Alex Castrounis’ Speaking Home Page

Founder & CEO at Why of AI, Kellogg MBAi Professor, Author, Keynote Speaker

Former INDYCAR Engineer, Race Strategist, & Data Scientist

 
Alex Castrounis Headshot

Meet Alex

Alex Castrounis is the founder and CEO of Why of AI, a book author on AI, and a professor of AI for Northwestern University's Kellogg & McCormick MBAi program. He has over two decades of experience advising startups to Fortune 100 companies on using data, analytics, and AI models to drive business growth and customer success.

Alex is also a former INDYCAR engineer, race strategist, and data scientist who drove winning results for teams such as Andretti Autosport in world-renowned races, including the Indy 500. His experience applying analytics to make smarter, data-driven decisions in racing now helps businesses gain and maintain a competitive advantage in their industry.

 
 

Where to Connect

Keynote Speaker Alex Castrounis | AI & Machine Learning

Your Next AI Keynote Speaker or Guest

Need an keynote speaker, presenter, expert panelist, moderator, or guest on artificial intelligence for your next event or show?

Alex has extensive experience speaking at prominent events, delivering keynotes to business leaders at many of the largest organizations, and has appeared as a guest on numerous notable podcasts and shows. He also spoke at SXSW 2022 where his session was a featured favorite by organizations such as Adobe.

See below for a curated list of previous speaking engagements.

A Curated Selection of Alex’s Speaking Engagements & Guest Spots

 

Keynotes

  • Large Language Models: Friend, Foe, or Otherwise (GOTO Chicago 2023)

  • ThinkChicago Exchange 2023

  • Navigating the Future of AI (Drive Capital and Decasonic)

  • From INDYCAR Racing to AI-Powered Wins in Business (1871, Chicago Cubs, McKinsey, Microsoft, Discover)

  • From INDYCAR Racing to AI-Powered Wins in CRE (EY, CoreNet, Cresa)

  • Staying current across the AI/ML landscape: Tips for Driving Competitive Advantage (Domino Data Labs Data Science ExecConnect)

    • Attendees included senior executives from many Silicon Valley tech giants

  • Syncing the Data Conversation Between Business and Technology (1871 Executive Roundtable)

    • Attendees included senior executives from Google, Lenovo, Mondelez International, Exelon, BP, Quantum Metrics, Insight Partners, and more

  • Future-proof: Redefining Your Business Through Diversified Innovation (1871 Corporate Innovation Summit)

    • Attendees included senior executives from Salesforce, Bosch, Accenture, BMO Harris, Aon, Discover, All State, State Farm, Caterpillar, BP, US Cellular, Dow Chemical, Nestle, and more

Speaker

  • A New Turing Test: Can AI Find a Missing Rabbit? (South by Southwest, SXSW)

  • The Role of Data & AI in Supply Chain Transformation (Accenture & 1871 Supply Chain Innovation Summit)

  • Accelerate Your Startup Idea: Fast Track to Tech (Apple)

  • The Future of Product Management (Expedia)

  • Creating Value For Your Organization: Using AI and Analytics (E*TRADE)

  • At the Intersection of AI and Design (DePaul University)

  • Artificial Intelligence and Visualization Overview Day (University of Illinois Chicago, UIC, Innovation Center)

  • Product Management on the Frontier of Innovation (Slalom)

A New Turing Test: Can AI Find a Missing Rabbit? | SXSW 2022 | Featuring Alex Castrounis, Pamela Pavliscak, and Casey Hudetz.

Alex delivering the opening keynote at the GOTO Chicago 2023 conference.

Alex delivering the closing remarks at the 2023 AI Innovation Summit, in partnership with the #1 globally ranked private business incubator, 1871, – featuring 40 startups and excellent partners such as Discover, McKinsey, Microsoft, World Business Chicago, and the Chicago Cubs!

What People Are Saying

 

TRENTON DUNN

ThinkChicago Program Manager, World Business Chicago

“Alex was an incredible keynote speaker. He provided an engaging keynote that sparked great questions and conversation. His ability to showcase his unique background and connect with multiple audiences makes him the ideal speaker for a wide range of events. We will definitely invite him back for future opportunities.”

STEFFEN BRAA ANDERSEN

Head of GOTO and YOW! Conferences

“Alex set the stage for GOTO Chicago 2023 with an incredible opening keynote! He gave an overview of the latest AI trends, and dove into the technical details, from AI and ML to LLMs and the Transformer architecture. Alex is an amazing speaker - confident and knowledgeable, he knows how to make complex topics accessible and engaging. His talks provide just the right amount of knowledge and insight, making them interesting and enjoyable. Highly recommend him for any keynote!”

 

Emily Rhodes

Director of Marketing, LiquidFrameworks

“Alex was the keynote speaker at our annual user conference. He tailored his keynote to our audience, which was an overwhelming success. His engaging presentation style and in-depth technical knowledge were a big hit with our audience. He is also very accommodating and easy to work with.”

Video Gallery

An additional selection of Alex’s talks and guest appearances.

Alex as guest discussing the importance of responsible and trustworthy AI on the AI 2030 Show.

Alex discussing the 2024 AI Innovation Lab and his vision for it. He is the lab’s entrepreneur in residence (EIR) and his company, Why of AI, is the lab’s official execution partner.

Photo Gallery

  • Panel
  • Alex Castrounis - Race Strategist and Engineer - Preparing for the Start of the 2006 Indianapolis 500

    Alex Castrounis - Race Strategist and Engineer - Preparing for the Start of the 2006 Indianapolis 500

  • Alex Castrounis following his 2022 SXSW panel session entitled: A New Turing Test: Can AI Find a Missing Rabbit?

    Alex Castrounis following his 2022 SXSW panel session entitled: A New Turing Test: Can AI Find a Missing Rabbit?

  • Alex Castrounis (middle right) and Team Celebrating Winning the Historic Champ Car Finale | 2008 Grand Prix of Long Beach | Will Power - Team Driver and Race Winner - Interviewed by ESPN in Victory Circle

    Alex Castrounis (middle, facing camera), Driver - Will Power (left), and Team Celebrating Winning the Historic 2008 Champ Car Finale in Long Beach

  • Keynote
  • Alex Castrounis (upper right) - Race Strategist and Engineer - Featured in Racer Magazine for Davey Hamilton’s famed comeback Indianapolis 500 race following 23 surgeries to reconstruct his legs and feet after a horrific crash at the Texas Motor Spee

    Alex Castrounis (upper right) - Race Strategist and Engineer - Featured in Racer Magazine for Davey Hamilton’s famed comeback Indianapolis 500 race following 23 surgeries to reconstruct his legs and feet after a horrific crash at the Texas Motor Speedway in 2001 | Reprinted from RACER Magazine

  • Keynote
  • Kellogg Technology (KTech) Panel
  • Panel
  • Workshop
  • Workshop
 

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