Keynote SpeakerNigel Toon

Nigel Toon is one of the UK’s leading figures in artificial intelligence, best known as co-founder and former CEO of Graphcore, the pioneering semiconductor company that developed a new class of processors specifically for AI. His career has focused on the infrastructure underpinning modern computing and artificial intelligence, giving him a practical understanding of how these technologies are built, scaled, and deployed in real-world environments — and the implications for organisations adopting AI today.

He previously co-founded Icera, a cellular modem chip company that was acquired by Nvidia for $435 million — an early example of his track record in building and scaling deep technology businesses.

A technology business leader, entrepreneur, investor and engineer, Nigel has been CEO of multiple venture-backed companies and held senior roles in Silicon Valley, including at Altera, a major publicly listed semiconductor company.

He has served as a board member and chairman for a number of technology businesses, and currently sits as Senior Non-Executive Director at UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), which directs over £8 billion annually into research and innovation. He has also been a member of the UK Prime Minister’s Business Council.

Nigel has received numerous industry recognitions, including being ranked No. 1 on Business Insider’s list of the ‘100 most influential people shaping British technology’, and named one of the UK’s top 100 entrepreneurs by the Financial Times. He holds several patents and was awarded a Doctor of Science degree from the University of Bristol.

He is the author of How AI Thinks, which explores the development and implications of artificial intelligence.