Keith is the CEO & Founder of AI strategy start-up Cassi. He was previously an Expert Adviser to the Prime Minister on Science, Technology, Space, and Modernising Defence. A former Intelligence Officer in the RAF, he has served in Iraq, completed three deployments to Afghanistan, deployed to Abkhazia (Georgia) with the United Nations, to Mali alongside the French, and served as the Russian Air Force SME on exchange with the US Air Force. He continues his service as a Group Captain with 601 (Reserve) Squadron, leading on science, technology, and academic liaison.

During three years at Fujitsu, Keith developed, launched, and led the £22M Centre for Cognitive Technologies, driving new product and service development across information fusion, digital twins, collective intelligence, neurosymbolic AI, computer vision, quantum computing, high-performance/super computing, and ecosystem go-to-market, incubation, and acceleration. In addition, he worked extensively on UK-Japan strategic technology collaboration at the highest levels of government and across the private sectors of both countries.

Keith holds a PhD in Experimental Psychology from the University of Oxford, an Executive MBA from the University of Cambridge, an MA (with distinction) from King's College London, and a BA (Hons) from Lancaster University. In 2023, he won an award for essays across macroeconomics, marketing, innovation, strategic management, corporate governance, and ethics from the University of Cambridge.

He is a Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI), the UK's leading national security think tank, a Fellow of the Changing Character of War Programme at the University of Oxford, a Director's Fellow at Cambridge University's Judge Business School, a Chief of the Air Staff's Fellow with the Royal Air Force, and an Honorary Associate Research Fellow at the Exeter University Strategic Studies Institute.

Keith is a Senior Adviser, Global Distinguished Engineer, and AI Subject Matter Expert at Fujitsu. He chairs TechUK’s Digital Twin Steering Board, is a member of the Digital Twin Hub’s Advisory Board, and sits on the Advisory Board of UK space start-up Moonscribe. In 2024, he was selected to join the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research’s Roundtable for AI, Security, and Ethics (RAISE) initiative, which explores how to protect humanity from AI-related risks.

Find him at Substack, or X / @kpd_musing. For public speaking or media engagements, contact https://harveythorneycroft.co.uk/contact-us/

Research Interests

• Artificial Intelligence
• Psychology
• Emerging Technology
• Strategy
• Forecasting
• Economics, Geopolitics & Business

Keith writes, thinks, talks, and researches at the intersection of human and machine strengths and limitations.

Publications

• Dear, K. P. 2013. Beheading the Hydra? Does killing terrorist or insurgent leaders work? Defence Studies, 13, 293-337.
• Hetherington, J. & K, D. 2016. Assessing Assessments: How Useful is Predictive Intelligence? Air Power Review, 19, 76-88.
• Dear, K. P. 2017. How Feeling Watched Can Change Behaviour? Ogilvy & Mather: Nudgestock. UK: YouTube.
• Dear, K. 2017. King Arthur’s Wars. [Review of the book: King Arthur’s Wars: The Anglo-Saxon Conquest of England, Storr, J. 2016] The RUSI Journal, 162:2, 73-74, DOI: 10.1080/03071847.2017.1329978
• Hetherington, J. & Dear, K. 2017. Assessing Assessments: How Useful Is Predictive Intelligence? American Intelligence Journal, 34, 116-122.
• Dear, K. 2018. Radar to Sensor. Defence & Security Systems International,2, 56-58.
• Dear, K. 2018. Towards a psychology of surveillance: do ‘watching eyes’ affect behaviour? , University of Oxford.
• Dear, K. P. 2018. A Very British AI Revolution in Intelligence is Needed. War on the Rocks [Online]. Available from: https://warontherocks.com/2018/10/a-very-british-ai-revolution-in-intelligence-is-needed/.
• Dear, K. P. & Ellen, M. 2018. Joy of Destruction: A Research Tool for Exploring Anti-Social Behaviour. Online: Open Science Framework.
• Dear, K. 2019. Artificial intelligence and decision-making. The RUSI Journal, 164, 18-25.
• Dear, K. 2019. More Science, Less Art: Big Data, The Information Revolution and Decision-Making in the Royal Air Force. Air Power Review, 22, 76-89.
• Dear, K. 2019. Will Russia Rule the World Through AI? Assessing Putin’s Rhetoric Against Russia’s Reality. The RUSI Journal, 164, 36-60.
• Dear, K. & Hossaini, A. 2019. The AI Special Issue: An Introduction. Routledge.
• Dear, K. P. 2019. The Science of Information Warfare. SOFWERX J5 Donovan Group Radical Speaker Series: Keith Dear. USA: YouTube.
• Dear, K., Dutton, K. & Fox, E. 2019. Do ‘watching eyes’ influence antisocial behavior? A systematic review & meta-analysis. Evolution and Human Behavior, 40, 269-280.
• Dear, K. 2021. Artificial intelligence, security, and society. The World Information War. Routledge.
• Dear, K. P. 2021. AI, Art and Creativity – what does it mean for Defence? Fujitsu Defence and National Security [Online]. Available from: https://blog.uk.fujitsu.com/cloud/ai-art-and-creativity-what-does-it-mean-for-defence/#.YYBwvC-l1qs.
• Dear, K. P. 2021. The Digital Transformation of Power: National Security in the 21st Century. Fujitsu Speaker Series: DSEI 201. UK: YouTube.
• Dear, K. P. 2021. A new model of innovation to realize the UK’s scientific superpower potential. In: TV, A. B. (ed.) Quantum Summit: London Tech Week. UK: YouTube.
• Dear, K. P. 2021. Innovation and the Integrated Review. Wavell Room [Online]. Available from: https://wavellroom.com/2021/05/14/innovation-and-the-integrated-review/.
• Dear, K. P. 2021. Should we be scared by big data, and its ability to manipulate our behaviour? Fujitsu Defence & National Security [Online]. Available from: https://blog.uk.fujitsu.com/cyber-security/should-we-be-scared-by-big-data-and-its-ability-to-manipulate-our-behaviour/#.YYBwwC-l1qs.
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Podcast with August Cole
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk at London Tech Week, launching the C-CAT, plus recorded interview and press.
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk at the Chief of the Air Staff’s Air Power Conference, to c.150 delegates, over 50 heads of the world’s air forces, plus much wider remote audience
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Podcast with Future Hacker Future Hacker: #84 - Episode 1 | Human Behaviour (Keith Dear) on Apple Podcasts & Future Hacker: #84 - Episode 2 | Quantum Computing, AI & Data Privacy (Keith Dear) on Apple Podcasts
• Dear, K. P. 2022. RUSI Podcast Episode 5: Security, Defence and the Metaverse | Royal United Services Institute (rusi.org)
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk to 200+ senior military staff on the future of warfare and technology
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk to 200+ senior military staff on the future of national security, and value of science fiction to understanding the future
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Articles published in the Wavell Room:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Innovation and the Integrated Review » Wavell Room
               2. Ukraine, the Integrated Review & Land Power in Europe » Wavell Room
               3. Does Ukraine Need Fighter Aircraft? » Wavell Room
               4. Ukraine - lessons for Western air power » Wavell Room

• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk to the UK’s Department of International Trade
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk to the UK’s Defence Concepts and Doctrine Centre
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk at the Turing Institute, where I advise on national security and technology
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk at Oxford’s Changing Character of War Programme
• Dear, K. P. 2022. Talk at WGSN on market trends and the intersection with tech and geopolitics
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Talk at D-Group, How We Can Harness AI and Bolster National Security
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Talk at EPSRC and DSTL digital twinning workshop
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Interviewed on How can emerging technology support labour market shifts?
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Talk at London Tech Week, plus recorded interview and press.
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Talk to 200+ senior military staff on space economy and the role of science-fiction in technology development, business and national security.
• Dear, K. P. 2023. An Anglo-Japanese Pacific Charter? Proposal to UK & Japanese Prime Ministers.
• Dear, K. P. 2023. UK-Japan Strategic Collaboration in Technology. Proposal to UK & Japanese Governments.
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Evidence to House of Lords Committee on AI & Autonomous Weapons. See final report: AI in Weapon Systems Committee report: Proceed with caution - House of Lords Library (parliament.uk)
• Dear, K. P. 2023. Power With, not Power Over? Quantum Keynote talk at London Tech Week.
• Dear, K. P. 2024. Evidence to the Parliamentary Liaision Committee on UK Strategy. See also quotations in final report Promoting national strategy: How select committee scrutiny can improve strategic thinking in Whitehall (parliament.uk)
• Dear, K. P. 2024. Evidence to Parliamentary Defence SubCommittee on Military AI.
• Dear, K. P. 2024. Ready for a Fight? 5 Provocations on Future Warfare. Wavell Room (with Alan Brown).
• Dear K. P. 2024. Saving the Royal Air Force. Wavell Room.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Theory of Winning: Transforming Defence with Technology that Does Not Exist. Presenationa at Farnbourough International Airshow (FIA).
• Dear K. P. 2024. The UK and the Defence of Japan. Chairing Panel at FIA.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Don’t Blink. Substack.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Not ‘Just Automated Statistics’. Like us, AI is wrong but useful. Substack.
• Dear K. P. 2024. In Athena’s Arms: War, Wisdom & AGI in the U.K. Defence Review. Substack.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Faustian Bargain 2.0. Life Under the US AI (Artificial Intelligence) Umbrella. Substack.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Indivisible. The Indo-Pacific, the Euro-Atlantic & the UK Strategic Defence Review. Substack.
• Dear K. P. 2024. Innovations at Fujitsu. Talk at MIT.