Don’t know your metaverse from your generative artificial intelligence? London Tech Week is here to help.
In less than two weeks’ time, the celebration of the UK technology sector will return to the capital to shed light on the industry’s hottest topics, from immersive gaming to AI chatbots.
More than 20,000 attendees from across the global tech industry are expected to attend the five-day event, which will take place a stone’s throw away from the Houses of Parliament.
Whether you’re a start-up founder or a budding social media influencer, here’s what you need to know about London Tech Week.
What is London Tech Week?
London Tech Week is an annual event that involves thousands of tech lovers networking and learning at demonstrations, workshops, debates, meetups and parties. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the conference.
More than 300 speakers are expected to grace the event, where politicians and trade bodies will rub shoulders with representatives from the worlds of big tech, gaming, and investment banking.
This year’s lineup includes executives from Spotify, Microsoft, Pokemon Go maker Niantic, TikTok, and AI firm Google DeepMind.
When is London Tech Week?
London Tech Week will take place from June 12-16 at the Queen Elizabeth II Centre.
Keynotes and panels will run throughout the first three days of the event, from morning to afternoon.
How to attend London Tech Week
People interested in attending can apply for one of several passes aimed at start-ups, other businesses, software providers, and senior members of the tech industry.
Sorry biohackers, there’s still no way to jam a visitor’s chip in your palm to gain access.
London Tech Week: Highlights
With so many panels and keynotes scattered across three days, London Tech Week can seem a bit overwhelming for even the most hardcore tech nerd.
To help out, we’ve handpicked some of the key sessions that break down this year’s buzziest topics.
As you’d expect in a year dominated by viral chatbot ChatGPT, AI will be a recurring theme at Tech Week. Eight panels will tackle the topic on everyone’s mind, including a roundtable scrutinising what thinking machines mean for humanity.
The session will feature Colin Murdoch from UK AI firm DeepMind, which recently signed a statement claiming that AI posed a risk of extinction. As lawmakers race to rein in the data systems that power the tech, London Tech Week could be a real barnstormer for AI enthusiasts.
With Apple set to revive the metaverse courtesy of its rumoured mixed-reality headset, you can also expect to hear about the next wave of immersive gaming.
While some gamers recoil at the mere thought of crypto technologies such as Web3 and blockchain, several developers will try to myth-bust digital assets. Whether they’ll convince players that GTA 6 should come with a side-helping of NFTs remains to be seen.
Sarah Burslem, from Pokemon Go creator Niantic, will also break down the difference between augmented reality and virtual reality. Apple and Meta are cramming both into their headsets and smart glasses in an attempt to replace your smartphone. As such, it might be a good time to find out the games and experiences they’ll deliver in the near future.
You can peruse the entire agenda before attending here.
