AI is now part of many people's daily lives, but the data underpinning it is often poorly governed and inadequately protected. The consequences are felt in service quality, public confidence, and the trustworthiness of information.
The ODI's Data-centric AI programme has put the AI-readiness of data at the heart of our work. Our framework for AI-ready data is now widely cited in the UK government's guidelines for publishing public sector data. At the same time, our testing of the information on which AI chatbots might be deployed has reinforced a defining issue across all sectors: AI systems are only as good as the data they use and that data is too often unsuitable
This work is taking place against a backdrop of rapid change and global instability. Investment in AI infrastructure has continued to climb, with data centres now accounting for a significant share of economic growth in some major economies, even as concerns about the sustainability of the buildout have grown. Public attitudes remain mixed, while trust in online information is declining. Questions of AI and data sovereignty have gained momentum, as governments weigh up how much of their critical infrastructure, data and computing capacity should sit within national control.
In this session, Sir Nigel will present his thoughts on the data ecosystem halfway through 2026. It offers a moment of longer reflection, as he steps down as Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, after a decade in the role (while continuing at the ODI and in his recent appointment as Chair of AI@Oxford Research at the University of Oxford).
Following his presentation, Sir Nigel will be interviewed by Emma Thwaites, the ODI's Strategic Advisor on Global Policy and Corporate Affairs, and the audience will have an opportunity to ask questions.
This webinar is suitable for participants of all knowledge levels.
Speakers
Sir Nigel Shadbolt Executive Chair & Co-founder of the ODI
Sir Nigel Shadbolt is Executive Chair of the Open Data Institute, which he co-founded with Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 2012. He is one of the UK’s foremost computer scientists. Sir Nigel was one of the originators of the interdisciplinary field of web science and is a leading researcher in artificial intelligence. He is Principal of Jesus College, Oxford, a Professor of Computer Science at the University of Oxford and a visiting Professor of Artificial Intelligence at the University of Southampton. In November 2025, Nigel was appointed as Chair of AI@Oxford Research at the University of Oxford.
In 2009, the Prime Minister, Gordon Brown, appointed him and Sir Tim Berners-Lee as Information Advisors to transform access to Public Sector Information. This work led to the data.gov.uk site that now provides a portal to tens of thousands of datasets. In 2010, he joined the UK government’s Public Sector Transparency Board, overseeing Open Data releases across the public sector. He continues to advise the Government in a number of roles and in 2025 he was appointed to the Council for Science and Technology, which advises the Prime Minister and the Cabinet on strategic science and technology policy issues that cut across the responsibilities of individual government departments.
In May 2024 he published ‘As If Human: Ethics and Artificial Intelligence’, co-written with Roger Hampson, which provides a new approach to the challenges surrounding AI.
He is a Fellow of the Royal Society and the Royal Academy of Engineering, and a Fellow and former President of the British Computer Society. He was knighted in 2013 for ‘services to science and engineering’.
Emma Thwaites is Strategic Advisor in Global Policy and Corporate Affairs at the ODI, having held various roles in the organisation since it opened in 2012. Emma has spent more than a decade shaping how organisations talk about and work with data, advising boards, briefing ministers, and helping leadership teams navigate complex regulatory and reputational environments. She has authored policy papers and thought leadership on data governance, ethics, and innovation, and regularly speaks at and hosts events and podcasts with leaders across sectors, including energy, healthcare, and research. Her earlier career includes senior UK government communications roles and over a decade as a BBC journalist.