What can the high street do to recover in 2021?

With tech leaders publicly urging a slowdown in AI development until adequate safety guardrails are in place, the question is no longer whether artificial intelligence needs governing - but how, and how to do it well.

Good AI governance may not be glamorous, but it could determine which organisations make the most of AI. That was one of the key messages from Kate Jones, CEO of the Digital Regulation Cooperation Forum (DRCF), in her keynote speech at our recent AI Agenda conference.

In September, we hosted AI Agenda 2026, bringing together senior leaders, legal experts and innovators to explore what it takes to adopt AI safely, strategically and at scale. The conversation has moved beyond what AI might do to how organisations are actually using it, and this edition reflects the themes and discussions that emerged throughout the day.

Despite its reputation for softness, a particular kind of optimism is the most useful thing a leader can bring to bear in times of uncertainty.