Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales is to headline DataFest 2026 — Scotland’s biggest AI gathering — at the Assembly Rooms in Edinburgh on May 27 and 28.
The event is hosted by The Data Lab, Scotland’s Innovation Centre for data and AI.
“DataFest 2026 brings together one of the technology industry’s most influential entrepreneurs alongside leading figures from OpenAI, Skyscanner and the Mayor of London’s Office for two days of debate and discussion,” said The Data Lab.
“Jimmy Wales is an American internet entrepreneur, best known as the Founder of Wikipedia, the world’s largest encyclopaedia. He is also the founder of TrustCafe.io, an ad-free news platform that produces evidence-based journalism, and co-founder of Fandom, a privately owned free web hosting service he founded in 2004.
“His appearance is set to explore the future of truth in a world where citizens’ demand for reliable, fact-based journalism grows ever louder.”
Wales will be joined by Dex Hunter-Torricke, who held senior communications roles at SpaceX, Facebook, Google, and Google DeepMind before leaving Big Tech to found The Center for Tomorrow; Colin Jarvis, Global Head of Forward Engineering at OpenAI; Amanda Brock, CEO of OpenUK; Theo Blackwell, Chief Digital Officer for London at the Mayor of London’s Office; Professor Rachel Adams of the Leverhulme Centre for the Future of Intelligence and the Global Centre on AI Governance; Dr Julia Stamm, Founder of She Shapes AI; and Matt Rooney, Director of Analytics at Skyscanner.
The theme for the conference is Intelligent Futures — exploring how data and AI are transforming the systems, industries, and societies of tomorrow, with a focus on long-term impact, trust, and responsible scale.
The Data Lab said: “Sessions will address some of the most vital questions in today’s tech landscape, including trustworthy and responsible AI, regulation and governance, AI cybersecurity and resilience, the future of skills and work, autonomous and multi-agent systems, robotics, Scotland’s AI growth zones and data infrastructure, AI’s impact on creativity and society, AI consciousness, and the effects of AI on how we think and learn.
Paul McMillan, Community and Events Programme Manager at The Data Lab, said: “The 2026 programme is truly exciting as it not only highlights the incredible capabilities of technology but also dives into important questions about governance, trust, and the long-term benefits of AI.
“By featuring speakers from Wikipedia, OpenAI, the Mayor of London’s office, and top academic institutions, attendees will gain unique perspectives and insights from some of the world’s leading experts in AI, fostering meaningful conversations about how Scotland approaches AI.”