Accelerating AI: Turning AI into Action

On 9 June, business leaders, innovators and technology specialists came together at The Ridgeway Centre in Milton Keynes for the Accelerating AI Conference 2026.

The event marked the fourth AI conference co-organised by Fliweel.tech, Qoob and Dragon IS over the past two years, and according to many attendees, it was the strongest one yet.

What made the day particularly interesting was not just the quality of the speakers or the discussions taking place on stage. It was the audience itself.

The room was filled with business leaders all grappling with a similar challenge:

How do we move from AI curiosity to real business impact?

Where Businesses Really Are on Their AI Journey

Much of the public conversation around AI can make it feel as though every organisation is already transforming at pace.

The reality is quite different.

During the conference, live audience polling revealed that approximately 75% of attendees were either at the beginning of their AI journey or running early-stage experiments and pilot projects.

That insight reinforced an important point.

Most organisations are not falling behind because they are ignoring AI.

They are still working out how to adopt it safely, responsibly and in ways that create genuine value for their business.

For many leaders, the challenge is no longer understanding what AI is. The challenge is understanding where it fits, how to govern it, and how to move beyond isolated experiments into practical implementation.

A Day Focused on Practical Application

Hosted by Andy Paul, CEO of Fliweel.tech, and Matthew Rigby-White, Founder of Qoob, the conference brought together experts from across technology, business, education and government to share practical insights and real-world experiences.

Sessions explored topics including:

• AI and Microsoft Copilot
• AI challenges and opportunities
• AI agents and digital employees
• Building marketing teams with AI
• Human agency in an AI-driven workplace
• Regional support, funding and growth opportunities

Speakers represented organisations including Microsoft, Zoho, Fliweel.tech, Qoob, Dragon IS, South Midlands Growth Hub, the University of Bedfordshire and techUK.

Throughout the day, one theme remained consistent: successful AI adoption is not about implementing technology for technology’s sake. It is about solving meaningful business problems.

AI Agents Move into the Real World

One of the highlights of the conference was Andy Paul’s session, “AI Agents in Action”.

The presentation explored how organisations are beginning to deploy AI agents capable of carrying out tasks, accessing information and supporting teams in ways that move beyond traditional automation.

A live demonstration with Jon Sidwick from Blue Touch Paper showcased how secure production AI agents can be built using proprietary business data.

Thankfully, the live demo worked exactly as planned.

More importantly, it demonstrated that AI agents are no longer theoretical concepts. They are becoming practical tools that businesses can start experimenting with today.

 

The Conversation Beyond the Technology

One of the most valuable moments of the day came during the panel discussion hosted by Usman Ikhlaq from techUK.

While there was clear excitement about the opportunities AI presents, the discussion also surfaced some of the concerns many organisations and individuals continue to face.

Questions around jobs, skills, trust, governance and risk featured heavily throughout the conversation.

The reality is that the future feels mixed for many people.

There is genuine optimism about what AI can unlock, but also understandable uncertainty about how businesses and employees will adapt.

Acknowledging both sides of that conversation is important.

The organisations making the most progress are not ignoring the risks. They are engaging with them, learning from them and building frameworks that allow them to experiment responsibly.

The Biggest Takeaway

If there was one message that emerged from the conference, it was this:

Businesses should lean into AI.

Not blindly.

Not recklessly.

But with curiosity, structure and a willingness to experiment.

The organisations seeing the greatest success are not waiting for perfect certainty. They are taking practical steps, learning quickly and building capability over time.

A Community Effort

Events like Accelerating AI Conference only happen because of strong partnerships and a shared commitment to supporting business growth.

A huge thank you goes to everyone involved, including South Midlands Growth Hub, Business MK, Milton Keynes City Council, Microsoft, Zoho, Smart City Consultancy, University of Bedfordshire and the British Business Bank.

Together, these organisations are helping create an ecosystem where businesses can explore AI with greater confidence and clarity.

What’s Next?

The conversation continues at MK Tech Week this October, where we will be returning with an even bigger AI conference focused on helping organisations turn emerging technology into measurable business outcomes.

Join Us at MK Tech Week! If you would like to be part of the next conversation, pre-registration is now open [Register Here]

Two Ways to Work with Fliweel.tech

Many of the conversations at Accelerating AI Conference centred around the same challenge: where do you start?

Whether you’re exploring AI for the first time or looking to scale successful pilots across your organisation, the key is focusing on practical outcomes rather than technology for technology’s sake.

1. 6-Week AI Sprint

For organisations with a specific process problem they want to solve quickly.

The 6-Week AI Sprint is designed to identify a high-impact manual process, build a working AI solution and measure the results within a defined timeframe.

The programme includes:

• A 2–3 hour discovery workshop
• Safety and governance assessment
• Design, build, testing and deployment
• A working AI prototype in production
• Success measured against agreed business KPIs

Ideal for businesses looking to move from experimentation to evidence-based results.

2. Trusted AI Partner

For organisations where AI is a strategic priority and long-term transformation is the goal.

The Trusted AI Partner programme provides ongoing support through four AI Sprints delivered over a 12-month period, helping organisations systematically identify, deploy and measure AI opportunities across the business.

The programme includes:

• Quarterly AI strategy sessions
• Four AI Sprints over 12 months
• Safety and governance assessment
• Full deployment and user enablement
• Board-ready reporting and business impact measurement
• A dedicated AI partner focused on long-term success

Whether you’re taking your first steps with AI or building a roadmap for transformation, Fliweel helps organisations turn AI ambition into measurable business outcomes.