDxSSE I speak about about the digital, global, tribal society.
National Television
I’m a regular guest on Swedish national television, where I discuss the effects of technology on society, industries and human behavior.
BLUE PILL OR RED PILL? ------------------------------------ Good news. The world is not going to hell. We’re doing better than ever before. And the future is brighter than ever. That’s what the evidence tells us.Simply put, the good old days were NOT better. Yet, people believe that the world is breaking apart. I think there are two reasons:1) Media mostly reports the stuff that’s gone wrong. Disaster, war, death, corruption. I understand that journalists need to keep power in check. But this kind of reporting doesn’t give you a correct view of the world.2) If we choose to believe the world is going to hell, it’s easier to be passive. “Why should I make an effort to do anything if armageddon is around the corner?” This line of thinking liberates us from the burden of making an effort to positively impact the world. Because it’s not worth it anyway, right?This is the moment where I show you the box with a red and blue pill.You take the blue pill — the story ends. You’ll remain passive, keep pretending that we’re doomed. You’ll be free from the burden. The burden of knowing that you can positively impact the world with your efforts.You take the red pill — you will start to see that the world is in better shape than ever and the future is even brighter. You’ll realize that with the internet, you’re only a few clicks away from collaborating with almost any other human being on the planet. You’ll realize that the internet is a godly machine that welds all human brains together to form a collective super intelligence. You’ll realize that the phrase “I don’t know how” is a thing of the past, because the internet has information about everything. You can learn to do anything you’ve ever imagined. You’ll realize that with all of these powers at your disposal, you too can join and help accelerate the progress of mankind. Because you’re a fucking superhero.Take the red pill. How’s that for a New Year’s resolution?
Posted by Ashkan Fardost on Friday, December 30, 2016
News & Radio
Discussing the effects of robots and AI taking human jobs with Sweden Secretary of Commerce Mikael Damberg.
The robot & AI takeover of middle class jobs on Swedish radio.
The current state and future of social media on Swedish radio.
ABOUT ASHKAN
I study how technology and digitalization shape industries, society and human behavior.
I’m a former artist and music producer. By using my love for computers, digital software, as well as the internet and Napster as a mass medium and distribution platform, I was signed to Armada Music in 2003 at 17 years of age.
Being a science nerd, I moved on from music to science and received my PhD degree in organic chemistry from Uppsala University in 2015.
But my love for computers, music, and the internet eventually drew me into the Stockholm tech scene, namely Soundtrap.
Today I’m a Hyper Island Collaborator and invest in Swedish tech startups through my firm Oddball Ventures. I’m also writing my debut book on the meaning of being human in the internet era, which is due on Volante in 2020.
CONTACT
Make a booking request or get in touch.
I work with Speakersnet, a speakers’ bureau that represents a limited number of influential speakers with a solid international reputation. Please send an email to info@speakersnet.se or call +46 8 545 688 66 to make a booking request.