Infinite Account Director Josh Allsopp and Account Manager Charlotte McCluskey review some of the biggest PR talking points from London Tech Week 2025 Risqué chatbots, table-top holograms, black hole-inspired supercomputers, retina scanners, virtual worlds, wearable tech, Keir Starmer, and a big red double decker bus all under one roof? You’d be forgiven for thinking we’d slipped into the Twilight Zone, but last week (9–13 June) the Infinite team was let loose on London Tech Week where a record 45,000 delegates to Kensington Olympia were proudly shown what the UK’s booming tech industry has to offer. After all, it's a sector worth $1.2 trillion for the UK economy, while London is fast becoming Europe’s de-facto hub for AI-led growth. The media (mostly) complied with this narrative. Headlines spotlighted a £1 billion pledge to expand national computing capacity and a £1.5 billion London HQ commitment from US fintech Liquidity. What’s more, a live fireside chat between UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and CEO of tech titan Nvidia, Jensen Huang dominated day-one coverage as Downing Street cosied up to Silicon Valley’s best and brightest. The excitement and optimism were palpable. Infinite was busy connecting with the myriad entrepreneurs and innovators exhibiting at the expo but still had a chance to catch many of the panels and keynote sessions on the show’s high-octane agenda. While we recover and recharge our social batteries, here are ten takeaways decoding the week’s wins, wobbles and media whirlwinds:
1. Tech policy is still a touchy subject
It wasn’t too long before some tricky talking-points surfaced. City A.M. was feeling feisty, panning UK tech secretary Peter Kyle’s keynote for reheating tired old policy pledges. The new OpenBind AI-drug-discovery project was the sole truly fresh reveal amidst the raft of inward investments the government was eager to shout about. It’s an important lesson for any PR team, especially those involved in public affairs. Without a genuine first-run story or a compelling progress update, the “old wine, new bottle” narrative quickly dominates coverage.2. How it went from ‘babe in arms’ to ‘up in arms’
Meanwhile, an incident on day one in which an entrepreneur carrying her eight-month-old baby was refused entry to the exhibition hall was splashed across the Guardian and beyond. The event organiser’s response was subsequently derided for being tone deaf. Naturally, this sparked a social-media backlash over inclusion as reactions ricocheted online – tech CEO Davina Schonle’s LinkedIn post about the experience received over 1,000 comments. It was an uncomfortable moment for an industry that has long grappled with issues of equal access and representation. One exclusionary rule or DEI misstep can hijack headlines, eclipse your core message, and shut out a whole demographic – including Davina’s very cute baby!3. The Handmaid’s Fail – when robots reflect bias
On that note, we’d also be remiss to not mention our run in with a certain chatbot. The expo’s Start-Up Alley risked looking like the redlight district thanks to Meta Loop and its AI-powered “girlfriend”. Introducing Meo, complete with a life-sized silicone model, the start-up sought to reimagine the role of the virtual personal assistant - with the emphasis on ‘personal’ (Alexa, cover your ears...). Meo, the founder told us, was designed for those who want a significant other but without the added complexity of a real human partner (you know, like rights or a pulse…). She can be programmed to flirt, get jealous, be subservient and do chores. She doesn’t wear a whole lot either. Sure enough, more backlash ensued. The Independent, and Unilad, were among those to point out the tendency of certain circles in the tech world to reinforce harmful gender stereotypes. Most of the delegates we spoke to were expecting better from the event, especially given it was already facing scrutiny for another inclusivity gaffe.4. Science still takes centre stage
Even so, nothing was about to overshadow pop-star astrophysicist Brian Cox, who drew quite the crowd with his talk on harnessing scientific curiosity (the universe really is "Amazing!"). We also heard from some budding start-ups making waves in the field of quantum computing – with a little help from black holes. Turning research into reality takes time and patience, we were told, but the possibilities are seemingly boundless. Most people we met were more fascinated in the science behind it all than making money from any of it.5. Is it time to dive into DeepTech?
But just in case any boffins were interested in making bank, Wednesday’s panel on the Tech Horizons stage reminded us that "investors back people not projects”. Experts shared their views on commercialising the cutting-edge world of DeepTech. When it comes to marketing mind-boggling scientific breakthroughs, it’s the passion (and brains) of the people behind them that will win over investors – essential when navigating long development cycles and unpredictable markets. Investors, we’re informed, are starting to focus more on teams with vision and grit rather than just flashy ideas.6. It’s not a battle, but a partnership
Despite all the AI hype, the common theme among panellists was that people are still very much at the heart of it all. AI helps take care of the boring, repetitive tasks more suited to a machine, so we mere mortals can focus on creativity, empathy, and strategy. The real magic happens when humans and AI work together. What matters most is a mindset that values emotional intelligence, resilience, and curiosity. Both investors and innovators agree that backing people is just as important as backing technology. Behind every AI breakthrough is a team navigating complex challenges and change. The future belongs to those who combine the power of machines with human insight, making technology not just faster, but smarter.7. We’re in a new era of digital content
With Cannes Lions following hot on the tail of London Tech Week, some of the creative magicians driving content marketing's AI revival treated us to a glimpse behind the curtain on the Innovation stage. Panellists from VEED, Wondercraft and ElevenLabs talked about the first-mover advantage for tech-savvy creatives and delivered some home truths for those who decry the rise of AI-generated content. According to VEED CEO Sabba Keynejad, there is supposedly even one content creator in Italy churning out 36,000 videos a year!8. It’s not as bad as the headlines might suggest (mostly)
London Stock Exchange CEO Julia Hoggett was flying the flag for UK capital markets on the Founders stage on Wednesday, right ahead of the launch of the FCA's framework for a new stock exchange, PISCES. She delivered a refreshing antidote to some of the recent headlines around London’s supposed Big Tech exodus. On the contrary, recent data showed that UK startups had already raised more than $7 billion so far this year in venture capital investments.9. The UK’s fear of failure is holding us back
There’s a quiet but persistent voice in British culture that says, whatever you do, don’t fail in public. It’s a mindset that might suit modesty, but it doesn’t necessarily serve innovation. At London Tech Week, that tension came into sharp focus. While the UK has the talent, capital, and ideas to lead in tech, there was a sense that it is still held back by a fear of getting it wrong. Failure is too often seen as fatal, not as fuel. The media arguably plays a part in this. We often celebrate the unicorns, but we more rarely hear the stories of the stumbles that came first. Those narrative matter. It shapes how founders lead, how investors bet and how teams take risks.10. Lessons for next year
And finally... in an environment this loud, the winning comms strategies were those who pre-seeded exclusives, armed spokespeople with snack-able data, and orchestrated multi-channel amplification through social and live-streams. The exhibitors that did well leveraged visual content like video to enhance media appeal, while real-time interactions such as live demos and Q&A sessions created a dynamic presence that cut through the noise. These strategies help deliver both coverage and a lasting impression. Who knows what next year will have in store...Share:
