MARTIN HILBERT

Professor at the University of California, Davis, where he studies the role of digital information and algorithms in complex social systems


  • His work is recognized in academia for the first study that assessed how much information there is in the world
  • Before entering academia, he held a diplomatic life-long appointment as Economic Affairs Officer of the United Nations Secretariat
  • He led the creation and successful execution of the Latin American and Caribbean Action Plan for the Information Society (eLAC)
  • He speak five languages, has traveled to over 70 countries, and worked in four continents

Martin Hilbert is Professor at the University of California, Davis, where he studies the role of digital information and algorithms in complex social systems. He holds doctorates in Economics and Social Sciences (2006) and in Communication (2012), is associated with Communication and Computer Science at UCD, and chairs the campus’s designated emphasis in Computational Social Science. His work is recognized in academia for the first study that assessed how much information there is in the world; in public policy for having designed the first digital action plan with the governments of Latin America and the Caribbean at the United Nations; and in the popular media for having alerted about the intervention of Cambridge Analytica in the campaign of Donald Trump a year before the scandal broke. Before he joined academia, he served as Economic Affairs Officer of the United Nations Secretariat for 15 years, where he created the Information Society Program for Latin America and the Caribbean. Prof. Hilbert provided technical assistance in the field of digital development to more than 20 countries and dozens of publicly traded companies as digital strategist. His work has been published in the most recognized academic journals, such as Science, Psychological Bulletin, Trends in Ecology and Evolution, and World Development, and regularly appears in popular magazines, including The Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, The Economist, NPR, BBC, Die Welt, among others.

Martin tailors each presentation to the needs of his audience and is not limited to the topics listed below. Please ask us about any subject that interests you:

  • Technology
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Innovation
  • Trends
  • Future of work
  • Evolution and ecology
  • Psychology and behavioral economics
  • Women and development

THE GOOD AND THE EVIL IN THE USE OF AI: WHO IS RESPONSIBLE?

Get ready for a fascinating and humorous journey into the world of artificial intelligence! This talk is not just a lesson in AI, it is an exciting adventure with hilarious personal anecdotes and surprising facts that will leave you amazed. From everyday conversations with ChatGPT to the revolutionary impact of AI on sectors like education, technology and healthcare, this presentation will make you laugh, think and wonder. Discover how AI is dancing its way to a bright future, why you should join this technological dance, and why you should care about where we are going on our current trajectory!

Navigating the world of AI is like being on an emotional rollercoaster: it's incredibly scary and mind-blowing, and it's vital to keep a sense of humor as we address ethical challenges and prepare for the surprises the future holds.