Friday 25 January 2019 7:34 am | Updated: Monday 03 June 2019 2:58 am

London-based AI and emerging technology festival bags HSBC as lead sponsor

An upcoming London-based festival of artificial intelligence, blockchain and emerging technologies has named global banking giant HSBC as its lead sponsor.

CogX 2019, which takes place at the start of London Tech Week from 10-12 June, will also move to King’s Cross this year, and will feature 500 speakers, 300 startups and more than 15,000 participants as it seeks to help accelerate the adoption of AI and emerging tech.

Andre Cronje, chief operating officer at HSBC Global Banking and Markets, said: “HSBC is well-placed to take full advantage of artificial intelligence to further empower our employees and significantly improve the service we can provide to clients.

“To enable this, we are keen to build relationships with the world's leading innovators, engage new partners and identify the talent required to help us realise the full potential of this technology.”

Taking over 200,000 square feet of public space with four stages and nine industry-specific zones that showcase emerging tech, the CogX will also deliver 400 hours of content.

Sessions for the public will also be included and highlights will be streamed to millions of viewers globally across Youtube and to hundreds of media outlets.

Jeremy Wright secretary of state for the Department of Culture Media and Sport, said: “London Tech Week is a highlight in the global tech calendar, so it is great to see the CogX Festival expanding and bringing some of the world's leading voices in AI together with international business partners to tackle the challenges of our time.

“We want to see the power of technology change people’s lives for the better, and through our Digital and Industrial Strategies are establishing a world-first Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation to make sure AI and data-driven technology is developed safely, ethically and benefits society.”

HSBC made headlines earlier this month for an advertising campaign stating the UK is “not an island,” prompting complaints it is anti-Brexit.

The bank’s new campaign, launched in the new year, highlights the influence of other cultures on life in the UK.