Toshi Anders Hoo
toshi@possibilityspaces.com / linkedin.com/in/toshihoo / www.possibilityspaces.com
Principal Design Strategist | Public Interest Technologist | Strategic Foresight Expert
Location: San Francisco Bay Area (Global Advisory Reach)
Strategic foresight leader and media technologist with over 25 years of experience at the intersection of emerging technology and human systems. As the former Director of the Emerging Media Lab at the Institute for the Future (IFTF), I have secured and led over $3M in research funding, developing foundational frameworks such as “The Three Horizons of AI.” Expert in briefing high-level government officials, including U.S. Congressional staff and Secretaries of State, on AI governance, labor, and democratic integrity.
CURRENT STRATEGIC ADVISORY & LEADERSHIP
Possibility Spaces | Principal Design Strategist | 2026–Present
Aims Community College Workforce Innovation Center: Developing specialized programming, exhibits, and advising on governance and organizational structures for this community resource.
Developing an Applied Futures Lab in collaboration with faculty to explore how AI and "Augmented Learning" can assist in pedagogy and student success.
YouTube/Google: Consulting on the "Future of Content," helping organizational leadership integrate long-term foresight into strategic planning.
Developing custom AI-enabled foresight tools for internal practice to streamline strategic research.
Supporting research into new applications and user experiences (UX) for AI, bridging technical capability with human-centric design.
Swissnex (Swiss Confederation Global Network): Supporting the "Future of Museums Lab," a cross-border initiative bringing Swiss and American museum professionals together to network and prototype emerging technology applications for cultural institutions.
RESEARCH & STRATEGIC ADVISORY EXPERIENCE
Institute for the Future (IFTF) | Director, Emerging Media Lab | 2016–2026
W.K. Kellogg Foundation – "Future of Community-Centered AI" (2025–2026): Led a $1M research initiative exploring the requirements for equitable, public-interest AI.
Developed concepts for Local AI and Computing Sovereignty, emphasizing data sovereignty and localized technology to serve community interests over corporate agendas.
Focused on increasing AI literacy and establishing governance frameworks for Public Interest Technology.
Government & Policy Briefings: Provided expert testimony and strategic briefings on technology impacts (2024–2025):
Election Integrity & AI: In collaboration with the Brennan Center for Justice at NYU Law, provided strategic briefings and advisory to the AZ Secretary of State AI Advisory Board, U.S. Congressional Staff, and NASS regarding generative AI, deepfakes, and public trust.
Government officials in Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Briefings on the future of education, policy, and the integration of emerging media technologies and AI.
U.S. National Intelligence Council (NIC): Served as a Subject Matter Expert (SME) on the future of Virtual Reality and immersive media for the Global Trends assessment.
Featured Speaking & Advisory:
Featured Panelist/Speaker at the Dubai Future Forum.
Expert Presenter & Faculty for Singularity University and Deloitte University executive leadership programs.
Delivered high-level emerging technology briefings and advisory for Google, Meta (formerly Facebook), Intel, and the CEO Forum.
VR for Prison Reentry Pilot (Alameda County Probation Dept): Extensive study and prototype evaluating the impact of immersive technology on recidivism and social reintegration (2023).
Future of Social Spatial XR Computing (Intel): Comprehensive report and prototype exploring the future of XR in global computing (2022).
Immersive Collaborative Design: Research talks and VR workshops for San Francisco Opera Creative Instigators Program (2021).
New Realities of Learning (CA Community Colleges’ Chancellor’s Office): In-depth study on the adoption of XR and AI in educational systems (2018).
Simtainer (United Nations): Speculative future scenarios presented at the UN General Assembly regarding global technology distribution (2017).
Instructor & Developer:
Three Horizons of AI: Co-designed and led IFTF’s premier education program exploring the trajectory of generative AI and its impact on society and labor.
Foresight Essentials: Faculty member teaching strategic foresight methodologies to global leaders.
Design Futures: Faculty member teaching media design techniques for speculative future scenarios.
Guest Lecturer:
California College of the Arts (CCA): Experiential Futures Design process.
MassArt, UC Berkeley, and San Francisco State University: Emerging technology implications for communication and the arts (AI/VR).
RESEARCH PRESENTATIONS & PUBLICATIONS
Upswell Sumit: Featured panelist “AI for nonprofits” (2023)
SXSW: panelist “Seeding Activism Through Experience Design” (2023).
Dubai Future Forum: Featured panelist (2022).
Primer Speculative Futures Summit: Keynote “From the Singularity to the Multiverse: Shifting Media Mythologies” (2022).
SIGGRAPH: Featured Presenter “Immersive Human Networks” and “ONVR” VR data visualization demo (2019).
Hoo Media Design | Lead Producer & Creative Director
The Kepler Story, California Academy of Sciences (2014): Project Advisor for an immersive planetarium theater production exploring the life of Johannes Kepler and the intersection of science and mysticism.
Brocade Kinetic Theater, Levi’s Stadium (2014): Creative Director for motion-tracked interactive video wall.
Earth Portal, Seattle Space Needle (2012): Directed an immersive dome film on history and future of scientific discovery and data visualization.
The Singularity Is Near (2010): Produced and directed the feature-length documentary on technological evolution with Ray Kurzweil, exploring the long-term impacts of AI.
UN Natural World Museum (2005): Media Technology Producer for a 50,000-sqft interactive exhibition for the United Nations in San Francisco, CA.
National Constitution Center (2003): Designed educational interactive media for a $100M museum project.
“Ramona,” TED (2000): Media technical director for the world’s first live motion-capture VR performance for famed futurist Ray Kurzweil.
SKILLS & PROFICIENCIES
Strategy: Foresight, AI Ethics & Governance, Data Sovereignty, Public Interest Technology.
Technology: VR/AR/XR Development, Generative AI Frameworks, UX for AI, Media Production.
Engagement: Executive Briefings, Public Speaking, Workshop Facilitation, Exhibition Design.
Extensive experience in Media Technology Research, Production, and Education.
Proficient in Strategic Foresight Practice and Instruction.
Skilled in Event Design, Curation, and Production.
Expertise in VR, AR, and AI Project Development.
Comprehensive skills in Video Production, Editing, and Animation.
AFFILIATIONS & EDUCATION
Diaspora Futures Collective: Member (2023–Present). A global collective of practitioners of color exploring ancestral and emergent futures.
The Intersection of Art & Technology (TIAT): Member (2026-Present).
XR Guild: Member (2018-present)
Gray Area for the Arts: Member (2016–Present).
Education: Coursework in Religion and Biology (Bryn Athyn College) and Media Arts (Massachusetts College of Art and Design)
ART EXHIBITIONS & REPRESENTATION
The Resolution of Water: Interactive 1 pixel water and light sculpture
By pSpace Studio (Toshi Hoo & Liza Bender)
Presented at TIAT Gallery (2026), IFTF HQ (2026), TIAT at Swissnex (2026).
Murmur: Projection-mapped CreatingAs1 sculpture
By pSpace Studio (Toshi Hoo & Liza Bender)
Presented at The Drawing Room Gallery (2023).
Float and Flow: A projection-mapped live dance performance
By pSpace Studio (Toshi Hoo & Liza Bender)
Presented at Botanica event in San Francisco (2019).
ONVR: Collaborative VR data visualization experience
By Toshi Hoo representing IFTF
Presented at Ars Electronica (2018) and SIGGRAPH (2018).
Four Daniels: Volumetric VR music performance installation
By Toshi Hoo and Daniel Berkman representing IFTF
Presented at the Museum of Other Realities (2017).
Prototopo: Explored projected structured light
By pSpace Studio (Toshi Hoo & Liza Bender)
Presented at the Gray Area Festival (2017).
Immersa: live VR music performance
By Toshi Hoo & Daniel Berkman
presented at multiple IFTF and partner events (2016–2019)
Exponentia: live VR music performance
By Toshi Hoo & Daniel Berkman
presented at multiple IFTF and partner events (2016–2019)
Grasp: AR installation
presented at The Laundry Gallery (2016).
Passages- Moving Through Worlds: photography exhibition
presented at 550 Bryant Gallery, (2013)
Fine Art Photography represented by SFMOMA Artist Gallery (2014-2019)