will.i.am
will.i.am
Entertainer, Creative Innovator & Tech Entrepreneur
Multi-platinum global music artist and creative innovator will.i.am has been recognized by seven Grammy Awards, an Emmy Award, a CLIO Award, a TIME 100 Impact Award, the World Economic Forum’s Crystal Award, and an Honorary Fellowship by the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET).

In his role as a creative consultant and Futurist to multinational corporations, NGOs and academic institutions, will.i.am has teamed with many entities, among them Accenture, Air Asia, Apple, Atom Bank, BEATS Electronics, Coca-Cola, Deutsche Telekom, Gucci, Honeywell, IBM, Intel, JPMorgan Chase, Majid Al Futtaim Group, Marvel Comics, Mercedes-Benz, Microsoft, Penguin Publishing, Pepsi, Salesforce, Sony Music/Epic Records and World Economic Forum.

Highlights of his early work as a Futurist and opportunity spotter started with Beats Electronics where will.i.am became a founding equity stakeholder in the company that transformed professional audio headphones into Beats By Dre™, a best-selling global consumer electronics and fashion accessory. Beats Electronics was acquired by Apple in 2014 for US$3 billion.

Leveraging his early experience in the consumer electronics industry, will.i.am continues to build and manage his own tech-based companies focused on software and operating systems incorporating AI, natural language understanding, voice computing, creativity & productivity, customer-service apps, as well as consumer-tech products.

After an eight-year hiatus, in 2020 will.i.am and Black Eyed Peas topped the international music charts again with multiple hits from TRANSLATION, their modern Latin crossover album featuring collaborations with J Balvin, Shakira, Becky G, El Alfa, Maluma and Ozuna. “TRANSLATION” was lauded as one of the top chart-topping Latin albums of year with five tracks that topped the charts around the world. Black Eyed Peas’ ninth and newest album “ELEVATION” will drop on November 11, 2022.

In television, his projects push the boundaries of creativity, technology, and tap the art of storytelling to engage audiences through entertainment, often incorporating technology, science and social justice themes. Since 2012 he has executive-produced and starred in prime-time specials, series and documentary programs for networks including ABC, Apple TV, BBC, Discovery Network, FOX, ITV, NBC, Nine Network (Australia), Science Channel and YouTube Learning. He currently stars as a Coach in two reality competition TV shows “The Voice UK” and “The Voice Kids UK.”

He a member of the World Economic Forum’s Fourth Industrial Revolution Advisory Board and the Global Artificial Intelligence Action Alliance that monitors the impact of technology on society, people and work. He also co-chairs the World Economic Forum’s Generation AI working group that examines the interaction of AI and youth across education, play, data rights and privacy. He also chairs the World Economic Forum’s “Smart Toy Awards” that recognizes top toys that utilize AI that help improve the lives of children around the world.

will.i.am’s i.am/Angel Foundation supports in-class and after-school STEAM education programs for more than 12,000 disadvantaged youth in grades K – 12. The foundation also funds the Boyle Heights STEM Magnet High School, and the i.am Scholarship program that provides gap funding to college-bound students. In 2021, the i.am/ Angel Foundation announced a major expansion of 400 new teen after-school robotics clubs within the Los Angeles Unified School District. As a member of the FIRST robotics organization’s board of directors, will.i.am also serves as a global advocate regarding the vital importance of STEAM skills development as the basis of an educated workforce that can fill the jobs of today, and tomorrow.