The machines are getting better at almost everything. This is a body of work about what remains ours.
That gap is the defining problem of this decade. Closing it is not a technology exercise. It is a human one.
I spent decades as a technology executive, first in Silicon Valley startups and then at Oracle, Zebra Technologies, and Flexera, watching organizations adopt tools far faster than they adopted the judgment, habits, and governance those tools demand. Almost everything that went wrong went wrong in that gap.
Two books came out of it. The Exponential Era is about seeing change before it arrives. Soulful is about what stays ours as the machines get better, a question that gets more urgent, not less, the more capable they become.
Today I write, speak, and advise leaders who have to make consequential decisions about AI without the luxury of waiting for certainty.
— David
The winners will be the ones who know what to automate, what to elevate, and what must remain deeply human.
You in the Future of Artificial Intelligence
◆ 2024 Best Indie Book AwardWhether you're excited or apprehensive about the developments in Artificial Intelligence, David Espindola delivers a well-researched book with several scenarios to consider.Readers' Favorite
Strategies to Stay Ahead of the Curve in an Era of Chaotic Changes and Disruptive Forces
◆ IEEE Press Series on Technology Management, Innovation and LeadershipI count this among the very best business books I have read. It turns strategic planning from a stagnant, limited exercise into an active one.James B. StakeFormer Executive Vice President, Enterprise Services, 3M Company and Chairman, Ativa Medical Corporation
Most people on an AI stage are describing a change they have watched. David ran technology organizations through it — in Silicon Valley startups, then at Oracle, Zebra Technologies, and Flexera — before writing about it.
Conferences across the US and Brazil, network television, and dozens of podcast appearances. Keynotes delivered in English or Portuguese.
Midwest Architecture Community Collaboration
Watch on YouTube ↗
ExpoGestão, Brazil · main plenary
Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Rio de Janeiro
Reimagining the Future, with Kevin Benedict
In the Age of AI, Your Judgment Matters — with Dan Pratl
The Innovation Show, with Aidan McCullen
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Our audience really enjoyed David’s presentation on the Exponential Era. Our Q&A was packed with questions! His topics really got the wheels turning for our members who are CIOs, CTOs and IT leaders, as well as consultants and academics from top Twin Cities and out-state business and institutions. Would highly recommend! Colleen KranzChair of Programs, Society for Information Management Minnesota
David’s speech was insightful and engaging. He traced the history of AI, the current investments in technology applications, and how it will shape our future. David’s answers to questions from our audience — leaders in IT architecture, directors, and CTOs — highlighted his depth of knowledge of the topic. It was a great experience. Youssef HaddadBoard Chair, Midwest Architecture Community Collaboration (MACC)
A periodic publication on unlocking the full spectrum of human and artificial intelligence — written for boards and executives who need signal rather than noise.
Published on LinkedIn, where the readers already are.
David and Zena — an AI co-host — talk with guests about what human-AI collaboration actually looks like in practice, rather than in theory.
Episodes on judgment, governance, creativity, and the future of work.
I keep a deliberately short list so the work stays hands-on. Three ways I engage directly.
Main-stage talks and closed-door sessions for boards and leadership teams, in English or Portuguese. Built around the research behind the books rather than a stock deck.
A limited number of board and advisory positions where AI strategy, governance, and technology leadership are live questions on the agenda.
Ongoing access to a senior advisor without a full-time hire — regular strategy sessions, and judgment on call for the decisions that arise between them. Engaged on a monthly retainer through Brainyus.
I’d describe David as thoughtful — he is a listener first, focused on gathering and synthesizing information, and only offering up advice when he truly understands the scenario and your needs. He has an exceptional ability to see the bigger picture and translate it into actionable strategies. Andrew HeadrickCEO, Kavira HealthStart a conversation
Assessments, adoption roadmaps, agent pilots, governance frameworks, and retained advisory are delivered by the Brainyus team — with defined scopes and published pricing.
Four organizations David has worked inside, not just supported.
Interim leadership · technology and operations
Surgical care delivered by hospital ship along the coast of West Africa, where a single vessel serves a region with almost no surgical capacity of its own. David served with the organization providing interim leadership, driving transformation initiatives, and planning technology and operational improvements to the hospital ships.
IT Advisory Board · packing volunteer
Volunteer-packed meals distributed to children in nearly seventy countries.
Project team · Westwood Community Church
Fresh water for a village in the Santa Cruz mountains devastated by Hurricane Mitch, where the nearest supply was miles away.
Taught coding to emancipated foster youth
A San Diego nonprofit, now closed. David taught foundational coding, critical thinking, and analytical skills using Apple’s Swift Playgrounds.
