Watch | Our first year celebration; FOIL 1.0
Human Knowledge in a Connected World
Last week marked a milestone for FOIL as we celebrated our first year at the historic Royal Society of Arts. The venue choice wasn't coincidental—for nearly 270 years, these walls have witnessed the evolution of human knowledge and innovation. It seemed fitting, then, that we chose to frame our discussion not around AI, but around something more fundamental: human knowledge in an increasingly connected world.
Why avoid the term 'AI'?
Because sometimes, labels can obscure the real conversation we need to have. While artificial intelligence captures headlines, the true revolution lies in how we're connecting human knowledge, experience, and insight in ways that were never before possible.
It's not about replacing human intelligence—it's about amplifying it.
A room full of senior leaders and BBC geneticist Adam Rutherford
This perspective resonated deeply with our 110 senior leaders and executives who joined us. From BBC Studios' Adam Rutherford's captivating insights to the rich discussions led by our distinguished panel of industry leaders, one theme emerged clearly: the future isn't about AI versus humans. It's about creating systems that enhance our collective intelligence and decision-making capabilities.
Expert demonstrations
Our demonstrations of AI and Knowledge Graph technologies, expertly presented by our very own Harry Ault, showed how these tools serve as bridges between human knowledge rather than replacements for it. The number of attendees surrounding the screens all night was a testament to that.
An insightful panel
The panel discussion, featuring insights from Ground Control's Chris Howell, Kantata's Sarah Edwards, and Anthony Nolan's Michael von Geldern, alongside our own Simon Turner, painted a compelling picture of how organisations can start to capture, democratise and optimise this knowledge in a new way. Their experiences highlighted a crucial point: successful digital transformation isn't about implementing AI in isolation—it's about creating ecosystems where human knowledge can flow freely and be enhanced by technology.
A Traditional Data Platform is a great solution to help organisations connect data, but does it help you connect, understand, and amplify human knowledge?
Does it create the conditions for genuine innovation and growth? And readiness for more?
As we reflect on FOIL 1.0, we're more convinced than ever that the future belongs to organisations that understand this distinction.
Keen to explore how your organisation can bridge the gap between human knowledge and technological capability? Let's have a conversation about building something that lasts. Get in touch today to better understand our pioneering concept, the Knowledge Platform.