Advancing Responsible AI Through Cloud Technology: Manchester Summit Highlights Collaboration and Innovation

Manchester Metropolitan University hosted the Advancing Responsible AI Through Cloud Technology summit on 2 June 2026, bringing together leaders from government, academia and industry to explore how artificial intelligence can be responsibly deployed at scale through cloud infrastructure. Co-hosted with the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT) and supported by MetroPolis, the event demonstrated the growing importance of cross-sector collaboration in shaping the future of digital public services.

Held at the Geoffrey Manton Building, the summit convened public servants, researchers and technologists with a shared focus on ensuring AI systems are ethical, trustworthy and effective. The event forms part of a wider national policy landscape in which AI and cloud technologies are recognised as critical enablers of modern government, driving innovation, efficiency and improved public outcomes.

The programme opened with a welcome from Dr Tommaso Spinelli (Government Digital Service, DSIT) and Professor Keeley Crockett (Manchester Metropolitan University), alongside an opening address by Professor Nick Brook, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Research. Across the day, keynote speakers and panelists explored the technical, ethical and governance challenges associated with scaling AI in complex public sector environments.

A standout opening keynote from Carl Dalby, Group Head of AI & Digital at the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority, focused on moving beyond experimentation to trusted deployment. Drawing on real-world examples, Dalby emphasised the importance of embedding “assurance by design” and maintaining human accountability in AI-driven systems operating in high-risk settings.

Sustainability and long-term impact were also key themes. Tom Parry, Head of Digital Sustainability at Defra, outlined how GreenOps approaches can help organisations balance cost, performance and environmental considerations when scaling cloud-enabled AI. Further sessions explored emerging topics such as agentic AI, cyber-physical risks and the increasing role of AI-as-a-service in public sector transformation.

Panel discussions provided a space for deeper engagement. A session on accountability in multi-cloud and distributed AI systems, chaired by Karen Wilkinson (DWP), highlighted the need for clearer governance, improved financial oversight and stronger collaboration across organisations. A second panel on responsible AI-as-a-service reinforced the importance of shared standards, skills and capabilities across government and partner institutions.

The strength of the speaker line-up and the quality of discussion were widely noted by attendees. Reflecting on the event, Dr Tommaso Spinelli commented: “We have got lots of positive feedback and it felt like a step up in the quality of talks and seniority of attendees.” He also highlighted the increasing external interest generated by the summit, noting that partnerships of this kind are helping to “make a big noise” and attract wider engagement.

This sentiment was echoed by Wednesday Moore (DSIT Senior Community Manager), who praised the programme, stating: “The choice of speakers was really strong, all very engaging, and there were some great questions from the audience.” The high level of participation and discussion throughout the day reflected a clear appetite for continued collaboration across sectors and reinforced Manchester Met’s  role as a key voice in AI and digital research and policy.