Tim Urban

In 2016, Tim Urban recognized that something was amiss in American society—political tribalism was escalating, social media was rife with anger, and meaningful conversations seemed increasingly rare. Over the next six years, Tim embarked on an in-depth exploration of these societal challenges, culminating in his bestselling book, What’s Our Problem?, released in February 2023, where he reveals the insights he uncovered.

In his talk, Tim examines the broader American landscape, highlighting how rapid shifts in technology, geography, government, and media have led to unexpected consequences. He argues that our political discourse is limited by the traditional left-center-right spectrum and introduces a new approach from his book: a vertical axis that brings a crucial layer of nuance. Tim reframes the conversation by replacing the divisive terms “left” and “right” with “high-rung politics” and “low-rung politics.” As society moves from high to low, complex ideas are reduced to rigid binaries, open discussion gives way to conformity, and activism shifts from promoting common humanity to targeting common enemies. The core issue is the growing dominance of low-rung politics over high-rung politics.

The solution Tim proposes is to become more conscious of this vertical framework, encouraging people to stand up for their values and beliefs. By adopting this perspective, the audience can enhance their critical thinking, engage in more meaningful conversations, and contribute to steering society in a more positive direction.

Back in 2014, well before Artificial Intelligence became a widespread topic of discussion, Tim Urban embarked on an in-depth exploration of AI. He quickly realized that AI wasn’t just an important issue but perhaps the most crucial topic for our future. After three years of rigorous research, Tim published “The AI Revolution and the Road to Superintelligence,” offering readers a comprehensive look at what AI is, how it functions, and why it is poised to transform our lives. Vox aptly described this work as Tim’s "epic series on artificial intelligence."

Tim's analysis quickly positioned him as a leading voice on AI, resonating with a diverse audience, including key figures in Silicon Valley. Elon Musk twice shared “The AI Revolution” on Twitter, praising it as an "excellent and funny intro article about Artificial Superintelligence" and strongly recommending it. Tim later transformed his deep dive into AI into a captivating talk, which was hailed by the head of Sweden’s Øredev conference as “the best keynote in years.” Similarly, after witnessing Tim’s presentation at Social Media Week in New York, conference founder Toby Daniels described him as "brilliant, inspiring, and terrifying all at once," leaving the audience in awe of what the future holds.

As AI rapidly integrates into nearly every industry and aspect of life, Tim Urban continues to be the foremost and engaging explainer of this transformative shift, helping audiences understand the profound changes AI will bring to the way we live, work, and evolve as a society.

Procrastination is widely recognized as a major obstacle to success, personal growth, and self-confidence. While tips on overcoming procrastination are abundant and easy to find, they often lead to temporary results if we don't first understand the underlying reasons for procrastination. In this entertaining, thought-provoking, and practically optimistic talk, Tim Urban delves into why we procrastinate and how to effectively overcome it. With over 65 million views, his TED Talk ranks as the third most-watched and one of the funniest ever. Urban identifies three key reasons—or “players”—that compete for our attention, focus, and time, offering valuable insights into the root causes of procrastination. He then equips audiences with practical tools, including the Eisenhower Matrix and his own six strategies for combating both short- and long-term procrastination. This keynote is not only relevant to individuals but also highly beneficial for teams, driving change and fostering growth. Audiences leave with aching sides from laughter and a renewed understanding of how to conquer the biggest barrier to their success.

Tim Urban’s “Thinking Ladder” and the concept of “High-Rung Thinking” are central to his recent book, What’s Our Problem?: A Self-Help Book for Societies. However, these ideas began gaining traction long before the book's release, particularly among business leaders like Shopify CEO Tobi Lütke. Lütke, recognizing the value of Tim’s insights for leadership and team dynamics, was so impressed that he had the articles on the subject bound into booklets for his entire company.

In a world where the focus is often on what we think, The Thinking Ladder shifts the perspective to how we think. At the top rungs of the Ladder, thinking is open-minded and truth-oriented. As we descend to the lower rungs, thinking becomes more rigid, with individuals identifying closely with their ideas, leading to resistance to change and stagnation in learning. The Thinking Ladder serves as an intuitive tool that encourages innovation, creativity, and powerful insights, making it highly relevant to corporate culture, team management, motivation, and even addressing societal issues.

In this transformative talk, Tim Urban explores the dynamics of individual and group thinking and how these processes are interconnected. Through his signature illustrations, Tim breaks down the Thinking Ladder into four types of thinking: “The Scientist” and “The Sports Fan,” who operate on the high rungs, maintaining open and flexible thinking; and “The Attorney” and “The Zealot,” who occupy the lower rungs, where dogmatic and outdated ideas persist. Tim explains why “high-rung thinking” is more conducive to innovation and effective teamwork.

Tim also applies the Thinking Ladder to group dynamics, introducing two types of intellectual and workplace cultures: The Idea Lab, a “high-rung” environment where disagreement is welcomed and ideas are rigorously tested, fostering a collective “superbrain” within the company; and The Echo Chamber, a “low-rung” culture that discourages dissent and promotes conformity, limiting the intellectual potential of the team to that of the CEO.

This keynote is designed to immediately influence how you perceive, respond to, and strategize about nearly every aspect of your work and life. Tim’s guidance encourages individuals to stay on the highest rungs of their own Thinking Ladder, leading to profound shifts in how they approach problem-solving and collaboration. His frameworks are not only catchy and memorable but also deeply impactful, ensuring that audiences will continue to apply these concepts long after the talk ends.