Best known as a creator of Siri, Apple’s AI assistant, Adam Cheyer is a visionary pioneer in AI and computer human interfaces, an inventor holding 50 patents, and an engineering executive.
Adam Cheyer is best known as the creator of Siri, Apple’s revolutionary AI assistant, but his influence stretches far beyond this landmark innovation. A pioneer in artificial intelligence and human–computer interaction, Adam holds more than 50 patents and has been at the forefront of AI development for over three decades. His career reflects not only extraordinary commercial success but also a deep commitment to harnessing technology to improve lives.
As a serial entrepreneur, Adam has co-founded or played a founding role in five successful start-ups, four of which were acquired for their groundbreaking AI technologies. Among these are Siri (acquired by Apple, where he worked closely with Steve Jobs to lead server-side engineering and AI), Viv Labs (acquired by Samsung, where he served as Vice President of R&D, driving Bixby’s product engineering and developer ecosystem), Sentient (a leader in massively distributed machine learning, acquired by Cognizant), and Gameplanner.AI (Airbnb’s first acquisition as a public company). He also co-founded Change.org, now the world’s largest petition platform, empowering over 500 million people in nearly 200 countries.
Currently, Adam serves as Vice President of AI Experience at Airbnb, leading efforts to transform the platform into a generative AI–powered travel concierge. He also advises multiple AI-driven ventures, including Project Voice Capital Partners, Otter.ai, Riva Health, Evolv Technology, Brilliant Labs, and Spatial Labs. Earlier in his career, Adam spent more than a decade at SRI International, where he was Chief Architect of CALO/PAL, the largest AI project ever funded by the US government.
In addition to publishing over 60 research papers and serving on numerous advisory boards, Adam is a captivating keynote speaker who blends authority with accessibility. His presentations have inspired leaders at Cisco, Google, Visa, Dell and many more, offering rare insights into the future of technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
Outside the world of AI, Adam is also an award-winning magician, having performed for heads of state, global audiences, and alongside legends such as David Copperfield and David Blaine.