Debate the AI and Digital Divide, exploring identity, safety and inclusion, and our shared responsibility to ensure AI benefits everyone.
Speakers
Keynote Opening: Julia Adamson, Executive Director, BCS
Debate Chair: Rubi Kaur, Chief Enterprise Architect, Inclusion Officer, BCS Digital Divide Specialist Group
Additional speakers to be announced shortly
Agenda
12:00pm – Opening Address by Julia Adamson, Executive Director of BCS
12:05pm - Debate begins
1:00pm - Debate ends, AGM starts
1:30pm – AGM ends, Lunch and Networking
2:30pm - End
Synopsis
As AI becomes increasingly embedded in everyday life, could the AI Divide become an even greater challenge than the Digital Divide?
This debate will explore how access, identity, safety and inclusion intersect in the age of AI. The speakers will consider whether AI risks deepening existing inequalities and further disadvantaging people who are already digitally excluded - as well as those who may be online but lack the skills, confidence or support to benefit from AI safely.
The debate will examine two key motions: whether the AI Divide presents a greater challenge than the Digital Divide, and whether closing it is a societal responsibility rather than solely a technological one.
It will also consider the role of professional bodies such as BCS, alongside government, businesses, educators and civil society in ensuring that AI benefits everyone, not only the digitally advantaged. Join us to challenge assumptions, hear different perspectives and build a more joined-up understanding of our collective responsibility for creating a safe and inclusive AI-enabled society.
This is followed by the BCS Digital Divide Specialist Group's AGM. This hybrid event will take place at the BCS London office on 14 October, from 12:00 to 13:30, followed by lunch and networking.
About the speakers
Julia Adamson MBE FBCS CITP, Executive Director, Education and Public Benefit
Julia leads BCS’ education and public benefit strategy, driving national efforts to equip young people with the digital skills they need to thrive. She oversees key programmes including the Barefoot Computing initiative, which has reached over 3.5 million children, and the Computing at School (CAS) network, supporting more than 25,000 teachers.
Julia played a central role in establishing the National Centre for Computing Education (NCCE), an £84 million government-funded programme to upskill educators and embed computing in schools.
With over two decades of experience in education and edtech, Julia began her career as a teacher in Cheshire before taking on leadership roles at MGL and South West Grid for Learning, where she focused on safe digital transformation.
She joined BCS in 2017 and has held a range of senior roles across education, policy, and public engagement.
Julia is a Trustee of the Blackdown Education Partnership and contributes to national advisory panels focused on digital inclusion and diversity in tech. She was awarded an MBE in 2023 for Services to Education.
Rubi Kaur (Debate Chair)
Rubi Kaur is Chief Enterprise Architect, Fellow of BCS, and Inclusion Officer at the DD SG Rubi Kaur is an experienced Chief Enterprise Architect with over 25 years of technical leadership across Lloyds Banking Group, Vodafone, BT, O2, and the UK Government.
She has led award-winning teams, including recipients of the Business Green IT Team of the Year and the UK Government Finance Award for Sustainability. Rubi is passionate about architecting inclusive, ethical, and responsible digital technology and ensuring all voices are heard.
For four consecutive years, she has been recognized in the Computer Weekly list of Most Influential Women in Technology.
Our events are for adults aged 16 years and over.
This meeting is conducted in accordance with the BCS Code of Conduct for Meetings.
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This event is brought to you by: Digital Divide specialist group
Supported by: BCSWomen SG and EMBRACE specialist group
