Signal file: what London Tech Week revealed about the politics of progress
From human-trained AI to UK-led governance, this special edition captures the key narratives shaping a more ethical, inclusive and sovereign approach to tech innovation
Staying ahead in the rapidly evolving world of work means tuning in to the signals shaping the future workplace. In this special edition of Signal File, we explore key insights from London Tech Week – and what they signal for the road ahead.
This year, the spotlight turned toward agency: who trains the systems, who governs them, and whose values they reflect. From Nvidia’s shift toward human-style AI learning to AstraZeneca’s call for shared responsibility in technology ecosystem design, the message was clear – innovation isn’t neutral. As European leaders push to define a tech culture on their own terms, questions of inclusion, regulation and long-term vision are no longer side conversations – they’re centre stage.
AI trained more like humans than machines
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang described a turning point in AI development: models are no longer programmed step by step, but trained through exposure to data – much like humans learn. This shift enables faster adaptation and broader capabilities, but also makes systems less transparent and harder to govern.
In action: Equip teams to collaborate with adaptive systems. Learning-led AI requires fluency, feedback loops and continuous recalibration.
Call for human-led tech ecosystems
Cindy Hoots, Chief Digital Officer and CIO at AstraZeneca, urged the tech community to take shared responsibility for building ethical, inclusive and human-led digital systems. Her call-to-action reframed innovation not as a competitive race, but as a collective effort to design technology that benefits everyone – not just the privileged few.
In action: Make inclusion a foundational design choice. Build tech ecosystems that reflect diverse perspectives and serve real-world needs – not just technical ambition.
Europe shouldn’t copy the US
Niklas Zennström, co-founder of Skype and CEO of Atomico, pushed back on the idea that Europe needs to ‘catch up’ to the US. Instead, he called for a bold innovation culture that reflects European values – one that embraces risk, builds long-term resilience, and charts its own technological path.
In action: Use regulation as a feature, not a flaw. Europe can lead by designing future tech that’s both scalable and ethical.
Who gets to shape the future of AI?
Feryal Clark MP spotlighted the growing gap between widespread public use of AI and the limited influence everyday people have over how it’s developed. She called for AI systems built around UK values – with governance shaped by diverse voices, not just technocratic elites or private companies.
In action: Make AI development participatory. Build systems for public input, transparency and shared accountability.
