Annual Computer Science Regius Chair Lecture

We would like to invite you to the Annual Computer Science Regius Chair Lecture on 6 October 2025 at the University of Southampton with Verity Harding, Founder of the AI consultancy Formation Advisory Ltd and Director of the AI & Geopolitics Project at the University of Cambridge.

One of TIME100’s Most Influential People in AI, Verity Harding has worked at the cutting edge of AI across both industry and academia. Her debut book ‘AI Needs You: how we can change AI’s future and save our own’, was featured in the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Economist and named as one of McKinsey’s Best Books of 2024.​

The event will take place at The University of Southampton Highfield Campus, Building 100, Room 4011 (Harvard L/T) with a livestream link available for those who cannot attend in person. The lecture will begin at 17:30 followed by a drinks and canapes reception to close.

• 17:30 - 18:30 Lecture
• 18:30 - 19:00 Refreshments

The past, present and politics of AI

Abstract:

Across the world, governments are navigating an unprecedented level of geopolitical and geoeconomic volatility. Leaders and nations are determining how the transformative nature of AI will influence these currents, from the huge strategic advantages that technology can bring, to the potential risks. In her lecture, The past, present and politics of AI, Verity will explore the dynamics that have shaped the AI landscape today; the factors driving its politicisation; and how we can work towards a more collaborative future to ensure AI fulfils its promise.

Verity has observed the AI revolution up close, spending her career at the heart of the intersection between technology and politics - first as a Special Advisor and at Google working on technology and national security; and then as the first Global Head of Policy at DeepMind, where she founded its Ethics & Society Unit. She now leads the AI & Geopolitics project at the University of Cambridge, which seeks new narratives of cooperation which place human rights and democracy at the heart of geopolitics and technology policy.

She will draw on this experience and insights from her book, AI Needs You, to argue that the dominant narrative of AI as a global arms race is holding us back, and that AI is fundamentally shaped by cultural and social values, meaning everyone has a stake in its future - not just those who are building it. AI Needs You outlines how three twentieth-century tech revolutions - the Space Race, in vitro fertilisation, and the Internet - offer valuable lessons for how society and political leaders can navigate seismic technological change. Verity will argue that international collaboration is crucial if we are to transform AI into a tool for public good, economic growth, and innovation.

About the Regius Chair in Computer Science

Professor Dame Wendy Hall was appointed to the Chair of Regius Professor in Computer Science in 2017. The prestigious Regius Professorship was awarded to the University of Southampton in 2013 by HM The Queen to mark her Diamond Jubilee – the first and only Regius Professorship in Computer Science to be granted. A Regius Professorship is a rare privilege and reflects the exceptionally high-quality of teaching and research at the University.

Accessibility

We aim to make our events as inclusive and accessible as possible. 

• Lift Access: Available to all floors 

• Seating: Please note the lecture theatre has tiered seating, which may not be suitable for all attendees. 

• Hearing Support: We are currently confirming whether hearing loops are available in this space. Please contact us if this is essential for your participation. 

• Accessible Toilets: Located on the ground floor near the main entrance 

• Assistance: If you require any additional support or have specific accessibility needs, please let us know in advance so we can make appropriate arrangements. 

This event is hosted by the School of Electronics and Computer Science and organised by the Web Science Institute.