top of page

David J. Staley, PhD

Associate Professor, Department of History

College of Arts and Sciences, The Ohio State University

David Staley is an associate professor in the Department of History--where he teaches courses in digital history and historical methods--and holds courtesy appointments in the departments of Design--where he has taught courses in Design History and Design Futures--and Educational Studies, where he has led the "Forum on the University."  His is the author of  Visionary Histories (Center for Science and the Imagination, 2022) , a collection of his futures essays; the co-author of Knowledge Towns: Colleges and Universities as Talent Magnets (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2023); Historical Imagination (Routledge, 2020); Alternative Universities: Speculative Design for Innovation in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2019); Brain, Mind and Internet: A Deep History and Future (Palgrave Macmillan, 2014)Computers, Visualization and History, 2nded. (Routledge, 2014) and History and Future: Using Historical Thinking to Imagine the Future (Lexington Books, 2007)He is an Honorary Faculty Fellow in Innovation at the Center for Higher Ed Leadership and Innovative Practice (CHELIP) at Bay Path University, and is a Fellow at the Center for Science and the Imagination at Arizona State University.  He is host of the "Voices of Excellence in the Arts and Sciences" podcast. In 2022 he was awarded "Best Freelance Writer" by the Ohio Society of Professional Journalists for his "Next" futures column. From 2003-2008, Staley was the Executive Director of the American Association for History and Computing (AAHC).  

David J. Staley, PhD
Keynote
July 29, 2026 - Practitioner Day
9:05 AM - 10:00 AM
Ohana Hall
Opening Keynote: The AI Symposium

"The AI Symposium" reimagines human-AI interaction through a groundbreaking conceptual experiment. By orchestrating dialogue between three advanced language models—ChatGPT, Gemini, and Claude—We explore whether true intelligence emerges through conversation rather than command (prompting). This keynote will ask: Can AI develop "dialogic consciousness" through reciprocal exchange? The presentation blends philosophy, speculative fiction, and design thinking to challenge our assumptions about intelligence, communication, and coexistence with machines. Rather than viewing AI as merely responsive tools, it proposes a future where humans and artificial minds engage in genuine, thought-provoking dialogue. The AI Symposium asks whether true or even artificial general intelligence might emerge not through command and response, but through meaningful, reciprocal conversation between humans and machines.

General
July 29, 2026 - Practitioner Day
10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Exhibit Hall
Book Signing: "The AI Symposium" with Dr. David J Staley

Join us for a special Buckeye Dreamin’ exclusive! Author, futurist, and Ohio State professor Dr. David Staley will be on-site for a book signing of his latest work, The AI Symposium, a compelling exploration of how artificial intelligence will reshape society, organizations, and human creativity. Whether you're an AI enthusiast, a leader navigating digital transformation, or simply curious about the future, this is a unique opportunity to meet one of the region’s most thoughtful voices on innovation and foresight. Stop by to grab a signed copy, connect with David, and continue the conversation about how AI is redefining the world we build together.

bottom of page