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This is exactly what we’ve been discussing at New Icon and most recently in our AI governance roundtable. What stood out in that session, and what this United Nations report reinforces is the gap between AI adoption and AI governance. Most organisations aren’t struggling to use AI anymore, they’re struggling to understand where it’s being used, what data is involved, and how to manage the risk without slowing everything down. A few themes we explored that really connect with these findings: - AI is already happening, whether it’s formally approved or not. Shadow AI is widespread, and banning it isn’t realistic. - Governance needs to extend existing foundations across data, security, risk and accountability, not sit as a separate initiative. - Trust is the real bottleneck... without clear guardrails, explainability and ownership, AI adoption stalls or creates more risk than value. And perhaps most importantly, governance doesn’t need to be heavy or restrictive. The organisations moving fastest are the ones taking a practical, proportionate approach. It’s great to see more research like this from UNESCO and the Thomson Reuters Foundation bringing visibility to the reality on the ground. If you’re starting to think about how AI is being used across your organisation and what governance should look like in practice, happy to chat and share some of the approaches we’re seeing work well. Missed the roundtable? Read the recap here: https://lnkd.in/ey2VaT42

Most teams treat scheduling as “just a link”. But behind every meeting is infrastructure: data, identity, workflows, security, experience. That’s why “build vs buy” isn’t a tech decision, it’s a business one. Sometimes, off-the-shelf tools are the right answer. Sometimes, custom systems are essential. The difference is knowing when. We’ve explored this in our latest blog: https://lnkd.in/esWT7rNz #DigitalTransformation #SystemsThinking #EnterpriseTech #BusinessOperations

Innovation isn’t about chasing shiny new tech, it’s about enabling real progress. Here, Dolo explains how we combine deep technology expertise with our clients’ business insight to create solutions that genuinely move the needle. It’s not about New Icon being innovative, it’s about helping our clients innovate with confidence. Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/eQrtP5c2 Read the full write up: https://lnkd.in/eHrHEekT

Yesterday, we had our first vision day of 2026, and it wasn’t just about reflecting on the past quarter, it felt like a genuine reset! We had some really honest conversations about where we’ve been, what hasn’t worked, and more importantly, what we want New Icon to become - spending time brainstorming and shaping our values, aligning on the direction of the 'new' New Icon, and identifying some practical next steps - from training initiatives to building out some kind of developer resource hub. It was the perfect collaborative day, driven by the whole team, and powered by a gorgeous spread of Eat A Pitta Ltd before we finished off with some very competitive cricket at Sixes Party Cricket! 🏏

Another Minds in Motion roundtable, this time on AI governance… and with an oversubscribed room, it's a conversation we’re still thinking about! Last Thursday, we brought together leaders from across healthcare, finance, manufacturing, energy and tech, and one thing became clear very quickly: AI is already being used across organisations, whether it’s formally approved or not. The discussion covered everything from “shadow AI” and data risk to trust, governance and what practical next steps actually look like. Have a swipe through a few key takeaways we’ve captured in the below carousel. We’ve also pulled together a full recap with more insights from the session, have a read: https://lnkd.in/ey2VaT42 Huge thanks again to everyone who joined and contributed so openly! #AIGovernance #AI #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #BristolTech

Another great 'Minds in Motion' roundtable event, this time on 'AI governance'… and what a discussion it turned into! Yesterday, we brought together a brilliant mix of leaders across sectors - from healthcare and finance to manufacturing, energy and tech. With Dolo Miah leading the discussion, the group talked all things AI governance, and what became clear very quickly is that AI is already embedded in day-to-day work, whether organisations have formally approved it or not. Some of the key themes that came up: - “Shadow AI” is already happening - Banning it doesn’t work – it just drives it out of sight - Governance needs to enable safe use, not block it - It starts with data, security and existing foundations And most importantly, human judgement still matters. There was a really honest and open conversation around both the opportunity and the risk, with some very real examples shared across the room. A huge thanks to everyone who joined and contributed! We’ll be pulling together a blog with the key themes and insights from the session so keep an eye out for that next week 👀 #AIGovernance #AI #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #BristolTech

Just in case you missed it... last month, we hosted a workshop at the first WEAF Cluster Meeting of 2026, talking through all things AI, automation and what’s actually useful for aerospace and manufacturing. The key takeaway? AI isn’t the starting point - it always comes back to people, process and technology. From scheduling and compliance to data quality and resourcing, the focus was on solving real operational challenges, not chasing hype. We’ve shared the key insights here: https://lnkd.in/ekzcURSx #Aerospace #Manufacturing #AI #DigitalTransformation #WEAF

Our ecosystem isn’t just a list of partners, it’s part of our DNA. In this video, Dolo talks about how we constantly explore new technologies, build relationships with innovators, and bring the best of that world to our clients. Want to check out our ecosystem? https://lnkd.in/efEzPgeE

Digital transformation isn’t about big, rigid roadmaps. It’s about staying nimble, working collaboratively, and innovating with purpose. In our latest blog, we share how this approach helps organisations move faster, reduce risk, and create real impact - not just new tech. Swipe through the carousel to learn more Read the full piece here: https://lnkd.in/eHrHEekT #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #Agile #Leadership #AI #Technology