Kitty Horlick

Kitty Horlick is a leading Artificial Intelligence keynote speaker and technology strategist recognised for making the hidden impacts of AI visible, practical, and ethically grounded. As COO of Rarilabs and Founder of Blackwood Consultancy, Kitty operates at the intersection of AI, blockchain, digital identity, and democracy. Her work focuses on how AI reshapes trust, data, and decision making, helping organisations understand not only what these technologies can do, but what they should do. Kitty is widely respected for her ability to translate complex systems into clear insight that leaders, policymakers, and businesses can act on with confidence.

With over eight years of hands-on experience in AI and blockchain, Kitty has built a career rooted in real-world implementation rather than theory. At Rarilabs, a blockchain-based research centre, she leads the development of privacy-first tools designed to counter some of the most urgent risks created by AI adoption. This includes work on AI-generated content detection, data provenance, and protecting personal information from large-scale corporate and state surveillance. Kitty’s leadership places her at the forefront of efforts to restore trust in digital systems at a time when deepfakes, unreliable data, and automated misinformation threaten markets and democratic processes alike.

One of Kitty’s most significant achievements is her role in developing Freedom Tool, a surveillance-free voting platform created at Rarilabs. The tool was used by Russian dissidents to anonymously protest against the Kremlin and successfully withstood multiple cyberattacks. This project is widely regarded as a landmark example of ethical technology deployed under extreme conditions. Rarilabs is also a key contributor to Rarimo, a digital identity protocol addressing authentication and fraud risks accelerated by generative AI. Kitty’s work consistently demonstrates how AI and decentralised technologies can be used to protect individuals rather than exploit them.

Alongside her research leadership, Kitty founded Blackwood, a consultancy that supports traditional organisations navigating AI, Web3, and decentralised technologies. Through Blackwood, she advises leaders on responsible AI implementation, automation strategy, and separating genuine innovation from hype. Kitty also brings a strong communications background, having written for The Sunday Times and appeared as a technology expert on BBC Radio 4. As a keynote speaker, Kitty delivers clear, engaging talks that equip audiences with practical frameworks for evaluating AI investment, managing risk, and building technology strategies grounded in purpose, resilience, and trust.