Conference
On 9 July, the Future of Britain Conference 2024 – hosted by the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change and My Life My Say – explored governing in the age of AI.
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Opening session
Opening session
Welcome
09.00 - 09.15 BST
by host Jon Sopel
Living in the Age of AI – in partnership with My Life My Say
09.15 - 09.25 BST
PRESENTATION
We can’t talk about the future without hearing from the future. Sasha Haco, co-founder and CEO of and former student of Professor Stephen Hawking, and Avye Couloute, founder of Girls Into Coding, set out how technology can help them solve the big issues of today at speed and at scale.
Reimagining the State: Governing in the Age of AI – with Tony Blair
09.25 - 09.50 BST
PRESENTATION
This moment may seem like the most limiting in living memory to be forming a new government. In fact, it might be the most exciting and expansive. Tony Blair draws on the centrality of the technology revolution to this, delivering the data on the opportunities of the Reimagined State.
Building the Digital Infrastructure for a Reimagined State: Rajeev Chandrasekhar with Jon Sopel
09.50 - 10.10 BST
IN CONVERSATION
Digital ID is the backbone of the digital state. India has learned this first-hand, enrolling more than 1.2 billion citizens in its digital-ID system and already saving the government $27 billion. Former Indian Minister of State for Electronics, Information Technology, Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Rajeev Chandrasekhar led this transformation and shares his insights on how other countries can do the same and reap the benefits.
AI: The Opportunity for Britain – with Matt Clifford
10.10 - 10.25 BST
PRESENTATION
Artificial intelligence is the most transformational technology of the 21st century. Britain is well-placed to be at the forefront of its development, but this will not happen by accident. Chair of ARIA and Co-Founder of Entrepreneur First Matt Clifford sets out how AI will shape the future and what Britain must do to seize its opportunities.
Britain at the Forefront of the AI Revolution: Demis Hassabis with Tony Blair
10.25 - 10.50 BST
IN CONVERSATION
AI is catalysing a new era in technology, productivity and growth. Google DeepMind Co-Founder and CEO Demis Hassabis joins Tony Blair to discuss how building strength in sectors like AI, life sciences, green technology, modern financial services and manufacturing is the only option for a forward-looking British government. The private sector is adopting AI on a vast scale. Hear how government can lean in to accelerate its adoption.
Late-morning session
Late-morning session
Reimagining the Fight Against Crime – with Lindsey Chiswick
11.20 - 11.35 BST
PRESENTATION
Despite crime rising in the UK, arrests are falling and cases are stalled in the courts. Our approach to fighting crime must evolve. Metropolitan Police Director of Intelligence Lindsey Chiswick reveals how new technologies such as Live Facial Recognition can revolutionise the identification, capture and prosecution of offenders.
Reimagining Health Care – with Dr John-Arne Røttingen, Professor Andrew Scott and Tony Blair, moderated by Dr Charlotte Refsum
11.35 - 12.00 BST
PANEL DISCUSSION
To break the cycle of declining health, weak economic growth and constrained health budgets, Britain’s health-care system must be transformed – including shifting to a preventative model and tapping the power of our own data. TBI Director of Health Policy Dr Charlotte Refsum will be joined by Wellcome CEO Dr John-Arne Røttingen, Professor Andrew Scott and Tony Blair to discuss the health-data revolution, NHS reform and the opportunity Britain has to lead and innovate.
Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Wes Streeting with Jon Sopel
12.00 - 12.20 BST
IN CONVERSATION
The Secretary of State for Health & Social Care Wes Streeting will set out the future of the NHS under the Labour government.
Reimagining Net Zero – with Ilan Gur, Greg Jackson and Lindy Fursman
12.20 - 12.45 BST
PRESENTATION AND PANEL DISCUSSION
Population growth, coupled with development, has the potential to drive rapid increases in global emissions. To truly tackle climate change, we need action domestically and a new plan for global emissions, one that harnesses technology to power our energy needs. TBI Director of Climate & Energy Policy Lindy Fursman lays out where we are and what we can do – before joining CEO of ARIA Ilan Gur and CEO of Octopus Energy Group Greg Jackson to discuss how the UK can take a leading role in the clean-energy transition worldwide.
Afternoon session
Afternoon session
Afternoon welcome
13.40 BST
By host Jon Sopel
A New National Purpose: Lord Hague and Tony Blair – with Jon Sopel
13.40 - 14.05 BST
IN CONVERSATION
Hear from two former sparring partners on their shared vision for leveraging technology and innovation to secure the UK’s future prosperity and global leadership. Jon Sopel will be joined by the former leader of the Conservative Party William Hague and Tony Blair to discuss the imperative of Britain embracing science and innovation as its new national purpose.
The Future of European Politics – with Sandro Gozi, Sanna Marin and Matteo Renzi, moderated by Jon Sopel
14.05 - 14.30 BST
PANEL DISCUSSION
Europeans have just cast their votes. France has just been to the polls. What trends should we understand and what does it all portend for Europe and the world? Jon Sopel will moderate a panel that aims to understand the impact of recent elections. TBI Strategic Counsellors Sanna Marin and Matteo Renzi – former prime ministers of Finland and Italy, respectively – along with French MEP Sandro Gozi will share their unique political insights.
Closing session
Closing session
The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology – with Professor Chris Miller
14.55 - 15.15 BST
PRESENTATION
Semiconductors are the backbone of modern computing and there’s a global race to produce them. Taiwan is the epicentre of this, producing more than 90 per cent of the world's most advanced semiconductors, almost all of which come from just one company. The ramifications of this are significant. The author of Chip War: The Fight for the World’s Most Critical Technology, Professor Chris Miller, delves into how the global tech superpowers are jockeying for semiconductor supremacy and what this means for geopolitics today.
Reimagining Defence – with General Stanley McChrystal and General Sir Nick Carter, moderated by Zeinab Badawi
15.15 - 15.35 BST
PANEL DISCUSSION
In an increasingly uncertain geopolitical landscape marked by shifting alliances and unpredictable actors, the battlefield has also evolved, with new and disruptive technologies such as drones and AI redefining modern warfare. Are we focused on the right things to modernise our defences so they are fit for the new fights ahead of us in the age of AI? General Stanley McChrystal and TBI Strategic Counsellor General Sir Nick Carter talk with President of SOAS Zeinab Badawi about how a whole-of-government approach is needed to secure Britain’s defence – and its role in the world.
Reimagining the Creative Industries: will.i.am with Jon Sopel
15.35 - 15.55 BST
IN CONVERSATION
Creative-artist-turned-tech-entrepreneur will.i.am joins us in a conversation with Jon Sopel about the power of AI and how it is composing a new future for the sector. As founder and CEO of his own AI-powered messenger app, FYI.AI, will.i.am discusses how this technology is reshaping the creative industries and transforming how content is produced. What opportunities does the future hold?
The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Pat McFadden with Jon Sopel
15..55 - 16.15 BST
IN CONVERSATION
Pat McFadden, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and most recently the national campaign co-ordinator for the Labour Party during the 2024 election, will join us to reflect on the historic election victory and how this translates into a programme for government.
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