Carmem Domingues Book as a speaker/entertainer for your next event

Key Points for Carmem Domingues

  • Carmem Domingues is a Harvard, Columbia and Cambridge educated AI leader with global experience across sectors.
  • She has worked with organisations including Goldman Sachs, Delta Airlines, the World Bank and the White House.
  • Carmem specialises in AI strategy, literacy and ethical implementation across organisations.
  • Carmem delivers practical, research based keynotes that equip audiences to think critically and act confidently in an AI driven world.

Topics for Carmem Domingues

  • How AI is changing us
    This talk explores what are some of the ways that AI is (re)shaping society, and what are its consequences, focusing on how AI can Empower or Erode Human Behavior.
    As AI becomes ubiquitous, and touches ever more facets of our lives, we increasingly defer to machines to carry out tasks previously done by humans. How, and why is that happening? Are we giving up what makes us inherently humans, and diNerentiates us from machines? What makes us uniquely humans? What should we allow machines to do, versus what should we protect as our uniquely human characteristics and abilities?
    What are the impacts to the future of labor, human relations (with ourselves and others), global politics and society at large?
  • Will AI make us dumber? How AI shapes how we think and act
    Research shows that AI, especially Generative AI systems like Large Language Models (think ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, etc) can influence our thoughts and behaviors. Yet, we increasingly rely on AI chatbots and AI agents to help us with everyday tasks: from the mundane to the complex ones – from GPS navigation to scheduling assistants, computer code development, research and writing help (from text messages to full reports), etc.
    Some of these tools can be extremely helpful with cognitive o1loading to free us up to focus on the things that really matter to us. However, research increasingly shows that they also impact our future (and even immediate) cognitive abilities, with potentially serious implications to Critical Thinking, and shape our world views, and behaviors, even through brief interactions.
    This talk discusses this research in lay terms, exploring how and why this happens, including the mechanisms through which cognitive erosion and shaping occur. It highlights the implications of this at the individual and societal level, and closes with takeaways for what we can do to protect our cognitive ability, and ourselves.
  • What AI (really) is
    Especially since the launch of ChatGPT, there has been a lot of confusion about what AI is, what it is not, and what it can/cannot do. The narratives that surround AI often portray it as a simple, objective tool, much like a hammer or a calculator. In fact, AI is much more than that. It is a full-blown socio-technical system that is both influenced by, and influences, society.
    This talk explores the evolution of AI from its early days to current times and reviews the whole pipeline of AI development, dismantling hypes and myths, and highlighting the true powers of AI. It explains (in lay terms) the technical aspects of how modern AI works, with an eye to helping the audience understand what in the AI development process is done by machines versus by humans. It explores some of the ways in which biases such as human bias or data bias aNect the AI development process, and thus the outputs of AI systems.
    Ultimately, this talk explores how AI is developed, how it is shaped by societal values, and how it, in turn, shapes society. Discussion includes issues of power at the individual, societal, organizational, institutional, and governmental levels.
  • AI power wars
    It is not news that tech companies collect data on their users, and sell it for a profit, often without users’ awareness or explicit (vs. coerced) consent. Yet, we continue to increase our use of these tools.
    This talk explores some of the hidden ways in which we end up giving a lot more information and power to tech companies than we are aware, the power asymmetries that it creates between users, companies, and even governments, and what are the consequences of that at both the individual and societal level, including impacts to democracy and global geopolitics.
  • So you’re dating an AI?
    30% of adults report having had some sort of intimate encounter with an AI system, and as many as 20% of teenagers also report having or knowing someone who has had a relationship with an AI. More and more people are marrying their AI Companions. As AI systems become bigger parts of our lives, more people are resorting to them to fulfill their emotional needs. However, this is not always intentional. This talk explores some of the reasons and ways people enter into emotional relationships with AI (this will surprise you!), and what are some of the benefits as well as risks associated with emotional engagements with AI systems.
  • How to do AI right
    Research shows that despite all the promises of increased productivity from AI use, 95% of AI Pilots across organizations are being abandoned because adoption is not being worth the investment.
    This is not surprising to me – one of the things I have most heard from clients throughout my career is “we want to use AI in our organization.” However, more often than not, that statement is coupled with an inadequate understanding of the capabilities and limitations of AI and what successful implementation requires; and with an approach of “throw AI at the wall and see what sticks,” rather than a clear problem that AI can solve, and a strategy for how to do it.
    This talk explores some of the reasons for this mismatch between expectations and results, and discusses how organizations should think about, and implement AI systems, the right way. It also covers the basics of designing an eNective AI Strategy.
  • Responsible and ethical AI & AI governance
    Much of the debate about AI frames AI as a purely objective tool, without regards to how the ways in which it was developed, and how it is used, can have deep ethical and moral implications.
    On the other hand, much of the responsible AI debate tends to focus on issues of bias and metrics to identify and measure its impact, or how to comply with diNerent AI regulatory frameworks. Whereas these are absolutely important, it is crucial that we take a more holistic approach to AI.
    This talk helps the audience understand the AI decision, development and implementation process as a whole, and how to consider ethical implications throughout it, so that they can develop and deploy AI systems in a more holistically responsible and ethical manner, within proper governance frameworks.
  • AI & the future: What should we actually expect, and how can we prepare?
    Another one of the questions I get asked the most, is how can people best prepare for the future, given how the recent advancements in AI seem to be getting faster, and better, every day.
    This talk takes a historical view of technical (r)evolutions to contextualize the recent developments in AI. It then discusses in more depth certain recent developments to dismantle some myths and common misunderstandings, and help the audience understand what is actually likely to happen, and how best to prepare for the coming changes.

Testimonials for Carmem Domingues

I had the pleasure of working with Carmem Domingues when she delivered a talk on artificial intelligence to a group of term members at the Council on Foreign Relations in 2025. The discussion was focused specifically on how AI can empower or erode human behavior, and Carmem brought an expert yet measured perspective that was necessary to have a balanced and fruitful conversation. She is especially talented in translating complex, high-level concepts into clear and accessible insights, something that is incredibly important for a subject that is evolving at such a rapid pace. Carmem is extremely thoughtful, collaborative, and well-prepared and was the ideal partner in helping shape an event that was valuable and educational to all that attended. I would welcome the opportunity to work with her and rely on her expertise any time.
Associate Vice President
Council on Foreign Relations

I had the pleasure of working with Carmem Domingues on two different occasions: a Future Hacker roundtable and a Keynote session she delivered for senior executives at Orb.tz. In both settings, Carmem stood out as an exceptional speaker. She has a rare ability to explain complex topics around AI, ethics, and policy in a clear, structured, and highly didactic way—without ever oversimplifying the discussion. Her depth of academic knowledge is impressive, but what truly sets her apart is how approachable, engaging, and charismatic she is on stage. Carmem creates an environment where people feel comfortable asking questions, challenging ideas, and thinking critically about the real impact of AI on society, business, and the future. Executives left her session not only better informed, but genuinely inspired. I highly recommend Carmem as a speaker for organizations looking for thoughtful, insightful, and impactful conversations about artificial intelligence and its broader implications.
Partner, Future Hacker
Strategist, Orb.tz

As AI increasingly dominates more and more sectors of society, Carmem Domingues is an invaluable voice and resource for insights into the realities behind the technology’s impact and what the government can and should do to manage it. As a guest on the CenterD podcast, Carmem shared an inside look into the nuance of the policy making process at the highest levels of government, and made it digestible for our audience on what that means for America’s workforce. Carmem’s ability to add broader historical context and industry insights allowed us to go much more in-depth than the typical superficial conversations that too often dominate online. Beyond informational, Carmem’s expertise yielded valuable insights into the realities of the resilience of the labor market in the context of AI, while also adding important understanding of how workers can thrive in the emerging economy. Her friendly and engaging demeanor was also a refreshing change on a topic where experts often come across as clinical, abstract, or difficult to connect with. I highly recommend Carmem for speaking engagements and look forward to catching them.
Managing Director, Ambassador Public Affairs
Former US Senior Political and Government Official
Host of the CenterD Podcast

Carmem brought such a thoughtful perspective to our class at GWU. Carmem challenged us to think beyond the technology itself and focus on our ethical responsibilities in designing and deploying AI. Her perspective on privacy, governance, and societal impact was thought-provoking and grounded in real examples. She left us with the right questions about our role in shaping AI's future.
Professor Mike Tadesse
George Washington University

Carmem Domingues joined one of my classes on the course AI and Human Rights as a guest speaker, and her contribution was outstanding. She brought both deep technical expertise on AI and practical insight, engaging students with thoughtful reflections that effectively bridged theoretical frameworks and contemporary challenges in the field of artificial intelligence.
Adjunct Professor
Georgetown University SFS-CLAS

I really appreciated Carmem’s knowledge, wisdom, experience, and personal thoughts! I thank her for taking the time to speak to us. I have grown in my passion for AI ethics in this course and her lecture really spoke to me – especially since our class has been very AI positive and her talk caused us to look past the pretty picture and look more at the consequences and nitty-gritty details of how it’s produced and how it shapes society. I found it very relevant, up-to-date, and engaging!
George Washington University student
Carmem’s guest lectures