Tom Gruber

Tom Gruber, a computer scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur, is renowned for his work as an AI product developer and designer. He notably co-founded Siri Inc. and served as its CTO and head of design. Siri Inc. developed Siri, the intelligent assistant now central to the user experience of all Apple products, and was acquired by Apple in 2010. Today, Siri is used globally more than 25 billion times a month in dozens of languages.

With a professional career spanning forty years, Gruber's foundation in artificial intelligence and cognitive science has led to significant contributions in technology and design. He has done foundational work in ontology engineering, becoming well-known for his definition of ontologies in the context of artificial intelligence. Furthermore, Gruber has published several articles and books, such as "The Acquisition of Strategic Knowledge" and "Toward Principles for the Design of Ontologies Used for Knowledge Sharing." He has also served on the editorial boards of respected journals like Knowledge Acquisition, IEEE Expert, and the International Journal of Human-Computer Studies.

As a public speaker, Gruber advocates for what he terms "Humanistic AI"—artificial intelligence that augments and collaborates with humans rather than competing with or replacing them. He shared this philosophy and his vision for the future of AI on the TED stage in 2017, projecting a future where AI enhances human capacities such as perception, creativity, and cognitive function.

After the sale of Siri to Apple in 2010, Gruber stayed on for eight years to lead the Advanced Development Group, exploring new product ideas. Following this, he transitioned into Impact Advising, investing his time and expertise to maximize human impact. Gruber now uses Humanistic AI principles to curate his advisory portfolio, guiding companies and organizations that use AI to augment human capabilities for societal benefit.

Gruber is currently a co-founder and CTO of LifeScore, an innovative company that creates adaptive music that is dynamically composed and produced to adapt to contexts, personal needs, and the listener's state. Balancing his technological endeavors, Gruber also harbors a passion for conservation photography. He travels globally to dive in places where marine life thrives, hoping to foster empathy and connection with the natural world through underwater photography and video.

Gruber's conviction in the potential of technology to foster human collaboration and knowledge sharing is evident throughout his career. He has dedicated his life to advocating for the ethical use of technology that enhances our lives and protects the environment that sustains us.