Meet the makers defining tech’s next chapter
From a teaching assistant in Mark Zuckerberg’s AI class to a roboticist turning industrial machines into lifelike creatures, this year’s Config speakers are redefining how we build and experience technology.
Join us in San Francisco (May 6–8) or London (May 14). While in-person tickets for London are sold out, San Francisco is still available. Virtual is free. Register at config.figma.com.
At a time when AI and automation are transforming how we create, Config brings together the people who are steering technology in a more thoughtful, human direction. Together, they’ll share a vision for building tools and experiences that serve our changing needs and ambitions. Here’s a first look at who’ll be taking the stage in San Francisco this May.
Through the looking glass
Before leading Meta’s AR/VR future, Boz found his path to tech through an unlikely source: 4-H club, where a fellow member taught him to code while playing video games on his family’s Apple IIe.
Andrew “Boz” Bosworth went from teaching Mark Zuckerberg’s AI class at Harvard (where his notably absent student was building Facebook) to becoming the company’s 10th engineer and creator of the News Feed—a feature that was met with resistance but ultimately transformed social networking as we know it. As Meta’s Chief Technology Officer and Head of Reality Labs, he leads the company’s efforts on future bets like AR glasses, mixed reality headsets and the metaverse. He believes that we are living in an incredible time of technological achievement with truly AI-native devices like glasses entering the mainstream, and AI assistants evolving into proactive, personalized helpers. At Config, he’ll share an inside look at Meta’s groundbreaking work towards building the next computing platform.
The storyteller shaping creator tools
Ebi’s tech journey started with dial-up internet and a single rule from mom: Computer off at bedtime.
“I don’t believe in being liked. I believe in being loved,” says Ebi Atawodi, Director of Product Management at YouTube Studio. Her journey from founding Africa’s most prestigious literary prize to revolutionizing how millions of creators tell their stories reflects a uniquely human-centered approach to product development. As YouTube Studio rolls out major AI features to help creators generate ideas and reach new audiences, Ebi brings fresh perspectives on making tools that work for everyone. “I’ve been on the receiving end of feeling like products weren’t built for me,” she notes. “Technology should be accessible to everyone.”
I’ve been on the receiving end of feeling like products weren’t built for me. Technology should be accessible to everyone.
Designing for AI’s next chapter
Joel’s best AI insights often come from conversations with his six-year-old—proof that fresh perspectives can come from anywhere.
At Anthropic, Head of Product Design Joel Lewenstein approaches AI interface design with a parental mindset, comparing it to watching a child discover new abilities. His work on Claude challenges traditional interface paradigms at a time when AI systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated. “The best designers aren’t defined by their industry experience—they’re defined by how they think,” he says.
The robot whisperer
Dr. Madeline Gannon transforms industrial robots into mechanical creatures that come to life through her research studio Atonaton. Awarded a major Knight Foundation grant for creative robotics, she’s exploring how empathy and artistry can reshape our relationship with autonomous systems. “We often assume that complex models of the human mind are needed before we can give robots lifelike animacy,” she says. “My goal was to show just how little our brains need to breathe life into non-living things.”
Figma Story Studio Editor Jenny Xie spoke with Dr. Madeline Gannon about the illusion of sentience for our Config publication, The Prompt.
The quality-obsessed builder
At age six, Karri was already a design critic, questioning why anyone would make “ugly” bicycles when they put in the work to build them.
Linear Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Karri Saarinen defies conventional startup wisdom. While most companies chase metrics and rapid growth, he’s made Linear the tool of choice for leading tech companies by focusing on craft over data and taste over trends. “There is almost zero chance of quality happening in large companies if there aren't people in top leadership valuing it,” he says. And it seems to be working: Linear maintains profitability with minimal marketing. “We have a net negative lifetime burn rate,” he notes.
Breaking down barriers
For Augmental Co-founders Corten Singer and Tomás Vega, innovation springs from deep empathy. Their breakthrough MouthPad^—a tongue-controlled interface enabling hands-free computing—emerges from understanding how technology can transcend limitations. After cleaning up with awards at CES 2024, they’re now pursuing FDA clearance to help users control wheelchairs and robotic arms.
The moment that validated their work: seeing a father in a wheelchair play with robotic toys alongside his child using MouthPad^.
And more to come
This is just the first wave of speakers joining us in San Francisco. Stay tuned as we announce more of the lineup. Whether you’re exploring new interfaces for AI, reimagining accessibility, or finding fresh ways to infuse craft into software development, Config 2025 is your chance to connect and learn from a community of builders tackling these questions. How do we make technology more human-centered as it becomes more powerful? How do we preserve craft and intentionality in an age of automation? How do we ensure our tools serve everyone, not just a select few?
Join us this May as we explore these questions together. Because the future of technology isn’t just about what we make—it’s about how we make it.
Ready to be part of the conversation? Register now at config.figma.com.
Rose McLucas leads the events programming strategy for Figma’s virtual and in-person events.
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