Nita Farahany

Nita Farahany is a leading authority on the ethics of emerging technologies and a sought-after keynote speaker who challenges audiences to rethink the boundaries between the human mind and machine intelligence. She is the Robinson O. Everett Distinguished Professor of Law and Philosophy at Duke University and the Founding Director of the Duke Initiative for Science and Society. Her groundbreaking book, ‘The Battle for Your Brain’, explores the rise of neurotechnology and the urgent need to defend the right to think freely in an age when our thoughts can be accessed, influenced, and potentially controlled. With a reputation for bridging science, law and ethics, Nita is recognised globally as a pioneer in defining cognitive liberty for the digital era.

Nita’s academic path began in science. She studied genetics, cell and developmental biology at Dartmouth College before moving to Duke University where she earned a JD, an MA in Philosophy of Biology, and a PhD in Jurisprudence. Her scientific curiosity and legal training came together during her early work as a Law Clerk for Judge Judith W. Rogers at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. She later joined Vanderbilt University as an Assistant Professor of Law, where she began developing her early scholarship on bioethics and emerging technology. A year as the Leah Kaplan Visiting Professor of Human Rights at Stanford Law further deepened her understanding of the ethical dimensions of law and human rights.

Over the course of her career, Nita has been recognised for her scholarship and leadership in ethics, law and technology. She was appointed by President Barack Obama to the Presidential Commission for the Study of Bioethical Issues, served as President of the International Neuroethics Society, and became a Commissioner of the Uniform Law Commission. She has been elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and a Member of the American Law Institute, both marking her influence on global ethical and legal standards. In 2021, she received the Distinguished Teaching Award from Duke University, praised by students for her empathy and dedication. Her work has been featured on global stages including TED, the World Economic Forum, and the Aspen Ideas Festival, where she continues to shape public conversation on neurotechnology, AI, and human rights.

Organisations book Nita because she makes complex scientific and legal issues tangible and deeply human. Her keynotes examine how technologies like AI, brain-computer interfaces, and neurodata will redefine privacy, identity and freedom. She covers topics including neurotechnology and mental privacy, AI ethics, and cognitive liberty. As societies race to adopt technologies capable of decoding thought, her insights help leaders anticipate risk, build trust, and design fair systems.