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Speakers revealed for groundbreaking AI event for UK drinks trade

05 June 2024 By Patrick Schmitt

An incredible line-up of speakers has been secured for the first major UK event on the impact of AI-driven technology on drinks, which takes place on Monday 17 June at King’s College London.

Professor Charles Spence has proven that the sight, touch and sound of food can have large effects on its perceived taste, and has called for a “radical new way of examining and understanding the senses” to better design consumer products, interfaces, and experiences.

Among the experts primed to address the role of fast-evolving gen-AI technology on creating, marketing and retailing wines and spirits is Professor Charles Spence, who is head of the Crossmodal Research Laboratory at Oxford University, as well as Professor Barry Smith, who is co-director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses at the University of London.

Also confirmed for the event – which runs from 1 to 5.30pm – with a networking lunch beforehand, is Professor Oguz A. Acar, who is professor of Marketing & Innovation at King’s Business School, King’s College London, whose current research is at the nexus of generative AI, organizations, and education.

Further figures include former French Laundry sommelier and Harper’s Club founder, Chris Hoel, as well as Rob Hollands, who, as CEO of Metacask, specialises in the digital ownership of drinks.

Joining them is Nick Martin, the co-founder and CEO of Wine Owners, which provides a digital operating platform for drinks worldwide, as well as Richard Bampfield MW – wine consultant to many leading businesses, including major retailer Lidl – along with whisky expert Colin Hampden White.

Also on the panels will be Pam Dillon and Andrew Sussman from Preferabli, which provides B2B2C product discovery and recommendation software for wine, spirits and food, including specialty and grocery retail, hospitality, travel, distribution and consumer platforms.

Click here to find out more as well as secure your place at this cutting-edge event.

Date: Monday 17 June

Location: The Science Gallery,
Kings College, Guys Campus,
Great Maze Pond, London SE1 9GU

Time: 12pm-1pm lunch followed by the event, which runs from 1pm to 5.30

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