Insights from Bath Digital Festival’s Beings Day Panel Discussion
On 15 May 2025, the Bath Digital Festival hosted its much-anticipated “Beings Day,” a thought-provoking exploration of what it means to be human in an era dominated by artificial intelligence, robotics, and digital transformation.
At the heart of the event was “The Big Conversation,” a panel discussion that brought together experts from academia, industry, and innovation. Moderated by Aimeé Skinner, the session blended perspectives on cutting-edge technologies, ethical dilemmas, and the opportunities and challenges posed by regulation.
From Nicola Millard’s historical analysis of AI’s hype cycles to Sue Turner’s examination of the uneven adoption AI tools, the conversation ranged from philosophical divides to urgent calls for ethical clarity. Ben Metcalfe’s insights into neurotechnologies highlighted the tension between medical breakthroughs and regulatory frameworks, while Mike Conjoice shed light on the quieter yet transformative ways AI is improving lives in healthcare through foundational tools.
The discussion was not just a technical deep dive but a broad reflection on human existence in a digital age – an opportunity to ponder what we stand to gain, what we risk losing, and how to balance trust, skills, and our role as humans for now and the future.
The Hype is Familiar – but This Time, It Might Stick
Nicola Millard, Principal Innovation Partner at BT, kicked off the conversation with a historical perspective on AI’s long history of inflated promises.
From the hyped expert systems of the 1990s to the transformative potential of today’s generative models, Millard observed that while AI has often underdelivered in the past, the current convergence of abundant data, hardware power, and advanced algorithms is enabling real-world applications.
This shift, from novelty to utility, might finally turn AI’s potential into substantial, lasting impact.
“The hype is here to stay, because AI is genuinely becoming useful.”
– Nicola Millard, BT Group
A Divided Landscape of Adoption
Professor Sue Turner OBE, founder of AI Governance Limited and a Professor in Practice at the University of Bristol, highlighted the uneven adoption of AI tools across industries. Many are unsure how to begin, while others are charging ahead without adequate reflection. Turner emphasised the need for digital confidence and ethical clarity, pointing out that the divide is not just technical but philosophical. She underscored the importance of fostering trust and equipping organisations with the tools to navigate this complex terrain.
“Just because we can doesn’t mean we should”
– Sue Turner OBE, AI Governance Limited
Innovation Meets Regulation
Ben Metcalfe, Head of Electronics and Electrical Engineering at the University of Bath, and co-founder of the Bath Institute for the Augmented Human, illustrated the tension between medical innovation and regulation. His work with implanted neurotechnologies shows immense potential. It is restoring function, independence, and quality of life, but often fails to reach patients because regulation doesn’t accommodate low-volume, high-impact devices. When compliance costs outweigh market viability, innovation risks being diverted to less regulated consumer or defence markets.
Metcalfe also noted a worrying trend: regulatory escape, where devices designed for healthcare end up being commercialised elsewhere to avoid compliance hurdles – potentially compromising safety and long-term viability. His insights stressed the need for frameworks that support innovation without sacrificing ethical standards.
“We need to evaluate not just what we create, but why we create it.”
– Ben Metcalfe, Bath Institute for the Augmented Human
AI’s Quiet Revolution in Healthcare
Mike Conjoice of Bupa Dental Care UK shared how AI is reshaping healthcare in understated yet transformative ways. From easing the administrative burden on frontline staff to enhancing patient experiences, Conjoice emphasised that the real gains aren’t flashy, they’re foundational. These are tools that help people do their jobs better, reduce burnout, and improve patient experiences.
Conjoice echoed the ethical imperative that technology must support, not replace, human care, serving as a tool to enhance rather than diminish the humanity of healthcare.
“The future isn’t just about efficiency; it’s about ensuring inclusivity and equitability in technological advances.”
– Mike Conjoice, Bupa Dental Care UK
The Human Element: Trust, Skills, and Inclusion
The panel’s discussion extended to the broader societal implications of AI’s growing presence. Nicola Millard warned of “metacognitive laziness,” where over-reliance on AI and automation risks eroding basic cognitive skills. Turner called for organisations to earn public trust by being transparent about their use of AI and giving people a say in how their data is used.
Audience questions turned the spotlight on inclusion. Gender and demographic bias remain persistent problems in data collection and algorithm design. Metcalfe stressed the importance of scaling out data collection, beyond the lab and into the real world, to make models genuinely inclusive. Turner reminded us that the power dynamics behind
AI matter too: charities, small organisations, and the digitally excluded are at risk of being left behind or locked into systems they can’t influence.
Small Wins with Big Impact
The panel concluded by spotlighting real-world examples of AI’s potential to drive meaningful change. Conjoice shared how AI-generated storybooks are helping children undergoing cancer treatment better understand their care in a supportive and age appropriate manner. Additionally, apps like Be My Eyes, which uses AI to provide audio descriptions for visually impaired users, were celebrated for their ability to enhance personal independence.
Turner noted the role of AI in breaking down barriers in education, such as software that reads text aloud for individuals with reading difficulties. The discussion wasn’t without its concerns; Metcalfe noted the challenges of evaluating student work that may have been generated by AI tools like ChatGPT, raising important questions about academic integrity. Together, these examples underscored both the promise and the complexity of AI’s growing role in society.
Final Reflections
The Big Conversation left attendees with a deep sense of the stakes involved in the rise of AI. The panellists agreed that AI is not merely a tool for efficiency but also reflects our values and priorities. Thoughtful progress, ethical adoption, and a renewed commitment to what makes us human emerged as recurring themes.
The takeaway message was that while AI being used in transformative ways, we must make sure we don’t leave anyone behind, that we continue to ask hard questions, and engage in discussions about the role and impact of technology on our future – from policy and product design to public dialogue, the choices we make today will shape not just what AI becomes, but what we remain.
