Laura Herman

Laura Herman is the Head of AI UX Research at Adobe, where she leads cutting-edge work at the intersection of artificial intelligence, design, and human experience. She is widely sought after as an AI speaker because she brings a rare combination of technical insight, creative sensitivity, and user-centred thinking to the rapidly evolving AI landscape. Her work focuses on building AI systems that genuinely serve creative professionals, making her an authoritative and practical voice for organisations looking to adopt AI responsibly and effectively. Through her thought leadership, Laura amplifies the perspectives of historically marginalised communities, particularly those from the Global South. As a speaker, Laura promotes an inclusive, ethical, and transparent approach to new technologies, sharing the policies and tools her team has created to reduce harm.

Laura’s academic background strongly underpins her credibility as an AI speaker. She holds a BA spanning Psychology, Neuroscience, Cognitive Science, and Cultural Studies, an MSc in the Social Science of the Internet (Distinction) and a PhD in Information, Communication, and Social Sciences from the University of Oxford. As part of her DPhil at the Oxford Internet Institute, Laura created The Algorithmic Pedestal, a London exhibition exploring the growing curatorial role of algorithms by comparing AI-led curation with that of a human artist. Using Instagram’s algorithm and The Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, the project gained coverage from major outlets like the BBC, Forbes and the New Scientist. Her insights into the creative process are also strengthened by her artistic work, including exhibitions at the Tate and Ars Electronica and a partnership with the Serpentine Galleries on their Future Art Ecosystems report. Laura even served as a researcher-in-residence at Studio Olafur Eliasson. This interdisciplinary foundation allows her to approach AI not just as a technology, but as a social and cultural force. Her deep understanding of human behaviour, cognition, and digital systems enables her to translate complex AI concepts into meaningful insights for diverse audiences. Previous applications she has worked on have been recognised with global accolades, including being named Apple’s ‘App of the Day’ and a Webby People’s Choice Award.

Her career trajectory reflects a consistent focus on advancing AI through user experience research. Her early roles include research positions at Intel, Harvard University and Princeton University. She later joined Adobe, beginning as a User Experience Researcher in 2018, and progressing through roles including UX Research Lead, Senior UX Research Lead, and Senior Research Manager for AI, before becoming Head of AI UX Research. In 2025, she also served as Curator of Digital Art at the Victoria and Albert Museum, demonstrating her influence across both technology and the arts. That same year, she co-founded the Inclusive AI Lab at Utrecht University’s Centre for Global Challenges (UGlobe), further reinforcing her commitment to ethical and inclusive AI. Throughout her career, Laura has held various roles in which she has led teams of multi-disciplinary researchers that cover Generative AI for Creative Cloud. Laura also sits on the Boards of Trustees for two UK-based arts organisations, Eastside, a creative education provider for historically marginalised youths, and Oxford’s Old Fire Station, an artistic hub for those experiencing homelessness. Alongside this, Laura is an active speaker, having presented at Adobe’s annual Design Summit and at a community dinner co-hosted with CHANEL on building tools that creatives actually love.