SXSW Invades London: More Than Just Socks and AI Overlords!

Across the Pond and into Shoreditch

Right here's the deal. Apparently this 'South by Southwest' thing is a big deal stateside but the Brits? Not so much. Spotted some chap scratching his head at the mere mention of it. I always say 'A true adventurer is always prepared,' but even I wasn't ready for this cultural clash. This year it's landed in London. Specifically Shoreditch. Now I've seen my share of ancient ruins and hidden cities but Shoreditch? Well let's just say it's got its own…charm. The Mayor of London Sadiq Khan was there giving a speech about London being the bee's knees for tech. He even took a swipe at some bloke across the Atlantic something about 'inward looking mentality'. Sounds like someone needs a good treasure hunt to broaden their horizons.

Swag Socks and Serious AI Talk

First things first: press pass acquired! And of course a tote bag. You know me always one for a good freebie. Inside? A bar of chocolate which I promptly devoured – adventuring builds an appetite you know! Then it was off to the National Centre for Circus Arts. Yes you read that right. This is where Thomas Wolf from Hugging Face was discussing the future of robotics. Open source AI seems to be all the rage especially the stuff coming out of China. An industrial style building exposed brick and all. Very chic darling. Luckily a coffee bar was nearby to keep me firing on all cylinders.

Truman Brewery Takeover: Food Trucks and Tech Dreams

Next stop Truman Brewery the conference's main stage. Food trucks galore! And the usual suspects: Ray Ban and Polestar vying for attention. Naturally. But then…a merchandise store. A pair of SXSW branded socks for £18! That’s $24 American! I've raided tombs for less valuable artifacts! Honestly you'd think they were made of solid gold! After a quick security check (thankfully they didn't confiscate my grappling hook) I tried to catch Demis Hassabis' talk but the line was longer than a lost city's underground passage. So the media lounge it was. At least they had decent sandwiches. A girl's gotta eat.

AI: The Theme of the Century

AI AI everywhere! Hugging Face Google DeepMind even a driverless car startup backed by SoftBank were all chin wagging about the future. Hassabis reckons AI will be bigger than the Industrial Revolution AND the internet. Crikey! And naturally there was some hand wringing about responsible development. I always say 'The greatest treasure is knowledge,' but even knowledge needs a bit of taming eh?

Superhuman Techies: The Future Is Now?

According to Hassabis AI is going to turn technically savvy people into superhuman beings. Five to ten years he says. Well that's a bit of alright then isn't it? I've tangled with mythical creatures and ancient curses so I'm rather intrigued. If these AI tools can help me find even *more* lost civilizations I’m all for it!

After Dark: Music and Mayhem (Missed by Yours Truly)

Apparently there were big names performing like R&B star Tems. But 5 a.m. wake up calls and late night gigs don't exactly mix. So I'll have to rely on you lot to fill me in on the after dark shenanigans. 'It's not the years honey it's the mileage,' and this old girl needs her beauty sleep! Besides I've got a lead on a lost artifact in the Himalayas. Priorities darling priorities!