Bios in every length, headshots, topics at a glance, AV requirements, and a checklist for vetting any futurist speaker — including why Matt fits the brief.
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Matt Carmichael is a data-driven futurist and SVP at Ipsos who helps audiences understand where consumers, culture, and AI are headed — and what to do about it.
Matt Carmichael is an SVP at Ipsos and one of the world's leading voices on consumer trends, AI trust, and demographic change. He leads the Ipsos Global AI Monitor across 32 countries, the US Consumer Tracker, and edits What the Future, Ipsos's flagship public research magazine. A former journalist, rock critic, and concert photographer, Matt brings data to life through storytelling that sticks — and leaves audiences with a clear picture of what's coming and what to do next.
Matt Carmichael is SVP of Consumer Trends Thought Leadership at Ipsos, one of the world's largest market research firms. He leads the Ipsos Global AI Monitor — tracking AI attitudes, adoption, and trust across 32 countries — as well as the US Consumer Tracker, which goes into the field every two weeks with 1,000 Americans. He is also the founding editor of What the Future, Ipsos's award-winning public-facing research magazine, and a co-author of Ipsos's Global Trends report.
Matt's talks are built on original data, not borrowed slides. His frameworks — including Modern Milestones (how life stages have shifted since 1970), the Human Economy (what consumer stress data actually tells us), and AI Trust (why the US is a global outlier on AI anxiety) — give business audiences a clear, credible picture of where their customers, employees, and industries are heading.
Before joining Ipsos, Matt was a journalist for Advertising Age and Crain's Chicago Business, a rock critic, and a concert photographer. He is the author of Meeting My Heroes. He has spoken for financial services firms, food industry associations, technology companies, and global trade organizations.
High-resolution photos available for print and digital use. Contact matt@mattcarmichael.com to receive full-resolution files.
Headshot — dark
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Headshot — light
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On stage — Marketing Summit
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On stage — keynote
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SXSW — Foresight Improv
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On stage — candid
Request hi-resAll talks are built around original Ipsos research and customized for your audience and industry. These are the core frameworks — not off-the-shelf titles.
| Topic | What Audiences Take Away | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Modern Milestones | How life stages have shifted since 1970 — driver's licenses, marriage, homeownership, retirement — and why the generational lens misses most of the story | Financial services, real estate, retail, healthcare, HR |
| The Human Economy | What consumer stress data actually says about spending, saving, and cutting back — and why higher-income Americans feel "better off but not well off" | Financial services, retail, food & beverage, consumer goods |
| AI & Trust | Why the US is a global outlier on AI anxiety, what the Ipsos Global AI Monitor shows about adoption vs. resistance, and how keeping humans in the loop is the trust strategy | Tech, financial services, healthcare, any industry navigating AI adoption |
| All the Young Dudes | Who the Twentysomethings really are as a life stage — their relationship with risk, investing, digital dependency, and brand loyalty — and what that means for the decade ahead | Financial services, retail, media, entertainment |
| The Future of [Your Industry] | A custom talk built around the signals most relevant to your sector — drawn from Ipsos data, the What the Future archive, and your industry's specific inflection points | Any industry association, executive summit, or company offsite |
Matt's talks are built around live audience interaction — polling questions, live results, and real-time data reveals. Here's what that requires.
Matt uses QR-code-based live polling to ask the audience the same questions Ipsos asks 1,000 Americans — then compares their answers to national data in real time. This requires audience members to have smartphones and venue wifi (or adequate cellular).
Every talk is tailored to the audience and industry. A 30-minute intro call before the event helps Matt calibrate data, examples, and framing. For industry associations, a brief intake on what questions your members are wrestling with goes a long way.
Five questions worth asking any futurist speaker before you book — and how Matt answers each one.
Matt's answer: Original Ipsos research. The Global AI Monitor (32 countries), the US Consumer Tracker (in field every two weeks), and the What the Future archive. Audiences see data they haven't seen before.
Matt's answer: Every talk is built for the room. If you're in financial services, the data on AI trust, investing behavior, and life stage shifts is applied directly to your clients and your business model.
Matt's answer: Career journalist and storyteller first; researcher second. The Advertising Age and Crain's background means data gets translated into narrative, not presented as a slide deck.
Matt's answer: Every talk ends with specific, actionable takeaways tied to the research. The goal is that attendees can articulate what they heard to a colleague the next day and why it matters.
Matt's answer: Financial services associations, food industry executives, technology companies, global trade conferences, and marketing organizations — across keynote, breakout, and fireside formats.
A quick intro call is the fastest way to figure out if Matt is the right fit for your event. No obligation, no pitch deck.
Get in Touch matt@mattcarmichael.com