SXSW Announces Initial Keynote and Second Round of Featured Speakers
Austin, Texas – December 10, 2024 — The South by Southwest® (SXSW®) Conference and Festivals is gearing up for its 39th edition with the announcement of its initial Keynote Speaker and the second round of Featured Speakers. The annual conference, renowned for celebrating the convergence of technology, film, television, and music, will take place from March 7-15, 2025, in Austin, Texas.
The much-anticipated Keynote Speaker for this year is none other than IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna.
“Exploring the benefits of new advances in technology while addressing their potential challenges represents a core part of the SXSW experience we curate each year,” said Hugh Forrest, Co-President and Chief Programming Officer. “We are excited to announce Arvind Krishna as our first Keynote Speaker of the 2025 season. His session on the convergence of AI and quantum computing will cover what this monumental shift in technology will bring to humanity.”
An impressive lineup of Featured Speakers has been revealed, including:
Rohit Bhargva: Founder and Chief Trend Curator at The Non-Obvious Company
Ghazi: Founder and CEO of EMPIRE
Alex Haraus: Director and Social Media Strategist
Dr. Katharine Hayhoe: Author, Chief Scientist for The Nature Conservancy, and a distinguished professor at Texas Tech University
Lidiane Jones: CEO of Bumble
Amanda Nguyen: Activist and Astronaut
Candace Parker: WNBA Champion, WNBA Finals MVP, 2x WNBA MVP, 2x Gold Medalist, and Broadcaster
Donald Passman: Author and Music Attorney at Gang, Tyre, Ramer, Brown & Passman
Rishad Tobaccowala: Author, Speaker, Teacher, Advisor, Podcast Host, and Futurist
Additionally, SXSW has announced several Featured Sessions that promise to provide attendees with invaluable insights:
7 Non-Obvious Secrets Of Understanding People To Predict the Future: Rohit Bhargava will reveal the unspoken side of trend curation and future thinking, inspired by his latest bestselling book. Attendees will gain actionable insights into understanding human behavior and predicting trends.
10 Breakthrough Technologies of 2025: MIT Technology Review’s Executive Editor Niall Firth will present the top breakthrough technologies that will change the world, explaining their impact on our lives and work.
All You Need to Know About the Music Business: Right Now: David De Cristofaro and Donald Passman will explore the current state of the music business, from traditional deals to the cutting edge of AI.
The Art and Science of Organic Trendbuilding For Climate Initiatives: Geoff Bennett and Alex Haraus will discuss social media strategies for converting online viewership into offline impact, focusing on climate initiatives.
Building a Legacy: How Indies Create Long-Term Success: Dr. Richard James Burgess will lead a panel with industry leaders, including Ghazi and Patricia ‘Miss Pat’ Chin, to discuss long-term success in the independent music sector.
Cleaning Up Our Atmosphere: Carbon Removal Prepares to Go Mainstream: Douglas Chan and Dr. Katharine Hayhoe will discuss the state and future of carbon removal technologies.
The Future of Human Connection: Lidiane Jones and Savannah Sellers will explore building technology centered around women’s experiences and the importance of human connection.
The Great Rethinking: How to Navigate the Future of Work: Rishad Tobaccowala will examine the forces reshaping work and reveal strategies for navigating these changes.
Spill the Tea: A Strategic Guide to Office Gossip: Amy Gallo will share insights on navigating office gossip, turning it into productive dialogue, and building trustful relationships.
Today’s Athlete is a Brand’s Best Megaphone: Candace Parker and Beth Sidhu will discuss how brands can authentically connect with fans through athletes.
Unlock Your Creative Problem-Solving Super Powers with Gen AI: Dr. John Scott and Don Allen Stevenson III will explore how lateral thinking can unlock the creative problem-solving power of Gen AI.
The SXSW Conference will feature 23 programming tracks presented in various session formats. The tracks for 2025 include 2050, Advertising & Brand Experience, Artificial Intelligence, Climate & Sustainability, Creating Film & TV, Creator Economy, Culture, Design, Energy, Fashion & Beauty, Film & TV Industry, Food, Game Industry, Government & Civic Engagement, Health & MedTech, Music & Tech, Music Industry, Psychedelics, Startups, Tech Industry, Transportation, Workplace, and XR. More information about SXSW programming tracks and formats can be found here.
Announced SXSW 2025 Keynote:
From Sci-Fi to Society: The Next Era of AI and Quantum Computing When it comes to AI and quantum computing, it’s time to move past the sci-fi hype and start building real-world applications that expand what is possible with technology. We have entered a new era in which computers can learn, generate, and operate independently. At the same time, an entirely new computing paradigm is rapidly evolving that leverages quantum mechanics to solve seemingly impossible challenges. In this Keynote Session, IBM Chairman and CEO Arvind Krishna will discuss how businesses and society can benefit from the convergence of these next frontiers in technology.
Stay tuned for more updates and additional speaker announcements as SXSW 2025 approaches. The event promises to be an exciting convergence of innovative ideas, industry leaders, and creative talents from around the globe.