Businesses to be told that digital transformation must be underpinned by greater corporate responsibility

Disruptive technology such as artificial intelligence and big data are transforming society; the challenge is for organisations in the public and private sector to ensure that technology and data are used to help shape a fairer society, delegates to the InterSystems UK Technology Summit will hear from keynote speaker Dr Tom Chatfield.

The TED veteran and tech philosopher is speaking at InterSystems free to attend annual UK Technology Summit, which takes place on 18th October at The Belfry. He will highlight how technological innovation presents organisations with the chance to rethink their business models, but this should be underpinned by regulation as well as strong corporate responsibility so that the possibilities of AI and big data benefit society at large.

Innovations remove the need for old ways of working. New micro-financing systems such as M-Pesa are rapidly spreading across the globe, providing wider access for millions of people to the financial system, and removing barriers to market entry for smaller businesses. The system allows people to transfer money to others via mobile phones, removing the need for high street banks, as well as helping reduce crime in largely cash-based societies.

Harnessing such innovations in a world of real-time data, and where machines open up a world of infinite possibilities of new ways of working, notes Chatfield, requires a change in mindset that sees people apply new insight and skillsets to collaborate with machines to anticpate and fulfil human needs on multiple levels.

"Machines can optimise and maximise, but you need to be confident these efficiencies have a social impact that you have considered and you understand," he says. "Morally informed thinking is very important for businesses that want to be sustainable."

Chatfield joins a host of speakers from finance, retail and policing who will share how they are using InterSystems' technology to drive business growth, under the theme of embracing change through innovation.

Renowned fintech consultant David Gyori, will explore the issue of Brexit and how the UK and Europe can come to an equilibrium. And Nick Bone, founder and CEO of EquiChain will explain, how blockchain technology will improve global investor access in emerging and frontier markets.

With GDPR looming, the event also features data protection advice from former Homeland Security Deputy Chief Privacy Officer and InterSystems expert Ken Mortensen, as well as further insight from the company and its partners on how they are using and developing the technologies, strategies and methodologies that will deliver business growth and enable organisations to lead within their sector.

The event also features the first UK showing of InterSystems IRIS data platform, which provides fast, realiable and simple data management, interoperability, transaction processing and analytics capability for the first time in a single system.

Mark Palmer, InterSystems country manager UK & Ireland said: "Each year at the Technology Summit the InterSystems UK community comes together to hear some of the latest thinking about the use of technology in our society. This year looks to present some very interesting questions to the community on how they can continue to be at the forefront of technology to support business growth and competitive advantage."