Small business owners from across London came together yesterday to advance their AI knowledge and expand their connections at a themed ‘Netwalking’ event hosted by Small Business Britain and BT.

Meeting for a one-hour stroll through Regent’s Park the small business owners had the opportunity to receive insight from leading Artificial Intelligence (AI) experts.

Aimed at giving entrepreneurs a chance to get out of their usual working environment and meet up with other local businesses, Netwalks offer a less-formal way to network, share ideas and experiences and build business connections.

Recent research conducted by BT found that almost half (48.6%) of small business leaders are concerned about AI. Addressing these concerns, the event aimed to share knowledge and tools to effectively leverage AI, highlighting its potential benefits.

Digital and technology experts including Cheryl Laidlaw, ‘the London web girl’ and Silvia Del Corso, founder of PinkSEO were on hand to provide insights and guidance on integrating AI into small businesses.

“We have recently seen an incredible rise in AI, and small businesses stand to benefit immensely from it with the right information and guidance,” said Michelle Ovens CBE, Founder of Small Business Britain.

“We were thrilled to run this event in partnership with BT, bringing together entrepreneurs from all around London and the South East with AI experts who offered essential insights into how to adopt new technology and remain at the forefront of innovation.”

Chris Sims, Managing Director – Small and Medium Business at BT, said:

“Our research tells us that AI is one of the top tech anxieties impacting businesses of all sizes. This special London Netwalk is all about showing small businesses that when it comes to demystifying AI, we’ve got their back. Its a chance to meet with likeminded entrepreneurs, cut through the noise and hear from each other about the real opportunities and benefits that AI could bring to their business.”