The Cyber Oracle: Greg Williams on Tech, Culture & the New Frontier

Greg Williams is a leading cybersecurity speaker and one of the world’s most respected voices on technology, business, and culture. As the Editor-in-Chief of Wired UK, Greg has had a front-row seat to the forces shaping the future—from artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to digital transformation and behavioural shifts in the workplace. 

With deep editorial insight and access to today’s most influential thinkers and disruptors, he distils complex trends into actionable strategies for businesses. Greg’s keynotes blend sharp analysis with real-world relevance, helping global leaders navigate uncertainty, anticipate change, and thrive in the age of disruption.

Q: As cyber threats evolve rapidly in both scope and sophistication, which emerging attack vectors or technological shifts do you believe pose the greatest risk to businesses today—and why is it so difficult for organisations to keep pace?

Greg Williams: “What we’re seeing is that cyber is becoming increasingly sophisticated. We’ve seen the use of new forms of artificial intelligence and other tools that are really far beyond what we’ve seen in the past.

“And that’s very, very hard for organisations to keep an eye on because it’s moving so quickly.

“Fundamentally, though, it always comes back to your people. It always comes back to—will someone click on a link? Will someone give someone access to a building?

“So fundamentally, like all technology, this comes back to us as human beings. It’s not about the actual technology itself.”

Q: Given the speed at which cultural and technological change is unfolding, what strategies do you believe are essential for business leaders seeking to futureproof their organisations in such an unpredictable environment?

Greg Williams: “I think it’s fair to say that we are in a period of acceleration—acceleration culturally, acceleration in terms of the way technology is impacting our lives, and the way our society is being reshaped.

“So, I think staying informed on areas like artificial intelligence and the way that’s going to impact the world has never been more important for business leaders.

“And I think the way to do that is to really fully engage—to embrace it, to understand that change is not something just to think about during the annual off-site, but something that is ingrained in your business processes and has to be engaged with every single day you come into work and think about the future of your organisation.”

Q: During periods of uncertainty, innovation can either stall or accelerate. What insights do you hope business leaders take away from your presentations about navigating disruption with creativity and resilience?

Greg Williams: “What I hope is that people come away feeling really inspired to make change within their organisations.

“What I do is give lots of examples of organisations that are thinking in innovative ways—the way that they’re deploying technology, the way that they’re changing their organisations, and the way that they are looking to the future.

“And I really want people to leave after having listened to my presentation and feel, “You know what, I can implement some of these strategies, some of these practices, and drive my business forward.”

Q: Looking ahead, what fundamental shifts do you anticipate in the way we work—and how do you see artificial intelligence reshaping organisational culture and value creation?

Greg Williams: “I think the biggest shift in work culture we’re going to see over the next few years is going to be the impact of artificial intelligence—not just in terms of the way that we work and create efficiencies, but in the way that we create new businesses, new products, new services; the way that we build on top of some of the enormous datasets that we can now understand in new ways.

“So it’s a really interesting time, particularly in areas like healthcare or in scientific breakthrough areas, where we can really think about how we ensure that we build a better world using this technology responsibly—so that it benefits everyone.”

Q: In your analysis of business trends, how do you distinguish between transformative innovation and short-lived hype—and what critical thinking should leaders apply when evaluating the next ‘big thing’?

Greg Williams: “I think the defining traits of a short-lived trend are pretty straightforward in that you cannot find a use case.

“So I remember a while ago we were all told that we’d be living in the metaverse and we’d be trading tokens and we’d have property in the metaverse. This hasn’t happened—unless you are under the age of 12.

“What has happened instead is we’ve seen the use of augmented reality goggles in areas like industry, but the way that we were told by various people in marketing teams that we all had to move our brands into the metaverse just didn’t happen.

“So I think my advice to organisations would be: is there a use case for this? Is there demand? Can we see how to use this? Or is this something that’s in the dim and distant future that maybe we’ll revisit if it does look like it might become real?”

Q: You regularly speak to global audiences about innovation, risk, and emerging technology. What lasting impact do you aim to make on your listeners—and how do you balance realism with optimism in your keynote sessions?

Greg Williams: “First of all, I hope that people feel inspired and excited about the future.

“I think it’s very easy to give a doom-and-gloom technology presentation, because there are many challenges. There are many ways in which technology is challenging and very, very difficult for organisations to implement.

“What I hope is that we can look to the future with real optimism, because tech can solve many problems—whether we’re talking about healthcare, whether we’re talking about organisational efficiency, or whether we’re talking about ways that we can secure ourselves better.

“Technology does have solutions if we think about it in the right way and we implement it in the right way.”

This interview with Greg Williams was conducted by Mark Matthews.

The post The Cyber Oracle: Greg Williams on Tech, Culture & the New Frontier appeared first on European Business & Finance Magazine.