Reflections from Canterbury Tech Summit: Connection, Collaboration, and the Human Side of AI

Last week, some of the Data Domain team attended the Canterbury Tech Summit - an event that continues to serve as a meaningful gathering point for the region’s tech community. As data and analytics specialists, we’re constantly thinking about the role these technologies play in shaping not just business outcomes, but human experiences, for both us and our clients. This event was a reminder that while the tools evolve quickly, the real value still lies in how we connect, collaborate, and think critically about the future.

Artificial Intelligence, as expected, featured prominently in many of the sessions and conversations. It’s now deeply embedded in our daily lives - from the services we interact with to the systems businesses rely on. But while its capabilities are impressive, the narrative surrounding AI remains complex. Alongside the promise, there’s palpable concern - about job displacement, misuse, ethical implications, and the risk of handing too much over to algorithms we don’t fully understand.

These concerns aren’t misplaced. In fact, as practitioners in the AI space, we believe it’s our responsibility to engage with these questions head-on. But what struck the Data Domain team at Canterbury Tech was the industry’s clear desire to move beyond fear—to explore what coexistence with AI really looks like in practice. This is a trend that we have witnessed amongst our clients and many organisations across all sectors.

Because AI, for all its power, still lacks context. It lacks the lived experience, judgment, and empathy that humans bring to decision-making. And this is where we see a meaningful path forward: a future not of AI versus humans, but of AI with humans.

We’re seeing this already in the organisations we work with - where automation enhances, rather than replaces, people’s ability to do meaningful work. Where data insights are used to support better conversations, not just faster dashboards. Where ethical frameworks are built into AI design, ensuring decisions remain fair, transparent, and accountable.

But none of this happens in a vacuum. What stood out to us at Canterbury Tech was the value of community - the informal conversations, shared learning, and open discussions that help shape a more balanced view of what’s next. It reminded us that innovation doesn’t come solely from technology; it comes from people working together across disciplines, roles, and industries.

A standout theme were discussions relating to platform ecosystems. A particular highlight was Mark Ferguson’s session about his company, Lumin, its journey, successes, failures, lessons learnt, what the future holds - aspects we can relate with in our journey, and group of companies building solutions together such as Xero startups building plugins. This kind of collaboration isn’t just good business; it’s a blueprint for scaling impact responsibly. And it mirrors the way we approach our own work: helping organisations build data foundations and AI capabilities that are not only powerful but adaptable, ethical, and inclusive.

As we reflect on the day, one thing is clear: AI will continue to evolve at pace. But we shouldn’t mistake speed for maturity. Many of the most ambitious technological shifts in history, from the internet to space travel, took longer to realise than initially predicted. The same will likely be true for AI. The key is to keep our focus on the long-term: building resilient systems, nurturing talent, and creating environments where people and technology thrive together.

Our biggest takeaway? That our human strengths - curiosity, empathy, creativity, and collaboration - are not only still relevant; they’re essential. In fact, they’re the very qualities that will help us navigate this new era of AI thoughtfully and responsibly.

So, we’ll keep turning up. We’ll keep connecting with others who are asking the big questions. And we’ll keep helping organisations make sense of what AI can do—while staying grounded in what truly matters.

Connect with us today and let’s explore the data, analytics, and AI journey together.