BEHAVIOURAL SCIENCE · UX & HUMAN-CENTRED DESIGN · AI STRATEGY

The hidden psychology behind how we decide, design and live with AI.

I'm Alec Barr, applied cognitive-behavioural scientist, design leader and tech philosopher. I turn research on the brain into engaging keynotes, workshops and advisory work that change how people see the world. I think deeply about simple things.

Head of Behavioural Science & UX at OLIVER
Author of 3 x bestselling books
Recently on stage at MAD//Fest, WomenWise & CMO Inspired Summit

Alec Barr speaking on stage at MAD//Fest London 2026, wearing a speaker lanyard, in a cut-out collage with Memphis-style shapes
Alec Barr · London

Spoken at

MAD//FestWomenWiseCMO InspiredQUT Behavioural Economics SummitSciiNov SingaporeSilicon BrightonMiami AdSchoolUX Design Institute

Worked with

Google Samsung Disney Barclays Lloyds Bank Virgin IKEA Boots Diageo Ralph Lauren The Economist Amazon Canva Mazda Thales Informa Danone
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what I talk about

01

This is your brain on AIWhat we lose when we give too much of our mind to the machine

The real risk of AI isn't that it makes us stupid but that it makes us absent – from ourselves, from our thinking, and from each other. This talk takes a philosophical look at the neuroscience of cognitive offloading, the Extended Mind hypothesis and Esther Perel's musings on parasocial relationships with tech.

  • Humanity
  • Cognitive debt
  • Artificial intimacy
  • Co-intelligence
Book this talk
Best forSparking reflection. Leadership, innovation & popular science audiences.
02

Dice, doubt & decision-makingHow to leverage game theory to make better calls under uncertainty

We make better choices by treating decisions as bets. Told through the lens of game theory, AI and backgammon, this is a practical look at how human judgement operates under conditions of uncertainty, and how probabilistic thinking can help improve it.

  • Hindsight
  • Probabilistic thinking
  • Game theory
Book this talk
Best forGenerating ideas. Strategy, creative & data science teams.
03

Navigating the messy middle of e-commerceMaking use of behavioural economics & heuristics in a data-obsessed world

How can we better understand the nuanced psychology of the purchase journey, and what does behavioural science actually tell us about the "nudges" that work? This talk provides real examples of behavioural economics in action (including the ones that failed) and offers tactical hints to shepherd people through conversion pathways.

  • Behavioural nudges
  • CRO
  • Choice architecture
  • Social proof
Book this talk
Best forDriving growth. UX, CRO, Product and behaviour change teams.
04

No such thing as a free promptPersonal and social responsibility in an era of AI

AI can feel consequence-free. It isn't. This talk lays out two-sided perspective on responsible AI – the personal cost to how we think and relate, and the social cost to Planet Earth behind every supposedly effortless answer.

  • Responsible AI
  • Human-in-the-loop
  • Sustainability
  • Digital ethics
Book this talk
Best forCreating change. Responsible-tech programmes, ESG and governance audiences.
drag or swipe
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on stage

Nearly two decades of keynotes, masterclasses, training sessions and panels on behavioural design, psycholinguistics, UX and decision-making.

2026
This is your brain on AI: what we lose when the machine thinks for usMAD//Fest London · AI + Innovation▶ watch
2025
Post-human research: is “good enough” insight good enough for growth?MAD//Fest London · AI + Innovation▶ watch
How do we evolve alongside AI? (panel)WomenWise · London
2024
Dice, doubt & decision-making: probabilistic thinking for an uncertain worldMAD//Fest London · Brand Innovation▶ watch
2023
Navigating the messy middle of e-commerce with behavioural psychologySilicon Brighton · Product Unleashed▶ watchread ↗
Experience design vs. meaningful change in the world of applied sciencesSciiNov · Singapore BeSci Conference
Behavioural design in e-commerceUX Design Institute
EduTech: what are the barriers to HCD? (panel)Ladies That UX
2022
Driving conversion through the messy middleQUT BEST Conference · Human Behaviour & Decision Making
Heuristics of email delivery – a CRM and email design best practice workshopClemenger University
2021
Copywriting for UX: a two-part masterclassSamsung HQ
The behavioural psychology of e-commerceDanone HQ
2020
Cognitive-behavioural science & experience designMiami AdSchool
The cognitive-behavioural implications of coronavirusCMO Roundtable
2019
How to not be free - a 101 of cognitive biases in policyClemenger University
Cognitive-behavioural psychology, an advanced strategy courseAdSchool Australia · Sydney
2018
Improving the user experience by understanding real peopleThales UK
The virtues of human-centred design in governmentEngineering panel
2017
We're not in control: behavioural economics in actionBBDO Network
2016
Big data: the illusion of anonymity & securityProximity London · Gresham College series
iii.

where i can help

I always collaborate. Feel free to reach out for a more bespoke approach.

01

Keynotes & talks

A signature talk tailored to your audience, or a new one built around your theme. Conferences, away days, leadership offsites and panels.

02

Workshops & training

Hands-on sessions on behavioural science, AI literacy and human-centred design. From a half-day masterclass to a multi-week course.

03

Advisory, writing & media

Applied behavioural and UX strategy for brands and teams — plus essays, podcasts and panels on AI, behaviour and design.

iv.

off stage

What I build, write and play when I'm not holding a mic...

Semblance — synthetic persona research platform
Flagship · behavioural science × AI

Semblance™️

A synthetic persona research platform, and the basis of my talk Post-Human Research. OCEAN-grounded personas in moderated virtual focus groups, answering the question: can a digital twin stand in for a real person?

Ask me about it
Rory SutherBot — robot caricature of Rory Sutherland
Behavioural science · GenAI

Rory SutherBot

A chatbot trained (with permission) on 200+ hours of Rory Sutherland's talks and writing. Applied psychology made interactive and accessible to everyone with a ChatGPT account and an iconoclastic bent.

Try it ↗
Backgammon Masterclass book, with authors Alec Barr, Marc Olsen and Mochy Mochizuki
Books · GAME THEORY · COMPETITIVE backgammon

Backgammon Masterclass

A 400-page book written with backgammon grandmasters Marc Olsen and Mochy Mochizuki — one of three I've co-written on the game, alongside How Not to Suck at Backgammon and The Golden Point Dilemma.

Read how it came together ↗

More essays, ideas and pondering out loud available on LinkedIn.

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about

I think deeply about simple things. In an age where anyone can become an instant expert, I like to go back to first principles – re-examining beliefs that have become too familiar to inspect – at the point where psychology, design and technology collide.

I read humanities at university, then spent 15 years studying human behaviour in less theoretical settings: agencies, consultancies, research labs and a great many badly designed websites. I now lead Behavioural Science & UX at OLIVER, helping organisations make better decisions about AI, products, services and communications. Along the way I've built experience design teams across the world, taught behavioural design to graduates and boards, and developed experimental AI systems for primary research.

The question running through all of it is simple: what is technology doing to us, and what should we do about it? I'm interested in the awkward territory between what technology can do, what organisations should do and what human beings will probably do anyway; decision-making under uncertainty, design ethics, attention and the cognitive cost of outsourcing too much of ourselves to machines.

Outside work I play competitive backgammon and am an amateur freediver. These may seem tangential, but they are both studies in risk, perception and structure. And yoking disparate interests together is rather the point.

Collage portrait of Alec Barr

Applied behavioural psychologist & UX design leader 

Role
Head of Behavioural Science & UX, OLIVER
Recognition
FRSA
Education
BA English Literature, Bristol · MIT Sloan School of Management
Credentials
Applied Behavioural Science Ethics Diploma
Based
London, Sydney, Melbourne
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kind words

Whether he's facilitating a workshop or presenting to a large audience, Alec captures the attention of everyone in the room. It's hard not to leave feeling more inspired and more curious than when you arrived.
Lucy Walker · Business Director · VML
Alec has the rare talent of making complicated topics relatable. He wrangles his academic prowess into tangible learnings that left our audience thirsty for more.
John Griffin · Co-founder, Product Unleashed · Product Design Leader
If you want big, innovative thinking wrapped in real-world pragmatism, Alec is your man. He's an incredibly unique thinker and a walking Wikipedia
Joshua Speight · Startup advisor & Webby judge
He has a remarkable talent for captivating audiences with his engaging storytelling.
Nikki Anderson · Founder, The User Research Strategist
Alec doesn't just talk about UX and AI. He gets his hands dirty and builds things. Thinker and doer in equal measure.
Allister Hercus · Creative director & AI builder, Stroop Studios
Alec makes every room he's in a better place. If this sounds too good to be true, then I guess Alec is too good to be true.
Jamal Cassim · Co-founder, Untangld
Smart, delightful to have around, a wonderful presenter and a rare unicorn in any team.
Lorraine Gormley · Marketing lead, brand & content, Westpac
vii.

asked often

What does Alec Barr speak about?+
Keynotes, workshops and panels on behavioural science and the psychology of AI — including cognitive offloading and what AI does to how we think, decision-making under uncertainty, behavioural economics in e-commerce, design ethics and responsible AI. Every talk is tailored to the audience and the question in the room.
How do I book Alec for a keynote or workshop?+
Use the booking form below or email hello@alecbarr.com with your event, audience and rough date. Every booking starts with a conversation — no commitment, and a quick reply either way.
Where is Alec based, and does he travel for events?+
London, UK — with speaking history across Europe, Australia and Asia, and experience leading design teams in London, Sydney and Melbourne. In-person and virtual formats both work.
Has Alec written any books?+
Three — all on competitive backgammon, his favourite laboratory for decision-making under uncertainty: Backgammon Masterclass (with grandmasters Marc Olsen and Masayuki "Mochy" Mochizuki), How Not to Suck at Backgammon and The Golden Point Dilemma.
Let's talk

Got an audience that needs engaging?

Everything's a collaboration. Whether it's a keynote, a workshop or a consulting engagement, tell me the room and the question you're trying to answer and I'll tell you if I'm the right person for it.

Find me on LinkedIn

No commitment — every booking starts with a conversation.
Prefer email? hello@alecbarr.com