Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales to headline Scotland’s biggest ever AI gathering
Two-day conference will be held in Edinburgh’s Assembly Rooms on May 27 and 28.
Wikipedia’s founder Jimmy Wales has been named as the headline speaker for what is being billed as Scotland’s largest AI gathering.
May’s DataFest 2026 event in Edinburgh will bring together one of the technology sector’s most influential entrepreneurs alongside leading figures from OpenAI, Skyscanner and the Mayor of London’s Office for two days of debate and discussion.
Wales is a US internet entrepreneur, best known as the founder of Wikipedia, the world’s largest online encyclopaedia. He is also the founder of TrustCafe.io, an ad-free news platform, and co-founder of Fandom, a privately owned free web hosting service.
Hosted by The Data Lab, Scotland’s innovation centre for data and artificial intelligence, the conference is due to be held in the capital’s Assembly Rooms on May 27 and 28 under the theme “intelligent futures” - exploring how data and AI are transforming the systems, industries, and societies of tomorrow.
Sessions will address some of the most “vital questions” in today’s technology landscape, including trustworthy and responsible AI, regulation and governance, AI cybersecurity and resilience, the future of skills and work, and autonomous and multi-agent systems. The event will also examine Scotland’s AI growth zones and data infrastructure, AI’s impact on creativity and society, AI consciousness, and the effects of AI on how we think and learn.
Paul McMillan, community and events programme manager at The Data Lab, said: “The 2026 programme is truly exciting as it not only highlights the incredible capabilities of technology but also dives into important questions about governance, trust, and the long-term benefits of AI.
“By featuring speakers from Wikipedia, OpenAI, the Mayor of London’s office, and top academic institutions, attendees will gain unique perspectives and insights from some of the world’s leading experts in AI, fostering meaningful conversations about how Scotland approaches AI.”
The Data Lab is Scotland’s innovation centre for data and AI, hosted by the University of Edinburgh and part of the National Innovation Centres programme funded by the Scottish Funding Council. Through its hubs in Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen, the organisation “fosters innovation through collaboration” and champions Scotland’s data science community.
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