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Futurism, Pandemics, and the Future of Knowledge | MBRF, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker
During this keynote session, in Arabic, speaker and futurist Matthew Griffin discusses the future of knowledge and insightful machines, how to spot and stop the next pandemic, and how to become a futurist.
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Griffin, M. (2022) 'Futurism, Pandemics, and the Future of Knowledge | MBRF, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker', 311 Institute, 5 September. Available at: https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-uae-futurism-pandemics-and-the-future-of-knowledge-undp-and-mbrf/ (Accessed: 1 October 2026).
Firstly, thank you to Muna for asking me to present at the MBRF Knowledge Summit held at the Dubai Expo 2020 main arena on behalf of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) where leading luminaries came together in front of an audience of international dignitaries to discuss the latest developments and ideas in the Knowledge Economy and how they can be used to solve some of the world’s most pressing challenges.
During my keynote session I discussed many things, including the future of knowledge itself, with a focus on how and what we learn, and how technology is helping us learn new things in new ways - whether it’s using neurotech to upload knowledge to our minds, Matrix style, or whether it’s the emergence of AI’s that, without human input, create their own knowledge which in many respects differs from our own knowledge and “wisdom.”
Futurism, Pandemics, and the future of knowledge, rewind and relpay
I was also asked by the organisers to present on how to think like a futurist – something I know quite well – and how we spot and, for want of a better word, solve the next pandemic.
From new sensors and detection systems that let us spot the early emergence of the next pandemic, to new technologies that will help us counter it, we left no stone unturned and it was all done in forty minutes or so. As you can see from the video I crossed a lot of territory, and at the end of the session had changed a lot of people’s world view.
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During this keynote session, in Arabic, speaker and futurist Matthew Griffin discusses the future of knowledge and insightful machines, how to spot and stop the next pandemic, and how to become a futurist.
About the author
Matthew Griffin Founder, 311 Institute
Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath."
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Matthew Griffin is a multi-award winning Futurist and expert in Disruption and Innovation, Geopolitics, Leadership, and Technology, who NASA have described as a "walking encyclopaedia of the future" and a "futurist Polymath." 15-time best selling author of the "Codex of the Future" series, Matthew is the Founder and Futurist in Chief of the 311 Institute, a global Futures and Deep Futures advisory firm working with royal households, world leaders, G7, G20, and G77 governments, NGOs, and multi-national mid and mega cap firms to help them explore, shape, and lead the next 50 years of business and society.
An award-winning YouTube creator with over a million followers, with an unrivalled global reach and impact, Matthew is a highly sought-after international keynote speaker, lecturer, and mentor who collaborates with global leaders through the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) and United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to shape pivotal initiatives such as the UN’s AI for Humanity program, the United Nations Conference of the Parties (UN COP), and the World Economic Forum in Davos.
As the former Global Head of Cloud, National Security, and Enterprise Sales for companies including Atos, Dell-EMC, and IBM, Matthew has a proven track record of building multi-billion dollar business units and turning failing divisions into market leaders. His ability to identify, analyse, and communicate the implications of hundreds of emerging technologies and trends is unparalleled, and his insights are trusted by many of the world’s most respected organisations, including ABB, Accenture, Adidas, AON, ARM, BCG, Centrica, Citi, Coca-Cola, Dentons, Deloitte, Dow Jones, EY, Google, KPMG, Lego, Legal & General, LinkedIn, Microsoft, PepsiCo, Qualcomm, RWE, Samsung, Siemens AG and Siemens Energy, T-Mobile, UBS, VISA, Walmart, Workday, Worldpay and many others.
Regularly featured in the global media including the AP, BBC, Bloomberg, CNBC, Discovery, Forbes, Khaleej Times, Telegraph, TIME, ViacomCBS, WIRED, and the WSJ, Matthews mission is to help organisations create a fair and sustainable future whose benefits are shared by everyone irrespective of their ability, background, or circumstances.
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Sources and further reading
- Dubai Expo 2020 expo2020dubai.com
- United Nations Development Program undp.org
- Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation mbrf.ae
Source: first published by the 311 Institute on 5 September 2022. Cite as: Griffin, M. (2022). Futurism, Pandemics, and the Future of Knowledge | MBRF, Dubai | Matthew Griffin | Futurist Keynote Speaker. 311 Institute. https://www.311institute.com/futurist-keynote-uae-futurism-pandemics-and-the-future-of-knowledge-undp-and-mbrf/
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