The emergence of AI has created both a vacuum and also a plethora of ideas and fears, where both vendors and corporates are coming to terms. We mingle with the people that know about these things, at the recent Chief Data Analytics Officer conference in London, from the people at Corinium Intelligence, in London just a few days ago.
So I am sitting confused and the professor in front of me all those years ago at Uni, is talking about Italian Literature of the 20th Century, and Pirandello theatre in particular, and the girl next to me nudges me and we agree that, if she falls asleep first, then I will nudge her; and if I fall asleep, – then she will do the same – as she has just done.
Fast forward to today, and the conference starts well. Katy Rose, one of the Performance and Data Team leaders present, gets right to the point, – that if we are to understand AI – then we also need to understand the need for, and relevance, of our human interface and involvement.
It is only when the opening Panel start talking about “the evolution of data” – and that “Data is looking for an identity”, – that we take a turn for the worse, if you see my analogy above – or better, if you are with me on this philosophical journey, that you get to the point.
This CDAO is not about Data. It is about how we use data. And its timing is impeccable. If 2025 was supposed to be the year that corporates “did something” with AI… then 2026 is when people take a step back to assess where should they go now?
With some 60 plus Speakers, all of whom are experts in their chosen field, and more than 200 or so Delegates that are already populating this conference even at 08.30am – are all serious in their work life and their intentions. The entrance to the conference is via some giant statues of three horsemen – very apocalyptic – and a dark door to the right of the main entrance – and suddenly, you are inside, and it is welcoming!
Registration is seamless, there are breakfast plates, and everybody is comfortable sharing their thoughts, from the get go.
The main platform is a series of panel discussions, giving way to expert presentations. There is a second Track that opens up half way through the day, looking at more one/one issues.
Despite the tech spec of the two days, – and it covers every variant of Ai issues, – these are not tech presentations. Each Speaker focusses on what is their own experience of their topic du jour. These are not classic read-outs of pre-prepared slides, but more, the analysis of the slides that come up on screen. Far more important even in these early moments, is the recognition that each Speaker is perfectly comfortable holding the stage with their ability to happily communicate what makes it all work, for them. And it travels along at pace. People are serious, and they listen, and they comment, and they contribute to the Slido analysis, that is introduced halfway through the morning.
Obviously – the key talking point is AI, and its relevance. It infiltrates every vendor, and is the talking point of every delegate.
Apparently Day 2 is earmarked for the more contrasting and “confrontational” discussions. But it does not feel that way. And that does not mean that everybody agrees. Kaushik Chaubal of Blackrock, and Meena Khan of Zindigi, are deep in relaxed and argumentative conversation on one of the sofas dotted around. They are laughing; the conversation has metamorphosed into talking about mobile phones.
I stop and chat with Martin Nelson, one of the Speakers, from NFU Mutual. With a background in larger retail banking, he sees his role as one of bringing a Mutual into a more structured and data focussed environment. He talks about vendors and proof of concepts, and Pilots etc – and the issue of a high repeat business level. As part of an established brand with a 98% renewal rate, making change has its risks.
If the Day 1 was frenetic and just busy for everyone – delegates were more comfortable choosing Day 2 for their more serious discussions.
I find a quiet space, and peruse my notebook, full of pages of handwriting. Sure, we live in an age of AI… but I’m sure somebody said something about the human interface. I put my fountain pen away, and walk towards the tube station.
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