Stephanie Hare

Stephanie Hare built her career on a simple but urgent question: how do we use technology without losing sight of the people it affects?

A familiar face to BBC viewers, Hare co-presents Artificial Intelligence: Decoded and regularly contributes to the BBC World Service, where she is known for explaining fast-moving technological issues in a way that actually feels human. Her first book, Technology Is Not Neutral, was named Financial Times Best Technology Book of Summer 2022 and has become a touchpoint for anyone navigating the ethics of facial recognition, algorithmic decision-making and the quiet ways digital systems reshape everyday life.

Stephanie Hare has worked inside major technology companies, including Accenture and Palantir, giving her a close-up understanding of how powerful systems are built and sold. She has also held research roles at Oxford and the LSE, where she earned her PhD. Her writing has appeared in the Financial Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian/Observer, Harvard Business Review, WIRED and Computer Weekly. Hare’s work shows how technology can drift far beyond its original purpose when no one asks the right questions early enough.

One of Hare’s most compelling contributions has been her sustained examination of live facial recognition technology in the UK. She has consistently highlighted how the police deployed it without clear public consent or a legal framework, even as the EU and several US jurisdictions moved towards restrictions or bans. Her grounded analysis has shaped public debate and underscored the gap between technological capability and democratic accountability.

As a speaker, Hare is direct, deeply knowledgeable and unafraid to challenge assumptions. She shows how AI systems make decisions about policing, healthcare, hiring and public services, and what can be done when those decisions cross ethical lines. She leaves audiences better equipped to judge the promises made by governments and tech companies, and more confident about demanding accountability.