This year marked a special milestone for Leeds Digital Festival, its 10th anniversary. Over two weeks, the city came alive with events celebrating innovation, collaboration, and creativity across the region’s thriving digital community.
As part of the celebrations, the Harvey Nash Leeds team was proud to host a screening of our latest Tech Flix film, Data’s Untold Story: The AI Energy Crisis. The film explores the growing energy demands of AI and data, and the urgent balance between innovation and sustainability.
It set the tone for a festival full of big ideas, important questions, and inspiring conversations about where technology is heading next.
The human element in an AI-driven world
A recurring theme throughout the festival was clear: while AI is rapidly transforming industries, people remain at the centre of progress.
From cybersecurity discussions highlighting how “when AI strikes, humans defend,” to debates on where humans belong in an AI-driven future, the message was consistent that although technology may redefine roles, it can’t replace the creativity, critical thinking, and ethical judgment that humans bring.
Many sessions explored how businesses can harness AI to augment human ability rather than replace it. The conversations touched on responsible innovation, the importance of embedding ethics and sustainability from the outset, and the growing need for frameworks to guide AI’s impact across sectors.
Building, innovating, and transforming at speed
Leeds Digital Festival also showcased just how quickly ideas can move from concept to creation. Live demonstrations, including building a functional app in under 90 minutes, captured the energy and collaboration driving the city’s tech scene.
For our team, it was a reminder that in fast-moving environments, having access to people with the right mix of skills and adaptability is just as critical as the tools they use. This reinforces the importance of understanding emerging roles, new skill sets, and the ways organisations are leveraging talent to bring ideas to life quickly.
Laying the foundations for responsible AI
Another standout theme was the strategic role of AI across industries, including the public sector. Sessions highlighted the need for ethics, governance, and trust, as well as the infrastructure, skills, and institutions required to scale AI responsibly.
Discussions explored how governments, public bodies, and major tech players can work together to ensure AI benefits everyone, from fostering innovation and investment to embedding transparency and accountability in deployment.
These insights drove a key message that responsible AI isn’t just a technical challenge; it’s a collaborative, strategic one.
Data as a force for change
The festival also showcased the power of data to drive smarter, more human-centred decision-making. From retail to logistics, data leaders shared how they’re turning insights into tangible outcomes, improving customer experiences, streamlining operations, and driving value across organisations.
Hearing from ASDA’s Data Science team offered a glimpse into how large-scale analytics can be both technical and practical, balancing innovation with real-world business impact.
The evolving landscape of digital innovation in Leeds
Across every discussion, Leeds’ digital community demonstrated why the city continues to lead in tech. From AI ethics and cybersecurity to logistics automation and app innovation, the festival spotlighted a region that’s pushing boundaries while staying grounded in purpose.
For the Harvey Nash Leeds team, it was a chance to connect, learn, and reflect on the role people, partnerships, and responsible innovation play in shaping the future.
Looking ahead
As we wrap up this year’s festival, one thing stands out: technology will continue to evolve at pace, but it’s collaboration, creativity, and conscience that will define its true impact.
A huge thank you to Leeds Digital Festival for an incredible 10th anniversary celebration, and to everyone who made it such an inspiring two weeks for the city’s digital community.
