The illuminated brain — Christopher Lafayette’s visual identity
Silicon Valley · Global Perspective

Christopher
Lafayette.

Emergent Technologist
Global Speaker
Humanitarian

Explore the work

About Christopher Lafayette

At the intersection of technology
and humanity.

Christopher Lafayette

I am an emergent technologist, global speaker, and humanitarian based in Silicon Valley and working around the world.

My work spans artificial intelligence, spatial medicine, HealthTech, immersive technologies, the metaverse, and human-machine collaboration. Innovation, trust, ethics, education, and applied sciences are connected parts of that work.

I founded GatherVerse to bring leaders, researchers, builders, and communities together around a shared purpose: humanizing technology through dialogue, knowledge sharing, and action. Through Lafayette Global Launchpad and its Frontier Lab, I build platforms from architecture through launch.

My ventures include Aug Lab, connecting biomedical sciences, AI, and immersive technologies; Hyper Policy, exploring governance and innovation ecosystems; and Just Verify, focused on verification, authenticity, and trust in AI environments.

My speaking record includes keynotes, fireside conversations, workshops, and roundtables with organizations and institutions around the world. Engagements range from Microsoft, Salesforce, and the Linux Foundation to Mayo Clinic, UCLA, Berkeley Haas, and UNCF, alongside a virtual expert-panel contribution to NIST’s immersive-technology workshop.

I believe in removing barriers to innovation and keeping human values central to technological progress. Through speaking, global convening, and my LinkedIn Learning course, I help people explore the practical possibilities and human consequences of emerging technology.

Explore the speaking subjects

Ideas for a changing world

Speaking Categories

Four connected fields. A humanity-first perspective.

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Artificial Intelligence

From today’s capabilities to the next frontier of intelligence. Christopher examines emerging models, agentic systems, infrastructure, and practical applications, helping leaders understand what’s relevant, what’s ready, and where the greatest opportunities lie.

Discuss a speaking engagement
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HealthTech

Spatial medicine, biomedical sciences, and emerging medical technologies. Exploring how immersive tools and AI can support human health.

Discuss a speaking engagement
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Spatial Intelligence

World models, immersive environments, and how machines understand the physical world. Connecting spatial computing with learning and human experience.

Discuss a speaking engagement
A branching emerald and chartreuse digital lattice, representing the growth of technology.04

The Current and Future State of Technology

Explore what’s advancing now and what comes next with Christopher Lafayette. From frontier breakthroughs to adoption at global scale, he connects rapidly evolving technologies with the decisions leaders face today: where to invest, what to build, and how to prepare for what’s ahead.

Discuss a speaking engagement

Companies, platforms & learning

GatherVerse

GatherVerse

Humanizing technology. Together.

A global platform for dialogue, knowledge sharing, and action. Summits connect leaders, researchers, builders, and communities around the human impact of technology.

Hyper Policy

Hyper Policy

Governance meets innovation.

Exploring AI governance, innovation ecosystems, and technology’s human impact.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning

What Is the Metaverse?

An introduction to the metaverse and its evolving possibilities, taught by Christopher Lafayette.

Just Verify

Just Verify

Trust in an AI world.

AI verification, authenticity, and trust infrastructure.

Aug Lab

Aug Lab

Science beyond boundaries.

Laboratory work connecting biomedical sciences, artificial intelligence, and immersive technologies.

About

Lafayette
Global Launchpad.

Frontier platforms.
From architecture to launch.

Explore the Frontier Lab

Lafayette Global Launchpad builds frontier platforms from concept to deployment. It operates as a builder and a lab, focused on platforms that hold up in real use and create practical benefit for people.

The work connects architecture, product design, engineering, and iteration across AI, XR, robotics, trust infrastructure, and emerging digital technologies.

ArchitectureEngineeringLaunch & iteration

Platforms are built within the Frontier Lab, with selective collaborations around human-centered outcomes.

Companies, Cities and Countries

Past Speaking Engagements

Keynotes, conversations, workshops, and 46 GatherVerse global summits across technology, education, industry, and community.

Selected engagements

Speaking highlights

Martha’sVineyardInnovation Leadership Retreat

2026

Martha’s Vineyard

Lecturer / presenter

View engagement

2024

The WICT Network — Midwest Tech It Out

Keynote and fireside conversation

View engagement

2022

The WICT Network — Rocky Mountain Tech It Out

Keynote and fireside conversation

View engagement

All engagements

Explore the full speaking archive.

Dated engagements, newest first

120 entries
September 15–17, 22–24 & 29–30, 2026

GatherVerse Women’s AI Summit 2026

Summit host

Women Leading AI, Across All Industries

Hosted an eight-day global summit on women’s leadership in AI across technology, education, healthcare, and other industries.

September 4, 2026

California Community Colleges Spatial AI, XR and Emerging Tech Community of Practice

Lecturer

The World Is Not Made of Words: World Models, Spatial Intelligence, and the Future of Learning

August 19, 2026

Martha's Vineyard Innovation Leadership Retreat

Lecturer / presenter

The Language of Emergent Technology

An exploration of emergent technology and the language civic leaders need to respond to the future.

Martha's Vineyard

June 23–24, 2026

GatherVerse XREvolve Summit 2026

Founder & summit host

XR and AI: Extending Humanity

Hosted discussions on the convergence of XR and AI, from spatial computing and immersive work to accessibility, ethics, and human connection.

Online · Global summit

May 26–28, 2026

GatherVerse AI Evolve Summit 2026

Founder & summit host

Reliable AI deployment, evaluation, and human impact

Hosted a practical summit on building and evaluating AI systems, with sessions on safety, governance, agents, human oversight, and XR-assisted training.

Online · Global summit

April 7–8, 2026

GatherVerse AI XR for Humanity Summit

Founder & summit host

Human-centered AI and XR in daily life

Hosted conversations on practical AI and XR applications in healthcare, learning, work, and public service, with attention to access, privacy, and measurable benefit.

Online · Global summit

March 24–25, 2026

GatherVerse Education Crisis: AI in the Classroom and the Future of Learning Summit

Founder & summit host

AI in the classroom and the future of learning

Hosted a global discussion on AI in education, covering classroom practice, academic integrity, student agency, data privacy, and XR-supported learning.

Online · Global summit

March 10–11, 2026

GatherVerse Women’s Health Summit 2026

Founder & summit host

AI, spatial intelligence, and women’s healthcare

Hosted a global forum on women’s health and emerging technology, exploring AI, spatial intelligence, access to care, and culturally responsive innovation.

Online · Global summit

February 24–26, 2026

GatherVerse Summit 2026

Founder & summit host

Human Needs. Emergence. Trust.

Hosted the fifth annual GatherVerse Summit, bringing communities and practitioners together around human needs, trust, and responsible approaches to emerging technology.

Online · Global summit

February 3–4, 2026

GatherVerse AI Summit 2026

Founder & summit host

Humanity’s Path Forward

Hosted the fourth annual AI Summit, examining education, accessibility, safety, wellness, careers, and the wider human consequences of advancing AI.

Online · Global summit

January 20–22 & 27, 2026

GatherVerse SHE Summit 2026 — Super Hero Engine

Founder & summit host

Women’s leadership, innovation, and community

Hosted the Super Hero Engine summit, highlighting women leading emerging technologies through conversations on representation, entrepreneurship, wellbeing, and human-centered innovation.

Online · Global summit

December 9, 2025

GatherVerse Book Summit

Founder & summit host

Books, authorship and AI

A global conversation on how AI is changing authorship, publishing, literary trust and the future of books.

Online · Global summit

December 4, 2025

GatherVerse Food Summit

Founder & summit host

Harvest | Feed | Sustain–Humanity

A summit on emerging technology in food production, nourishment, sustainable agriculture and global food security.

Online · Global summit

December 2–3, 2025

GatherVerse Money Summit

Founder & summit host

Sustainability | Circulation | Impact

A human-centered discussion of AI, financial systems and the ways people earn, circulate and share wealth.

Online · Global summit

November 19–20, 2025

GatherVerse Men’s Health Summit

Founder & summit host

Emerging technology and men’s health

A global summit examining how AI and emerging technologies affect men’s health, healthcare access and well-being.

Online · Global summit

September 10, 2025

California Community Colleges Futures Summit 2025

Roundtable presenter / speaker

The Rise of Synthetic AI Companions: Promise or Peril?

A roundtable on synthetic AI companions with Dominique Wu, Robin Moulder and Michael Chaves. The conference theme was Educational Innovation in the Digital Era.

Santa Clara Convention Center, Santa Clara, California

September–October 2025

GatherVerse: Tech for Humanity Summit

Founder & summit host

Technology, policy and human progress across regions

A series of regional summits exploring technology products, platforms, policy and their effects on human and economic progress.

Online · Global summit

July 15, 2025

Black XR Network — Reclaiming the Interface

Speaker

Reclaiming the Interface: Black Builders in AI and XR

A talk on Black builders in AI and XR, presented online with the Black XR Network.

Online · Black XR Network, United Kingdom

June 25, 2025

Future Forward Summit — Wonder Women Tech at Quantcast

Panel participant

Pushing Beyond Possible: AI, Innovation, and the Next Frontier of Human Potential

A panel on AI, innovation and human potential, moderated by Katie Wilson with Mai-Ling Garcia, Eileen Page and Ankita Sharda. Hosted by Wonder Women Tech at Quantcast.

795 Folsom Street, San Francisco, California

June 24–25, 2025

GatherVerse XREvolve Summit 2025

GatherVerse XRE 2025

Keynote speaker

The Entanglement of Perceptual Sciences in the AI Frontier

A keynote on perceptual sciences and the AI frontier at the GatherVerse global summit.

Online · Global summit

May 15, 2025

Silicon & Soul

Panel participant / speaker

Silicon & Soul: The Case for Connection, Trust & Values in AI Design & Deployment

A panel on connection, trust and values in AI design and deployment.

May 2, 2025

Digital Wellness Day Summit 2025

Panelist

AI & Digital Wellbeing: How to Stay Human in a Tech-Driven World

A panel exploring AI, digital wellbeing and how to stay human in a world shaped by technology.

April 22–24 and 29–30, 2025

GatherVerse Youth Summit

Founder & summit host

Youth, emerging technology and a message to the next generation

A summit gathering experienced voices to discuss ethical technology, education and digital wellness for the next generation.

Online · Global summit

March 11–12, 2025

GatherVerse Women’s Health Summit

Founder & summit host

Women’s health in the digital age

A global forum examining how AI and emerging technologies affect women’s health and access to care across regions.

Online · Global summit

February 25–27, 2025

GatherVerse Summit 2025

Founder & summit host

Innovating for Human Betterment Now and Forever. Climb.

The fourth annual GatherVerse gathering explored humanity-first standards for AI, the metaverse and emerging technologies.

Online · Global summit

February 20, 2025

Prioritizing Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

AI for Human Flourishing

Featured speaker

Prioritizing Human Flourishing in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

A featured talk on prioritizing human flourishing in the age of artificial intelligence.

Cambridge, Massachusetts

February 4–5, 2025

GatherVerse AI Summit 2025

Founder & summit host

Humanity’s Path Forward

The third annual AI summit explored responsible AI integration in human life, education, governance, business and industry.

Online · Global summit

January 14–16, 2025

GatherVerse SHE Summit 2025 – Super Hero Engine

Founder & summit host

Women leading emerging technology

A gathering of women working across emerging technologies to share leadership, experience and visions for a more inclusive future.

Online · Global summit

2025

UNCF — INVEST Summit 2025

Opening keynote speaker

An opening keynote on entrepreneurship, AI and emerging technologies.

San Francisco, California

2025

CILAR — Advanced AI Techniques for Bias Mitigation

The Coalition of Innovation Leaders Advancing Respect (CILAR)

Featured contribution

Advanced AI Techniques for Bias Mitigation

A featured contribution on advanced AI techniques for bias mitigation, addressing ecosystem thinking, foundational innovation and the universal interpreter.

Toronto, Canada

2025

TSEP Camping Conference

Invited educator and speaker

An invited educational session for Northern California high school students on AI, spatial intelligence, model building, ethics, accessibility and trust. Hosted by The Social Engineering Project, Inc.

Santa Cruz Mountains, California

2025

CHIEF

Lecture and fireside chat

Equity in AI: The Intersection of Work, Culture, and Humanity

Delivered a lecture and fireside chat on equity in AI, work, culture and humanity, including women’s representation in AI development and leadership.

New York City, NY

2025

Canvas8 — Expert Outlook

Expert contributor

AI infrastructure and the future of technology

Contributed expert perspectives on AI infrastructure to Canvas8’s Expert Outlook 2025 research.

November 26–27, 2024

Africa NFT Metaverse Conference 2024

Speaker

Unlocking Africa’s Digital Future

An announced speaker at the Africa NFT Metaverse Conference exploring Africa’s digital future through NFTs, blockchain and the metaverse.

University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

November 8, 2024

11th California Annual Policy Summit

Hosted by CalAsian Chamber of Commerce

Panelist

Tech Revolution — How AI Intersects Small and Diverse Businesses with Big Technology

Joined NVIDIA and Accenture representatives for a panel on AI, small and diverse businesses, and big technology.

October 15–17, 2024

GatherVerse Virtual World Symposium

Founder, summit host and roundtable moderator

What is Virtual Existence?

Hosted the Virtual World Symposium and moderated a roundtable exploring virtual existence.

Online · Global summit

October 2, 2024

GatherVerse SAFETY Summit

Founder, summit host and roundtable moderator

Securing the Future: AI’s Impact on Global Safety

Hosted the SAFETY summit and moderated a roundtable on AI’s implications for global safety.

Online · Global summit

Original National Black AI Literacy Day speaker poster featuring Christopher Lafayette
September 19, 2024

National Black AI Literacy Day 2024

Speaker

AI literacy and the next generation

Spoke at National Black AI Literacy Day, encouraging the next generation to engage with AI.

September 10–11, 2024

GatherVerse AI Evolve: AI in Education and Workforce Summit

Founder, summit host and roundtable moderator

The Workforce Revolution: AI and Human Collaboration in Action

Hosted the AI Evolve summit and moderated a roundtable on collaboration between people and AI in the workforce.

Online · Global summit

August 7, 2024

NIST — Workshop on Usable Cybersecurity and Privacy for Immersive Technologies

National Institute of Standards and Technology

Expert panel participant

Usable Cybersecurity and Privacy for Immersive Technologies

Contributed to an expert discussion of usable XR, cybersecurity, AI safety, privacy and human autonomy.

June 21, 2024

WBAF — World Business Angel Investors Week 2024

World Business Angels Investment Forum (WBAF)

Speaker

Fostering Diversity and Inclusion in Entrepreneurship: Building Stronger Business Ecosystems

Participated in WBAF’s Investors Week program on inclusive leadership and entrepreneurship.

June 13, 2024

Pie & AI Houston — Breaking into Tech: AI Edition

DeepLearning.AI: Pie&AI

Speaker

Breaking into Tech: AI Edition

Joined Pie & AI Houston for a discussion of entering the technology field in the AI era.

Houston, Texas

June 7, 2024

Create the Future Summit 2024

Panelist

AI, Elections, and Deepfakes

Joined a panel on AI, elections and deepfakes at Create the Future Summit in Berkeley.

Berkeley, California

May 29, 2024

You’re Fired – The Layoff Summit 2024

Founder & summit host

Employment, layoffs and technological change

A summit on how technological change is reshaping employment, recruitment, careers and the experience of job displacement.

Online · Global summit

May 21–22, 2024

GatherVerse XREvolve Summit

Founder & summit host

XR: The Interface of AI

A summit exploring developments and applications in VR, AR, mixed reality, spatial computing and the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

April 11, 2024

The WICT Network Midwest — Tech It Out 2024

The WICT Network: Tech It Out

Keynote and fireside conversation

The AI Era: The Intersection of Work, Culture, and Humanity

Delivered a keynote and fireside conversation on AI’s intersection with work, culture and humanity at the Midwest Tech It Out event.

St. Louis, Missouri

February 20–22, 2024

GatherVerse Summit 2024

Founder & summit host

Progress with Purpose, and Invention with Insight

The third annual GatherVerse summit brought global communities together to examine human-centered approaches to emerging technologies.

Online · Global summit

January 30–31, 2024

GatherVerse AI Summit 2024

Founder & summit host

Humanity’s Voyage in the AI Epoch

A summit on responsible AI, human values and the effects of AI across education, accessibility, safety, work and well-being.

Online · Global summit

January 16–18, 2024

GatherVerse SHE Summit 2024 – Super Hero Engine

Founder & summit host

Empowered Voices, Global Impact

The second annual SHE Summit gathered women shaping emerging technologies to share their experiences, leadership and visions for an inclusive future.

Online · Global summit

2024

Oya Media Group

The Current and Future State of Emerging Technologies

Vancouver Canada

October 31, 2023

GatherVerse Climate Summit

Founder & summit host

It’s Too Late

A summit on climate adaptation, cooperation and emerging technology. Christopher contributed to an AI and climate-change roundtable and “The End Game,” a fireside conversation with John Brooks.

Online · Global summit

October 24, 2023

National Center for Families Learning — 2023 Families Learning Conference

The National Center for Families Learning

Keynote and fireside conversation

The Intersection of Family, Education, AI, and the Future

A keynote on family, education, AI and the future, followed by a fireside conversation with John Knicely.

Omaha, Nebraska

October 17, 2023

GatherVerse Founders Summit

Founder & summit host

Uniting Founders for a Common Cause: Human Betterment

A gathering of founders exploring how their platforms can improve lives. Christopher joined fireside conversations with Adrian Rashad Driscoll and Ruth Diaz, including “The Psychology of DEI in XR.”

Online · Global summit

July 19–20, 2023

GatherVerse FATHOM Summit

Founder & summit host

Fashion, Art, Technology, Humanity, Open-Source and Music

A two-day summit exploring collaboration across creative industries, technology and open-source communities.

Online · Global summit

Summerfest Tech logo
June 28, 2023

Summerfest Tech 2023

Keynote speaker

Eco-Culture: The Answer for Growth

A keynote presenting Eco-Culture: The Answer for Growth.

Potawatomi Casino | Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin

June 26, 2023

iLRN 2023

Opening keynote speaker

Revolutionizing Education: AI, Metaverse, & the Human-Centric Future of Learning

An opening keynote on AI, the metaverse and a human-centric future of learning.

Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo, California

June 14, 2023

GatherVerse Immersive Intelligence

Founder & summit host

Empowering the Metaverse: Uniting AI and Human Potential

A gathering on combining artificial intelligence and immersive environments with access, ethics and human needs in mind.

Online · Global summit

June 13, 2023

GatherVerse ETHICAL

Founder & summit host

Empowering, Transparency, Humanity, Inclusivity, Cooperation, Accountability and Legitimacy

A virtual summit examining ethical responsibilities in artificial intelligence and the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

June 2, 2023

AWE USA 2023

Fireside chat speaker

Building a Human-Centric Metaverse

A fireside chat on building a human-centric metaverse.

Santa Clara, California

May 23–24, 2023

GatherVerse WellVerse Summit

Founder & summit host

Wellness and Emerging Technologies

A summit exploring personal and community wellness alongside emerging technology.

Online · Global summit

May 3, 2023

University of Tübingen — Social Justice and Technological Futures 2023

Eberhard Karls University

Fireside chat speaker

Removing Barriers: The Intersection of Empowerment and Inclusive Innovation

A fireside chat exploring empowerment, inclusive innovation and removing barriers.

Tübingen, Germany

February 21–23, 2023

GatherVerse Summit 2023

Founder & summit host

The Human Side of the Coming Metaverse

The second annual GatherVerse summit brought communities together to discuss human-centered approaches to the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

February 7, 2023

IME West / MD&M West 2023

IME West, 2023

Keynote speaker

Medical Technology within the Metaverse — The Fundamental Shift

A keynote on the fundamental shift in medical technology within the metaverse.

Anaheim, California

February 1, 2023

GatherVerse AI Summit (Artificial Intelligence)

Founder & summit host

Artificial Intelligence, Ethics and the Future of Humanity

A virtual summit examining AI’s opportunities, risks and ethical implications for people.

Online · Global summit

January 10–11, 2023

GatherVerse S.H.E. Summit — Super Hero Engine

Founder & summit host

Women Building the Metaverse, Web3 and Emerging Technologies

A summit bringing women together to share their work and build a more representative technology community.

Online · Global summit

2023

ATD

AI education

South Carolina

2023

COABE National Conference 2023

COABE 2023

General Session panelist

AI and adult education

A General Session panel on AI and adult education.

Atlanta, Georgia

2023

Department of Rehabilitation

The Current and Future State of AI

San Francisco

December 7, 2022

GatherVerse Asia Summit

Founder & summit host

The Asian Metaverse Ecosystem

A gathering exploring the metaverse through Asian communities, with attention to access, education and human needs.

Online · Global summit

December 5, 2022

GatherVerse Africa Summit

Founder & summit host

The African Metaverse Ecosystem

A gathering examining Africa’s developing metaverse communities and their priorities for inclusive participation.

Online · Global summit

November 2, 2022

GatherVerse Legal & Governance Summit

Founder & summit host

Law, Governance, Privacy and Safety in the Metaverse

A summit exploring governance, digital rights, commerce and conduct in virtual worlds.

Online · Global summit

September 28, 2022

GatherVerse Latin Summit

Founder & summit host

The Latin Metaverse Ecosystem

A summit on Latin communities, culture and opportunities in the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

September 20–21, 2022

GatherVerse EU Summit

Founder & summit host

The European Metaverse Ecosystem

A summit exploring European metaverse development, cultural exchange, access and public benefit.

Online · Global summit

September 13–14, 2022

3We — A Web3 Summit

Founder & summit host

Web3, Ownership and Community

A summit examining Web3’s role in the metaverse and its implications for ownership, security and community.

Online · Global summit

July 19, 2022

MMM — Music Meets Metaverse

Founder & summit host

Music, Creativity and Virtual Worlds

A summit exploring music creation, performance, education and community in the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

June 9–10, 2022 (event dates)

XR Access Symposium 2022

2022 XR Access Symposium

XR Access Symposium 2022 was held virtually on June 9–10.

June 2, 2022

AWE USA 2022 — MetaTr@versal

Performance participant

MetaTr@versal: A Day in the Life

A performance contribution to MetaTr@versal: A Day in the Life.

Santa Clara, California

June 1, 2022

AWE USA 2022

AWE USA, 2022

Main-stage speaker

Humanity First Approach to Building the Metaverse

A main-stage conversation with Muhsinah Morris on a humanity-first approach to building the metaverse.

Santa Clara, California

May 24, 2022

FreeSpring — Mental Wellness Summit

Founder & summit host

Mental Wellness and the Metaverse

A summit bringing health practitioners, educators and community leaders together around mental wellness in virtual environments.

Online · Global summit

April 12–14, 2022 (conference dates)

Laval Virtual, 2022

Keynote speaker

The Humanity-First Metaverse

A keynote on The Humanity-First Metaverse at Laval Virtual Europe.

Laval, France

February 24, 2022

Berkeley Haas & Affine — How AI Is Transforming Gaming, Media & Entertainment

Berkeley Haas · Affine · Fisher Center for Business Analytics · How AI is transforming Gaming, Media & Entertainment

Invited speaker

The humanity-first metaverse

Spoke remotely at the Fisher Center for Business Analytics and Affine summit about the humanity-first metaverse. The official program lists his session, “10 Things to know the Meta-verse.”

Spieker Forum, Chou Hall, UC Berkeley · Remote participation

February 22–25, 2022

GatherVerse Summit 2022

Founder & summit host

Humanity First in the Metaverse

The inaugural GatherVerse summit explored access, education, equality, wellness and community in the metaverse.

Online · Global summit

2022

The WICT Network Rocky Mountain — Tech It Out 2022

WICT Tech It out 2022

Keynote and fireside conversation

The Humanity Driven Metaverse

A keynote and fireside conversation with Danny Cohen on The Humanity Driven Metaverse.

2022

Verizon Media

The Current and Future State of the Metaverse

New York, New York

2022

Cornell Tech

The Current and Future State of the Metaverse

November 9, 2021

AWE USA 2021

Speaker

NFTs and the Quest for Ownership within Virtual Worlds

A talk on NFTs and the quest for ownership within virtual worlds.

Santa Clara, California

June 10, 2021

XR Access Symposium 2021

Panelist

A Greater Purpose: Diverse Talent Pipeline

Joined a discussion on building a diverse talent pipeline at the 2021 XR Access Symposium.

2021

VR/AR Global Summit 2021

November 19, 2020

KubeCon + CloudNativeCon North America 2020

Workshop presenter

Diversity + Inclusion Workshop: Removing Barriers to Innovation in Becoming a Better Ally

A workshop on diversity, inclusion, allyship and removing barriers to innovation.

May 14, 2020

Blacks in Technology NYC — The Current & Future State of XR

Webinar speaker

The Current & Future State of XR

A virtual lecture exploring extended reality and emerging technologies as the world adapted to COVID-19.

Online · Blacks in Technology NYC

2020

Open Source Summit + Embedded Linux Conference North America 2020

The Linux Foundation

Workshop presenter

Driving Innovation through Allyship

A workshop on driving innovation through allyship.

December 11–13, 2019 (event dates)

Stereopsia 2019

Speaker

A speaking engagement at Stereopsia in Brussels.

Brussels, Belgium

November 13–15, 2019 (event dates)

CoRE Tech 2019

CoreTech

Panel moderator

Virtual & Augmented Reality — Impacts to Design, Operations, Experience and Beyond

Moderated a CoRE Tech 2019 panel on virtual and augmented reality in design, operations and experience.

San Jose McEnery Convention Center, San Jose, California

November 13, 2019

VR/AR Association — The Future of Learning Is Virtual

Panelist

The Future of Learning Is Virtual: XR in Education and Training

A panel on immersive technology in education and training at Plug and Play Tech Center, presented by the VR/AR Association Silicon Valley chapter.

Plug and Play Tech Center, Game Room, 440 North Wolfe Road, Sunnyvale, California

June 27–28, 2019 (event dates)

EICS — European Immersive Computing Summit 2019

Invited speaker

Virtual Reality Holodeck Spaces for Medical Training and Development

A talk on immersive holodeck spaces for medical training and development, exploring emerging technologies and learning for the health sector.

M9 Innovation District, Mestre / Venice, Italy

June 7–8, 2019 (event dates)

Miami VR Expo 2019

Fireside chat speaker

Fireside Chat with Chris

A fireside conversation at Miami VR Expo 2019.

Miami, Florida

June 6, 2019

Lethbridge College VR Global Forum — INVENTURES 2019

Virtual Reality Global Forum

Speaker

Immersive AI: What the Future Holds

Presented Immersive AI: What the Future Holds at Lethbridge College's Virtual Reality Global Forum, part of INVENTURES in Calgary.

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

March 20–24, 2019 (event dates)

Laval Virtual 2019

Speaker

VR for good and the future of immersive technology

Spoke on The Good, The Bad and the VR and VR for Good: Building Together at Laval Virtual 2019.

Laval, France

2019

Microsoft Reactor — artificial intelligence panel

Panelist

Present and future uses of artificial intelligence

Joined an invited panel at Microsoft Reactor in San Francisco on present and future AI applications, moderated by Michael A. McNair.

Microsoft Reactor, San Francisco, California

December 6–7, 2018

VRX Conference 2018

Moderator

Location-based virtual reality and consumer adoption

Moderated two VRX 2018 panels on large-scale location-based virtual reality and the path to mass consumer adoption through location-based VR and arcades.

San Francisco, California

October 12–13, 2018

Inaugural Blacks in Technology Conference — BITCON 2018

Keynote speaker & panel moderator

Emerging technology and opportunities for underrepresented talent

Delivered a keynote on opportunities for Black technologists and moderated The Virtual and Augmented Reality of Things at the inaugural BITCON.

Saint Paul and Richfield, Minnesota

May 31, 2018

AWE USA 2018

Augmented World Expo

Panelist

Diversity in XR

A panel on diversity in XR.

Santa Clara, California

May 12, 2018

VR for Everyone — Stanford Immersive Media Conference 2018

VR 4 Everyone Conference · VR for Everyone · Stanford Immersive Media Conference · SIMCON 2018 · Stanford University

Panel moderator

Immersive technology, diversity and inclusion

Moderated a panel on immersive technology, diversity and inclusion at the VR for Everyone conference, with representatives from HTC Vive, Boost VC and Meta Co.

Packard Electrical Engineering, Stanford University, California

2018

Salesforce — conversation with U.K. Government and startup leaders

Invited speaker

An invited conversation with U.K. Government and startup leaders on diverse business cultures, technology and startups.

San Francisco, California

XR Reality Pro

Los Angeles

CES: MCity Metaverse Summit

Las Vegas

Juniper Networks

Sunnyvale

AI LA

Los Angeles, United States

AWE Nite Florence

Italy

PEAT

UCLA

Los Angeles, United States

Private event — immersive medical technology

Keynote speaker

The Current and Future State of Immersive Medtech

A keynote on the current and future state of immersive medical technology.

Las Vegas, Nevada

Mayo Clinic — private technology and STEM education event

Invited speaker

Diverse technology pipelines and STEM education for youth

An invited talk on developing high-performance, diverse technology pipelines and better approaches to STEM education for youth.

Twin Cities, Minnesota

Facebook

Menlo Park, California

September 8 · Year not recorded

Global HR Summit — Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reimagined

Guest speaker

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Reimagined

Featured guest for a Global HR Summit discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion, alongside Elisabeth Cooke and Anne-Marie Headley, hosted by Navjeet Chhina.

Global

Virtual World Society

Seattle, Washington

Holodeck Engineering Lecture

San Jose, California

AWE NITE SF

San Francisco, California

AWE NITE NYC

New York, New York

Blacks in Technology Dallas — Future Tech

Discussion speaker

A discussion about Mixed Reality

A discussion about mixed reality with Larry Davis, PhD, presented by Blacks in Technology Dallas.

In conversation

Podcast and Shows

Conversations on technology, culture, and the world we are building.

In print

Magazine Articles

Original covers, ideas, and perspectives from the pages of the publications.

Featured In

Press

Independent reporting, interviews, and features across a broad body of work.

Selected coverage

Press highlights

CIO · February 14, 2023

Mentoring tomorrow’s Black IT leaders

Independent reporting

Read feature

Medical Device + Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI)

Medtech in the Metaverse

Independent reporting

Read feature

CHILL Magazine · December 2018 / January 2019

Black Men Can Tech

Magazine feature

Read feature

VenetoEconomia · April 17, 2019

Virtual reality, at the M9 the European Immersive Computing Summit

Independent reporting

Read feature

Industria Italiana

EICS-European Immersive Computing Summit 2019: the present of virtual reality and augmented reality

Independent reporting

Read feature

CIO · February 17, 2025

Black IT leaders weigh in on what DEI means for IT

Quoted contributor

Read feature

All press features

Reports and proceedings

Research & Contributions

Published contributions and reports documenting the conversation.

Ideas & perspectives

Featured written posts

More writing & interviews

People. Places. Conversations.

Speaking Snapshots

A global perspective

Many countries. Many communities.
One shared humanity.

Based in Silicon Valley.
In conversation with the world.

Advisory & Private Working Sessions

How do you
scale with AI?

Bring the questions that matter to your organization.

What is advancing? What is relevant? Where should you focus? How do you prepare for change?

Private advisory offers practical conversation and judgment about AI and emerging technologies for founders, solopreneurs, entrepreneurs, executives, government leaders, investors, and educational institutions.

These working conversations are distinct from public speaking and from Lafayette Global Launchpad’s platform-building work.

Inquire about advisory

Reach Out

Let’s start
a conversation.

For speaking invitations, advisory, or a conversation about emerging technology.

Invite Christopher to SpeakSilicon Valley · Working globally