Why was I at Keble College Oxford discussing AI impact?

“Dear MVPs, excited to share an opportunity for 8 May (in-person) at Keble College, Oxford for a panel discussion and a unique chance to contribute to the debate on Sustainability, Climate Change, and how AI supports the industry. Eager to hear your thoughts and insights. A diverse audience will attend including local start-ups, Oxford University, Oxbridge AI partners, Oxford AI Society, JP Morgan, Digital Realty, and Microsoft. Please let me know if you can participate, quick response greatly appreciated.” Claire Smyth, Microsoft MVP Program Manager (UK & Ireland).

I found the opportunity very interesting and not one to procrastinate contacted Claire to perhaps share my passion for honey tasting, the decline in bee ecosystems and the correlation to business ecosystems, which I had discussed in a blog three months earlier Interconnectedness, a thriving & diverse relationship.

However, then suffered with “Imposter Syndrome” as assumed no way I would be suitable! See my LinkedIn profile. Nonetheless, while waiting for a response, I asked Copilot: How is AI supporting bees in their crucial role of pollination? It promptly generated fascinating content below.

Within just a few minutes of reading Claire’s message, I discovered intriguing research. Copilot summarised and I turned into my own words: Honeybees play a crucial role in fertilizing flowers and producing fruits, vegetables, and seeds. They are the backbone of biodiversity and help maintain healthy ecosystems. If honeybees continue to decline due to pollution, pesticides, deforestation, and climate change, our ecosystems and human nutrition will be severely disrupted. Protecting bees is not just an environmental issue; it’s about securing our natural food supply chain and collective well-being.

With this new found knowledge and my passion for honey, the collective intelligence of bee ecosystems and it’s relationship to the collective intelligence of human communities of practice plus AI gave me confidence I could meaningfully contribute, alongside esteemed participants from local start-ups, Oxford University, Oxbridge AI partners, Oxford AI Society, Digital Realty, and JP Morgan. I represented the Microsoft MVP Program and the vital importance of Bees in planet earth.

The next day I chatted on Teams with Anne-Claire Lo Bianco, Microsoft for Startups, and Udai Dhamija, Oxbridge AI Challenge Lead, who agreed I would complement the other panel guests.

I travelled from Brighton to Oxford and joined a friendly but passionate debate on how Digital Realty builds sustainable global data centres, the importance of preserving Australian rainforests, and a volunteering database that matches local climate change activists … and Bees! Another panel of AI award winning Start-up Leaders from the Steel Industry and Pharma discussed their new businesses and how they cope with work-life balance under immense pressure.

At the close of the event I informed the audience I had asked Copilot:  What is the most important species in the world? Bees! We were all astounded. See phone image.

I wore a honey-coloured apron I wear for hosting honey appreciation food pairing workshops. I had honeybee-favoured flowering seeds in my pinny pocket and gifted them to the panel and the audience and proved to be far more popular than I expected. I felt an awesome honey-like glow for my passion project.  Love that our panel moderator described me sharing “…insights around the collective intelligence of bees and it’s relationship to the collective intelligence of communities!”

I’m not an entrepreneur or a start-up as not seeking funding as a full time job in tech. I am attempting to start up an appreciation of Ai sustainability in the vital role of bees pollinating plants using entrepreneurial thinking- but not seeking any monetary benefits.

The combination of a prestigious venue, brilliant minds, and thought-provoking discussions made it an unforgettable experience. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine setting foot in an Oxford College, let alone participating in a panel discussion on the immensely complex subject of climate change and AI. The chance to engage with experts and share insights was both humbling and truly inspiring.

I visited Keble College spectacular Chapel and peacefully expressed gratitude for AI helping to save the planet and I had not procrastinated but volunteered with a helpful AI Copilot companion.