75 Years from "Green Shoots" to Global Impact: AI in 2026

In collaboration with the LEO Computer Society, we are thrilled to promote a special look into the world of Artificial Intelligence—a topic dominating the headlines daily, but often misunderstood.

Is AI benign, or is it dangerous? And what does a 1950s tea company have to do with it?

This year marks the 75th anniversary of LEO I. While J. Lyons & Co. wasn't using "AI" in 1951, the LEO processes implemented between 1951 and 1955 were the world's first "green shoots" of machine intelligence. It was the first time digital computers were used to help humans make informed business decisions—the very foundation of what we see today.

To bridge the gap between those first steps and the complex world of 2026, we are privileged to introduce two world-class practitioners:

• Richard Conway: Founder of Elastacloud, Group CTO for Acora, and Microsoft Regional Director with 30+ years in software engineering.

• Dr. Darshna Shah: Chief AI Officer at Elastacloud, PhD in Neuroscience, and Microsoft AI MVP with a decade of experience delivering enterprise AI solutions.

What to Expect

Richard and Darshna will look beyond the sensationalist headlines to discuss:

• The Agentic Era: How AI "agents" are becoming digital colleagues in 2026.

• Economic Value: Which innovations actually move the needle for our economies?

• The Future of Work: How technical advances are setting us up for an exciting year ahead.

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