Horizons London AI + Digital Innovation

Scaling enterprise AI requires moving beyond basic automation to orchestrated, intelligent systems. Drawing from her leadership at Databricks, Maria Zervou explored how supervisor agents and risk-based triage models transform data into actionable workflows. She highlighted that deploying specialized sub-agents for routine tasks frees human experts to manage high-stakes decisions.

Luke Scheybeler showed how brands can be cultural touchstones, not just commercial entities. Drawing from Rapha, Tracksmith, and Scheybeler+, he highlighted how design, storytelling, and strategy turn purpose into movements that resonate. He also explored how technology, including AI, can amplify impact while preserving authenticity.

You wouldn’t think of brand leadership as a technical discipline. Anna Baird unpacked how generative AI is reshaping the way organizations engage customers, make decisions, and scale trust. Drawing from boardroom experience at Google, she highlighted the importance of emotional intelligence, responsible AI, and human-centred thinking as the true differentiators in an AI-powered era.

Liz Bergman shared how American Express leverages strategy, operations, and AI to drive customer-centric growth. She highlighted how cross-functional alignment and thoughtful product launches create seamless experiences, how data informs decisions, and how brands can scale while maintaining trust and human connection in an increasingly automated world.

While generative tools accelerate production workflows, they must not replace the fundamental art of brand storytelling. Drawing from his role shaping Revolut’s visual identity, Gareth Morgan explored how design teams can leverage AI’s speed without sacrificing human craftsmanship. He highlighted that treating AI as an amplifier raises the creative bar, enabling bolder connections.

Digital transformation isn’t about chasing trends, but seamlessly eliminating everyday friction. Drawing from his CTO role at McDonald’s Canada, Adam Cooper unpacked how practical AI empowers teams and elevates guest experiences. He highlighted that championing cross-functional pilots and deploying invisible tech builds a smarter, reliable operation.

True autonomy in mobility is achieved not through rigid rules, but through adaptable, observation-based learning. Drawing from her work at Wayve, Vassia Simaiaki unpacked how physical AI allows vehicles to intuitively understand and navigate complex 3D environments. She highlighted that eliminating hardcoded constraints builds scalable, generalizable systems that reduce human cognitive load.

Marketing today demands balancing data, technology, and human storytelling. Doruk Cuhadar shared how marketers can act as growth drivers, blending AI precision with trust and creativity. Drawing on his experience at Visa, he explored how habit-forming campaigns and community-driven storytelling help brands stay relevant and build lasting loyalty.

Sam Stephenson shared how Granola turns powerful AI into products people keep returning to. Drawing from his experience in product design and startups, he explored creating sticky experiences that balance capability with usability, build trust, and fit into daily routines. Using Granola as a case study, he revealed lessons on iteration, user behaviour, and designing AI tools for long-term value.

The next frontier of artificial intelligence elevates humans from task managers to strategic orchestrators. Drawing from breakthroughs at Google DeepMind, Rebeca Santamaria-Fernandez illustrated how treating AI as a collaborative partner accelerates both scientific discovery and complex robotics. She highlighted that advancing visual-language-action models empowers machines to master complex dexterity without pre-programming.

Transforming complex data into accessible digital experiences requires bridging the gap between design and technology. Drawing from his leadership driving EMEA growth at Canva, Duncan Clark unpacked how scaling creative platforms empowers users to craft compelling, data-driven narratives. He highlighted that merging cross-disciplinary insights with human-centered design turns intricate ideas into universally impactful stories.