CEO of the Good Tech Advisory, World’s First Chief AI Ethics Officer & Lord Chief Justice’s Advisory on AI & Law

Kay Firth-Butterfield is a global leader in responsible AI. She is CEO of Good Tech Advisory and formerly served as Head of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning at the World Economic Forum, where she was also a member of its Executive Committee. Recognised as the world’s first Chief AI Ethics Officer, she has shaped global policy on AI governance. She is Vice Chair of the IEEE Global Initiative on Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence and Autonomous Systems and previously advised the UK’s Lord Chief Justice on AI and law, influencing the ethical, legal, and societal frameworks for emerging technologies.

Credentials and Impact

Kay is a globally respected leader in artificial intelligence ethics, governance, and policy, with a career that spans law, technology, and social impact. A qualified judge for the UK Ministry of Justice and Master of the Inner Temple in London, she brings deep legal and ethical expertise to shaping AI’s future. She has advised governments and global bodies as Expert Advisor to the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence and as a member of the U.S. Government Accountability Office’s Polaris Council.

She holds influential research positions, including Distinguished Scholar at the Robert S. Strauss Centre for International Security and Law, Fellow at the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence at the University of Cambridge, and Senior Research Fellow at the University of Texas at Austin. She serves on the World Economic Forum’s Global Future Council on AI, AI Governance Alliance, and Digital Healthcare Alliance, is an Associate with Doughty Street Chambers, as well as the Technical Advisory Board of the Foundation for Responsible Robots and the Board of the Earth Species Project.

Named one of TIME’s four Impact Awardees in 2024 and featured by The New York Times in 2021 as one of ten women ‘Changing the Landscape of Leadership’, she continues to set the global standard for responsible and ethical AI.

Publications and Media

Kay is the recipient of the TIME100 AI Impact Award, has been recognised on the Marquis Who’s Who 2024 Makers List of Emerging Innovators, and the Forbes 50 Over 50: Innovation list. She has spoken on AI ethics and governance for WIRED, Deloitte US, Singularity University, and more, including a 2024 Davos fireside chat. She authored ‘Domestic Laws on Human Trafficking’ and ‘Human Trafficking and Human Rights’, contributing to global legal and ethical discourse. Her upcoming book, ‘Coexisting with AI’, will be released in January 2026.

Why Hire Kay Firth-Butterfield?

Kay Firth-Butterfield is in high demand as a keynote speaker on artificial intelligence and emerging technologies, thanks to her unmatched expertise and influential track record with some of the world’s most prominent organisations shaping AI’s future. A pioneer in ethical AI, she was part of the landmark 2017 Asilomar meeting that produced the world’s first ethical principles for artificial intelligence. Her leadership roles – including at the World Economic Forum, global advisory councils, and research institutions – equip her with a unique perspective that blends technology, law, ethics, and governance.

Known for translating complex AI concepts into clear, actionable insights, Kay engages audiences ranging from policymakers to business leaders, helping them navigate the opportunities and risks of AI adoption. Her credibility, combined with her ability to forecast industry trends and advocate for responsible innovation, makes her a trusted voice for organisations seeking informed, forward-looking discussions on AI’s transformative impact.

To book Kay Firth-Butterfield to speak at your event, call SpeakOut on +44 (0) 20 8914 8966. Alternatively, complete our contact form to begin your enquiry.