Bayes AI Global Forum 2026: London as a Global Hub for AI Innovation

London has the ideal infrastructure, public institutions, creative flair and access to skills that investors are looking for, according to tech leaders at Bayes Business School’s inaugural annual AI Global Forum.

The event, taking place in the lead-up to London Tech Week, attracted more than 200 AI practitioners, innovators, entrepreneurs, students and alumni to explore London’s core strengths in supporting global AI expansion, talent development and cross-market collaboration.

Sponsored by Alibaba Cloud and Fotor and hosted by the Institute for Creativity and AI at City St George’s, University of London, a series of panel discussions drew insights into what continues to make London an appealing destination for tech startups and growth in a time of global uncertainty and change.

Dr Sara Jones, Interim Director of the Institute, moderated an opening panel discussion with five industry experts on London’s creative and entrepreneurial pull for investors and collaboration across markets. The panel of tech leaders cited expertise and networks as a major driver of investment in the city, as well as the need for consistently monitoring industry trends through social media and education to enhance inclusivity and accessibility of new technologies.

One of the panellists, Paedar Coyle, Founder of AudioStack, described London as the “integration sweet spot” where entrepreneurship, technology, talent and consumer behaviours found an intersect.

Delegates then split into two parallel sessions. Esme Palaganas, PhD in Management at Bayes, chaired a panel looking at building trust around AI through policymaking, trust and responsible deployment. Speakers described issues of data privacy and public confidence as taking on similar importance as technological capability.

A second panel centred on careers and the future of the AI in the workplace. Moderated by Toni Liu, Leadership and Careers Coach at Bayes, discussion followed actions that business schools and other educators need to implement now to prepare students for AI-compatible roles.

The panel concluded that AI was not so much replacing jobs as raising the bar for performance and forcing enhanced creative thinking and curiosity among critical human skills.

The fourth and final discussion of the day brought topics neatly together to look at how universities and industry could work most effectively together, using London’s ecosystems, to prosper through rapid AI growth.

Dr Jones said:

“The AI Global Forum has been designed to bring together academics, global partners and tech leaders, creating a collaboration space for organisations and institutions and a forum of ideas for embracing AI as its integration becomes an inevitability.

“Where better to start than exploring London as global leader? In spite of recent challenges, it remains a city of creative leadership, ambition, finance and innovation.

“Across parallel discussion streams and our closing panel, we explored some of the big questions shaping the future: how AI companies navigate different markets, what trust and governance really look like in practice, and how organisations can prepare future talent for a rapidly changing world.”

“Our thanks go to Alibaba Cloud and Fotor for supporting our first AI Forum, and to speakers, moderators and delegates for such an interesting and collaborative afternoon.”

Toni Liu, panel moderator and co-organiser of the Forum, said:

“The rich conversations and different perspectives made discussion highly engaging for our audience.

“Guests thoroughly enjoyed networking throughout the event, proving that while AI is increasingly working its way into our lives, human connection matters even more. It also reflects Bayes’ role in bringing people together to turn ideas into meaningful partnerships.

“Following the success of the inaugural event, we hope the Bayes AI Global Forum will become an annual event and look forward to the next conversation!”

Find out more about City St George’s, University of London’s Institute for Creativity and AI.

Panel speakers

Stream 1: London as a Global Hub for AI Expansion, Creativity, and Consumer Engagement

• Moderator: Dr Sara Jones, Interim Director, Institute for Creativity and AI; Director, Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice, Bayes Business School
• Dr Nora Chen, Head of UK, Fotor
• Paedar Coyle, Founder, AudioStack
• Alex McLeman, Strategic Solutions Architect, Alibaba Cloud
• Johnathan Kwok, AI Strategy
• Rory Daniels, Head of Emerging Tech, techUK

Stream 2A: Responsible AI, Trust, and Policy Engagement

• Moderator: Esme Palaganas, PhD student, Bayes Business School
• Elizabeth Lui, Head of Ecosystem, FLock.io
• Philip Clements, CEO, Finspector.ai
• Dr Sasikumar Sundaram, Senior Lecturer, City St George’s University of London
• Martin Percy, Film director, BAFTA British Academy Award and Emmy Award winner

Stream 2B: Talent, Education, and the Future AI Workforce

• Moderator: Toni Liu, Leadership and Careers Coach, Bayes Business School
• Sarah Juillet, Director of Postgraduate Careers, Bayes Business School
• Ishha Nagrath, Head of Digital Learning and Development: Platforms, AI Enablement and Workforce Readiness, Hogan Lovells
• Dr Yusuf Öç, Associate Professor in Marketing; Course Director of MSc Digital Marketing with AI and MSc Marketing Strategy and Consumer Insights, Bayes Business School
• Krit Sawatdipong, Managing Consultant, Capgemini Invent
• Jessica Andrews, Managing Consultant, Cappfinity

We Are Here: London, Global AI, and the Next Chapter of University Industry Collaboration

• Moderator: Dr Sara Jones, Interim Director, Institute for Creativity and AI; Director, Centre for Creativity in Professional Practice, Bayes Business School
• Alex McLeman, Strategic Solutions Architect, Alibaba Cloud
• Dr Sasikumar Sundaram, Senior Lecturer, City St George’s University of London
• Sarah Juillet, Director of Postgraduate Careers, Bayes Business School