Michael Chorost

Leading Expert on Human/Machine Integration

Michael Chorost

Leading Expert on Human/Machine Integration

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Biography

Michael Chorost is an up-and-coming technology theorist with an unusual perspective: in 2001 he went completely deaf and had a computer implanted in his head to let him hear again. This transformative experience inspired his first book, Rebuilt: How Becoming Part Computer Made Me More Human. He wrote about how mastering his new ear, a cochlear implant, enabled him to reach his full creative potential as a human being. The critics agreed; in 2006, Rebuilt won the PEN/USA Book Award for Creative Nonfiction.

When Chorost went deaf he was already well-prepared to write a book about the experience. He earned his BA at Brown University and studied computer programming, Renaissance literature, and cultural theory on the way to his PhD. He doesn’t draw sharp lines between programming, science, writing, and art; to him, these are all profoundly creative human endeavors. This freewheeling approach infuses his forthcoming book, World Wide Mind: The Coming Integration of Humans and Machines. In this book he ups the ante, proposing that humanity can incorporate the computer into its collective soul in a way that enhances communities and creative work instead of diminishing them.

Dr. Chorost has written for Wired, The Washington Post, Technology Review, and The Scientist, among others. He wrote the screenplay for a TV special on brain implants titled The 22nd Century, which aired on PBS in January 2007. He sits on external advisory boards for neuroscience research at Northwestern and Brown.

He has been interviewed by numerous periodicals including The New York Times, The Independent, and SonntagZeitung, and has been a guest on NPR shows including “Weekend Edition” and Michael Krasny’s “Forum.” He has given over 80 talks at institutions such as Google, MIT, Stanford, Brown, Duke, and the Commonwealth Club of San Francisco. He has also appeared on the television shows BBC Breakfast TV, Eyewitness News, and C-SPAN’s BookTV.

Dr. Chorost’s superb speaking skills have been honed by 15 years of teaching at Duke, the University of Texas-Austin, and the University of San Francisco. Students have often rated him as being the best teacher of their undergraduate career. His speaking style is thoughtful, engaging, and wryly funny. Despite his total deafness, his cochlear implants let him use the phone easily and take questions from audiences with skill and flair.

Speaker Videos

How Computers Made Me More Human

Speech Topics

Transformation: When The Only Way Out Is Through

New Bodies, New Lives

Testimonials

"Mike exceeded our expectations in the quality of his lecture and in his willingness to accommodate a busy schedule filled with visits to classes, a lunch with students, a post-lecture student social, and a dinner with faculty. It is a tribute to Mike’s generous nature that before coming he specifically requested us to provide as many opportunities as possible for him to interact with students. Our students enjoyed those interactions with Mike whom they found personable, attentive and interested in what they had to say. They especially appreciated that he seemed comfortable in sating people’s curiosity about his cochlear implant, often by detaching it from his scalp for the inquisitor to handle and examine closely. We were awed that this technology made it possible for Mike to communicate so freely and effectively with us."

- Gustavus Adolphus College

"It was enjoyable working with Mike on this endeavor. He responded quickly to our initial inquiry and I found it quite easy to work with him on all of the arrangements. I believe that he had a chance to meet with students from at least one course, as well as faculty from biology, psychology, computer science, and physics while he was on campus. And, I understand that those meetings went well. We would certainly invite Mike to return to campus for another talk or to work with our students, if the opportunity arises. And I would recommend him highly to any group interested in the connections between neuroscience and technology."

- Gustavus Adolphus College

"Dr. Chorost spoke on topics from both of his books, Rebuild and World Wide Mind, and had his audience enthralled with complex information conveyed clearlt, personal and humorous anecdotes, and active engagement with his audience. He handled the question and answer session after his talk with equal aplomb and enthusiasm, and by the end of his talk, there were still many hands raised in the air for questions. Audience members stayed and kept him occupied for another 30 minutes or so after his talk and undoubtedly would have kept him longer had he not been whisked away to dinner by some faculty members! All in all, Dr. Chorost’s talk was deemed a tremendous success at Bard."

- Bard College