Rebecca D. Costa
Rebecca D. Costa is an internationally recognized social scientist, author, speaker, and media commentator. Costa is the award-winning author of three books on cutting-edge topics ranging from the impact of rapid technological change to the risk of global pandemics.
Costa was born and raised in Los Angeles, California, and has earned degrees in Sociology, Social Work, and Political Science. She has lectured at Harvard University, Stanford University, the United Nations, and at universities and companies around the world.
Costa's first book, The Watchman's Rattle: A Radical New Theory of Collapse (2010, originally published with the title The Watchman's Rattle: Thinking Our Way Out of Extinction) explores how too much information can be a liability. Drawing on evidence from diverse fields such as physics, mathematics and history, Costa argues that information overload makes the pathways of decisions and action placing society at risk of collapse. The book was praised for being "unusually wide-ranging, original and provocative by The New Scientist and for presenting “a fascinating and powerful thought experiment around civilization collapse” by Kirkus Reviews.
In The MetaHuman (2017), Costa puts forward a hypothesis that human evolution is rapidly accelerating. In the digital age, this acceleration is coming from the power of technology and the adoption of artificial intelligence. In the book, Costa examines the implications of a future where personal human identity intersects with machines, and explores the ethical and technological challenges associated with the realization of a MetaHuman.
The Trust Protocol (2020) is a guidebook to navigating the explosive technological transformation of our times. Written in a style that Costa calls ‘storytelling with data’, The Trust Protocol is a compendium of research and insight into the emerging developments in technology, politics, and culture. Costa argues that the most successful individuals and organizations will be those who build the highest trust in their organizations, enabling them to make better decisions faster and navigating through the super-change of our times.
Costa has appeared on many leading media outlets including CNN, Fox News, NBC, ABC, NPR, and PBS. She is a frequent contributor to The Economist, Fortune 500 Magazine and the Harvard Business Review. Additionally, Costa is an expert scientific panelist for Harvard iLab and a sought-after speaker for TEDx, SXSW, Intelligence Squared, WIRED Innovation and World Economic Forum events.
In 2013, Costa founded a public opinion research firm that stands out for its focus on identifying the influence of digital platforms on consumer behavior.
Costa is the recipient of a number of awards for her work, including the 2016 Catalyst Award from the World Youth Leadership Society. Her writing has been featured in a number of publications, including the New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Economist, Time Magazine, and The Harvard Business Review.
Rebecca Costa is an inspiring thought leader who brings an incisive yet inviting approach to exploring some of the most consequential issues of our times. Her work is an invaluable resource for executives, entrepreneurs, students, policy makers, and anyone interested in the future of the world.
