OpenAI’s Colin Jarvis will share insights with DataFest delegates on what to expect this year in AI and how businesses can benefit from these new technologies.

As the Head of OpenAI’s Forward Deployed Engineering team, his engineers are embedded in companies such as Morgan Stanley, Mercado Libra and Orange to build AI products that solve critical business problems worldwide.

Now in its eighth year, DataFest will be held from 12-13 May, returning to the Assembly Rooms where it all began in 2017. Organised by Scotland’s Innovation Centre for Data and AI, The Data Lab, the event is known for bringing together global thought leaders, innovators, and tech enthusiasts to discuss practical applications and shape the future of data and AI.

This year’s theme is navigating data and AI, with expert guides to help us understand how to leverage these technologies for maximum impact.

“In recent years, we have seen a real shift in the way AI technologies are seen and used. At this year’s DataFest, we’re helping the audience navigate the noise of data and AI through real-world examples and expert guidance from our speakers,” said Paul McMillan, community & events programme manager at The Data Lab, said

DataFest 2025 will bring together participants from industry, academia, and beyond to discuss, engage with, and learn about recent developments in data and AI, which are permeating industries from law to construction and everything in between.

Other high-profile speakers for the event include:

• The LEGO Group’s Chief Data Officer Orlando Machado, a leading data scientist and AI expert with 30 years of experience at the forefront of digital transformation for major global businesses. In 2023, he received the DataIQ Professor Derek Holder Lifetime Achievement Award for long-standing contributions to the data industry.
• BBC’s Technology Editor Zoe Kleinmann, a leading voice in tech journalism interviewing leaders like Apple CEO Tim Cook, covered Elon Musk’s controversial Twitter takeover and led the BBC’s reporting on the UK government’s AI Safety Summit.
• Duncan Clark, Head of Europe at Canva, who is a former data journalist at The Guardian and co-founder and CEO of Flourish, the data storytelling platform now part of Canva, Duncan brings a unique perspective on data visualisation, storytelling, and innovation.
• AI Entrepreneur and researcher Dr David Hulme, Chief AI Officer at WPP and CEO of Satalia, an award-winning company that provides AI products and solutions for organisations worldwide. He is known for challenging AI misconceptions, tackling complex problem-solving with technology, and exploring how organisations can adapt in an AI-driven world.

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Colin Jarvis, head of forward deployed engineering at OpenAI, said: “AI is an era defining technology that’s already delivering tangible business impact for companies across a range of sectors. 2025 is set to be another pivotal year, with agents presenting an even more useful way to engage with AI.

“With the increasing capabilities of our AI tools and solutions, we expect even more businesses to benefit from this transformative technology.”