Listen in for a deep dive into the Financial Times' journey through AI transformation, featuring McKinley Hayden, Head of Data Value & Strategy.

In this candid and inspiring conversation, McKinley shares how the FT has embraced both traditional and generative AI, while staying true to its core values of trust, integrity, and quality journalism. From laying the groundwork for AI adoption to developing a company-wide policy, upskilling teams, and navigating ethical challenges—this conversation explores:

• The FT's early AI adoption and innovation culture
• Why responsible AI governance matters (and how it was implemented)
• How feedback, staff engagement, and AI fluency shaped the transformation
• Practical examples like AskFT - an AI-powered tool trained on 12 years of FT journalism
• Honest reflections on agentic AI, AI hype cycles, and sustainable adoption
• Tips for other organisations getting started with AI

Whether you're a data leader, tech strategist, or simply curious about how leading media brands adapt to disruptive change, this session offers practical insights and thoughtful reflections.

Read more in the detailed case study on our website

For queries or collaborations, get in touch via hello@scottishai.com

This week we chat to Agnė Balandžiūnaitė about her project 'Fictosaurus', the future of academic integrity, and Jurassic Park. Agnė will be showcasing her project at AI Can't Write Symphonies and Neither Can You.

Host: Gordon Johnstone (LinkedIn)

AI Can't Write Symphonies and Neither Can You - tickets (27-28 June 2025, Glasgow)

Scottish AI Alliance website

SAIA on LinkedIn

SAIA on Bluesky

SAIA on Instagram

Music: Post Coal Prom Queen

In this week's episode we chat to Josh Thorpe about whether LLMs can ever truly be funny, the future of AI and education, and how AI may be better thought of as an environment rather than a tool.

Josh Thorpe is a writer, learning developer, designer, artist, musician, speaker and radio host living in Glasgow. He works at University of Stirling and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Thorpe is the author of AI for Students, a comic-style book that shows how to use gen AI to think more, not less, in education.

Host: Gordon Johnstone (LinkedIn)

AI Can't Write Symphonies and Neither Can You - tickets (27-28 June 2025, Glasgow)

Scottish AI Alliance website

SAIA on LinkedIn

SAIA on Bluesky

SAIA on Instagram

Music: Post Coal Prom Queen