04 March 2026

Season 8, Post 8: Where technology meets humanity

Some 17,000 people, your author included, had the opportunity to explore the intersection of technology and humanity at Tech Show London this week. Billed as “the most important tech event for business in the UK”, the keynote session drew a standing room only audience. Elsewhere, the longest queues formed in the data centre halls. Whether it be cooling systems, cabling or communications infrastructure, without fully resourced data centres, AI becomes almost irrelevant.

Attendees at the keynote were reminded that “behind every algorithm is a set of human choices.” Documentarian Louis Theroux riffed with mathematician and broadcaster Hannah Fry on the topics du jour. Both speakers recognised that the evolution of technology had created a set of unintended consequences. Low entry barriers and powerful amplification effects have enabled extreme views to spread rapidly across the spectrum.

Listeners were encouraged to separate the signal from the noise. Technology is not “inherently good or bad.” Hannah noted that things are “designed [so that] they will be used.” This non-judgemental view of progress resonates. We have argued previously that creative destruction is inherently Schumpeterian. Some ideas and businesses will survive, while others will fail. As Louis observed, it will take time for society fully to “metabolise” the changes now underway.

A further perspective came from Martha Lane Fox, the co-founder of Last Minute during the dotcom boom, who also spoke at the event. She noted that while the Internet had widened access to information, it was also responsible for around 40% of UK crime. Even so, institutions should prioritise inclusion. Around 5% of the UK population still lack access to the Internet. This needs to change. In an “AI-first world”, data must be empowering. We agree.

5 March 2026

The above is provided for information purposes only and does not constitute investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Any forward looking statements are based on assumptions that may change. The views expressed are solely those of the author at the time of writing. Any personal investment held by the author has not influenced the content. This article should not be relied upon for investment decisions. Past performance does not predict future returns, the value of investments and income from them can fall as well as rise.

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Alex Gunz, Fund Manager

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