Fringe Events 2026

AI, work, and the future of global competitiveness

Organised by Chatham House & LinkedIn

AI adoption is accelerating globally at unprecedented pace, becoming a central driver of geopolitical influence and economic competitiveness. As AI moves from experimentation to deployment, competitive advantage is increasingly shaped not by who has developed the most advanced models, but by how effectively AI capabilities is adopted across firms, sectors and labour markets. Research by LinkedIn shows AI could unlock up to $6.6 trillion in productive capacity for businesses in the US, UK, France, Germany, and India if implemented across all work tasks.

Yet AI adoption cannot happen in isolation. The rate of change is placing pressures on labour markets, exposing gaps in skills, learning systems and organisational readiness. Business leaders, academia and policymakers must work together to create more responsive labour markets, ensuring that the global workforce is equipped with the right skills to adapt as AI reshapes work. Coordinated action offers a competitive edge, enabling governments and employers to best match talent with economic opportunity and build a more productive, resilient and inclusive labour market.

This exclusive event in partnership with LinkedIn brings together policymakers, leading business executives,  academics and industry stakeholders to explore AI driven opportunities and challenges through the lens of new labour-market evidence. Interactive discussions, grounded in LinkedIn Economic Graph data and international comparisons, will chart a path forward for economic growth and competitiveness, underpinned by a dynamic, future-ready workforce and policy environment designed to thrive in the AI era.  

Discussion questions include:

  • How is AI reshaping the world of work and what new jobs and skills are emerging from this transformation?
  • Who is leading the charge in AI skills diffusion, and how can governments and businesses scale successful models?
  • How is the UK best placed to position itself in the global AI race? What are its strengths and how can it gain a competitive edge over comparable competitors?
  • What does policy, workforce and economic readiness look like in the AI era?
  • As labour markets and skills evolve, what new thinking and solutions are needed to unlock productivity, strengthen resilience, and widen economic opportunity? 
Speakers
Blake Lawit Blake Lawit, Chief Global Affairs and Legal Officer, LinkedIn
Olivia O’Sullivan Olivia O’Sullivan, Director, UK in the World Programme, Chatham House
Baroness Minouche Shafik Baroness Minouche Shafik, Chief Economic Adviser to the Prime Minister, United Kingdom
Stephanie Flanders Stephanie Flanders, Head of Economics and Government, Bloomberg News
Date and Time
Day 09 June
11:00 - 12:30
Location

Chatham House

10 St James’s Square

London

SW1Y 4LE

Find on map
https://maps.app.goo.gl/MquSiwG2aPMPfX7P6
Host Contact Details
Corby Smelt
csmelt@chathamhouse.org
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