Integrated Systems Europe (ISE) has named Mo Gawdat, former chief business officer of Google X and a four-time international bestselling author, as its keynote speaker.
Key Things to Know
- Mo Gawdat will deliver the ISE 2027 Business Keynote on Tuesday, Feb. 2, in CC4 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via.
- His session is titled “When Human and Artificial Intelligence Unite: Building a Future Worth Living In.”
- ISE 2027 runs Feb. 2-5, 2027, under the theme “When Worlds Unite.”
- Gawdat’s career spans more than three decades at IBM, Microsoft and Google, and he has co-founded more than 30 businesses.
- He’s the author of “Solve for Happy” and “Scary Smart,” with a new book, “Alive: A Human’s Guide to Living in the World of AI,” on the way.
Who Is Delivering the ISE 2027 Business Keynote?
Mo Gawdat, the former chief business officer of Google X, is delivering the ISE 2027 Business Keynote. He’s a business leader and four-time international bestselling author whose work centers on happiness, artificial intelligence and the future of humanity.
Integrated Systems Europe announced the selection Oct. 22, 2026.
When and Where Will Gawdat Speak?
Gawdat will speak Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2027, in CC4 at Fira de Barcelona Gran Via. His session opens the first day of ISE 2027, which runs Feb. 2-5.
The timing puts the AI discussion at the start of the show, before attendees spend the week on the show floor evaluating individual products.
What Will the Keynote Cover?
The keynote will cover the current impact of AI along with larger questions about the speed of change, responsibility and human behavior. Gawdat will also address how organizations should respond.
The session is titled “When Human and Artificial Intelligence Unite: Building a Future Worth Living In.” ISE describes it as a chance for attendees to step back from individual solutions and look at where AI is heading and the role people must play in shaping it.
What Is Gawdat’s Professional Background?
Gawdat brings more than 30 years of experience at major technology companies, including IBM, Microsoft and Google. He has also co-founded more than 30 businesses during his career.
That mix of corporate leadership and startup experience gives him a view of AI from both the enterprise side and the operator side.
What Books Has Gawdat Written?
Gawdat has written four international bestsellers, beginning with “Solve for Happy.” That book developed an algorithm modeling how the mind encounters the world and processes joy and sadness. It also launched his global mission to make 1 billion people happy.
His second book, “Scary Smart,” established him as one of the most prominent voices on AI. It examines how AI will continue to grow and what businesses can do differently to bring it into their operations. His forthcoming book is “Alive: A Human’s Guide to Living in the World of AI.”
What Is Emma.love?
Emma.love is Gawdat’s latest initiative, an ethical AI coaching platform. It’s designed to help people build meaningful relationships, whether platonic, romantic or professional.
The platform puts his views on responsible AI into practice rather than leaving them on the page.
Why Did ISE Choose Gawdat?
ISE chose Gawdat for his combination of business leadership, technical insight and human perspective on AI. Mike Blackman, managing director of Integrated Systems Events, points to the growing overlap among AV-adjacent industries as the reason that perspective matters now.
“Mo Gawdat brings a rare combination of business leadership, technological insight and human perspective to the conversation around AI. As industries and disciplines surrounding the AV world become increasingly interconnected, his keynote will challenge the ISE community to look beyond the hype and consider how AI can be applied responsibly to unlock new ideas, experiences and opportunities,” Blackman says. “His message captures the spirit of When Worlds Unite, and we look forward to welcoming him to the stage at ISE 2027.”
How Does the Keynote Connect to the ISE 2027 Theme?
The keynote ties directly to “When Worlds Unite,” the ISE 2027 theme reflecting the convergence of AV, digital content, immersive experiences, smart buildings and live events. Gawdat’s session will examine how AI can help those technology sectors keep coming together without losing human connection.
For integrators, that convergence already shows up in project scopes. Jobs that once ended at the display and the DSP now touch building systems, content platforms and AI-driven features.
Why Does This Keynote Matter to AV Integrators?
The keynote matters because AI is moving from a product feature to a factor in how integration firms design, sell and support systems. Gawdat’s focus on responsible adoption and organizational response speaks to decisions integrators and their clients face now, not years from now.
Attendees looking for a business-level view of AI, rather than another product demo, will find it on the opening day of ISE 2027.
