Dr. Ayesha Khanna is a visionary leader in artificial intelligence (AI) and smart cities, serving as the Co-Founder and CEO of ADDO AI, a leading AI solutions firm and incubator. Recognised by Forbes as one of Asia’s groundbreaking female entrepreneurs, she has been a trusted advisor to global corporations and governments, shaping strategies in AI, digital transformation, and urban innovation.

With over a decade of expertise, Ayesha has guided organisations in leveraging AI for scenario analysis, product development, digital branding, customer experience, and market entry. Her firm, ADDO AI, was spotlighted in Forbes as one of Asia’s top four AI companies in 2017. She has worked with prominent clients, including Singtel, Smart Dubai, Habib Bank, and SOMPO Japan, delivering actionable insights to enhance technological adoption.

Ayesha is also the Founder of the Hybrid Reality Institute, which explores the intersection of technology trends, data intelligence, and geopolitics, and Urban Intel, a platform focused on digital skills development for urbanisation professionals. She is passionate about empowering the next generation and founded 21st Century Girls, a non-profit teaching young women coding and AI skills.

An engaging and insightful keynote speaker, Ayesha has delivered presentations at industry-leading events and conferences, discussing topics such as generative AI, ethical technology, and the future of smart cities. Her audiences have included executives, policymakers, and academics, and her insights continue to influence global AI conversations.

Ayesha is a prolific author, co-writing the critically acclaimed Hybrid Reality: Thriving in the Emerging Human-Technology Civilization and the upcoming U+AI, which examines the human benefits of artificial intelligence. She is also a member of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Lifeboat Foundation, a Fellow at the Institute for Ethics and Emerging Technologies, and an organiser of TEDxGotham.

Ayesha’s thought leadership and innovation have been featured in publications like The Business Times, Peak Hong Kong, and In The Black Australia. She has been recognised as a leading Asian fintech influencer by Fintech Asia and serves on the Board of the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA), Singapore’s regulatory body for technology innovation.

Her academic credentials include a BA (Honours) in Economics from Harvard University, an MSc in Operations Research from Columbia University, and ongoing PhD research at the London School of Economics in Information Systems and Innovation. Ayesha’s pioneering work continues to inspire organisations to adopt transformative technologies and prepare for a smarter, AI-driven future.