Introduction

This session offers an insider’s perspective on the latest developments from Silicon Valley, led by award-winning journalist Danny Fortson. From the rise of AI-powered agents to the battle for top tech talent, this talk will explore how innovation hotspots are shaping our digital future — and what it all means for business, society, and everyday life.

What the session will cover:

• Silicon Valley's economic gravityWhy five companies located within a 15-mile stretch of California are now worth more than the entirety of UK plc — and how that concentration of power is reshaping global tech and finance.
• The infrastructure behind AIA look at the unseen energy and data centre boom driving the AI revolution, and what this massive build-out means for industries, economies, and the climate.
• Coders as elite talentWhy companies like Meta are paying software engineers Premier League-level salaries — and what this arms race tells us about the future of work and innovation.
• The rise of AI agentsWhat happens when AI becomes “self-driving”? A deep dive into the coming wave of autonomous software agents and the profound implications for how organisations function.
• Bridging the digital divideHow space-based Internet could connect the 2.5 billion people still offline — and the societal and economic transformations this could trigger.

About our Speaker

Danny Fortson

Danny Fortson is the West Coast tech correspondent for The Sunday Times, where he covers the front lines of the global technology industry. He writes a weekly column and features on major tech trends, and co-hosts The Times Tech Podcast, a weekly interview series with high-profile guests including Bill Gates, Al Gore, and Sir Demis Hassabis. Danny was named 2025 Business and Finance Journalist of the Year at the National Press Awards for his investigative reporting on the Mike Lynch saga.

Who should attend?

This talk is ideal for professionals in tech, innovation, policy, or corporate strategy as well as anyone curious about the rapidly shifting dynamics of the digital world.