AI For Purpose: Building Technology That Actually Matters

Join us at Arena Offices Berkshire Place in Winnersh Triangle for an essential conversation with our AI Thought Leader and co-CEO, Matt Wicks, about moving beyond the AI hype cycle to create technology that delivers real-world impact. In "AI For Purpose: Building Technology That Actually Matters," we'll explore a practical, human-centric framework for implementing AI solutions that solve genuine problems and empower people rather than simply implementing technology for its own sake.

This session cuts through the noise to demystify AI tools and provides a clear, actionable four-step framework for building AI applications that create positive value. Through real-world case studies spanning accessibility, scientific discovery, and environmental conservation, you'll see how organisations are already applying these principles to generate meaningful impact.

Whether you run your own business, work in a small company or a large organisation, or are simply curious about AI, you’ll leave with concrete strategies to evaluate and guide AI initiatives toward creating genuine value for the people and communities they serve.

Topics Covered

• The "AI for Hype" vs. "AI for Purpose" Problem
• The "AI" Toolbox: Workhorse vs. Creative Partner
• The Purpose-Driven AI Framework: 4 Steps to Adding Value
• Case Studies in Adding Value
• Your Role as the "Value Bridge"

‍Event Speakers

Matt Wicks

Co-CEO,The Virtual Forge

The story of any product development is the story of data, of understanding what you want to achieve, and what you need to know to achieve it. Building those pipelines, grappling with that data and answering those questions is why Matt loves what he does, and has done for over 30 years.

He has worked with companies as diverse as the BBC, NHS, Jaguar Land Rover and Adobe, as well as small product teams, and they all have two things in common - the need for insight from data, and the need to build, often faster and faster.