The post-April calendar is lean but purposeful. The headline events from the last fortnight - the AI and Equality workshop at Southampton, the Stop Chasing AI session at Clockwise, and the Winchester Digital Health Skills Day - have now taken place or close today. What remains confirmed for the coming weeks is two face-to-face events: an AI for small business evening in Southampton on 7 May, and the hands-on content AI workshop at Fareham Innovation Centre on 13 May. Scouting continues for any late-breaking announcements from TechSolent, BCS Hampshire, and the universities; submit anything you know about to the link below.
Top Picks
Thu 7 May - Roast & Sip, Totton
AI Made Simple for Small Business
Practical evening session demystifying AI tools for SME owners; no prior technical knowledge needed.
Wed, 13 May - Fareham Innovation Centre
Turn AI Into Your Content Sidekick
Hands-on half-day at Fareham Innovation Centre applying AI tools to content creation; ideal for founders and marketing leads.
Thu, 14 May - Beaulieu Inn, Brockenhurst
AI and Redesigning the Workforce
Half-day workshop at Beaulieu Inn examining how AI is reshaping hiring, skills and job roles; relevant to founders, HR leads and public sector managers across the New Forest district.
Full Event Listings (Mar-Apr 2026)
Date & Time | Event (Host) | Venue / City | Type | Cost | RSVP / Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Wed 22 April, 10:30-12:00 | How AI can help you find more customers | The Track, Bognor Regis | Workshop | Free | |
Wed 29 April, 8:00-10:30 | AI SEO: how to combat declining traffic | St Leonards Hotel, St Leonards | Workshop | £49 | |
Thu 7 May, 9:30-14:00 | AI Impacts | Hilton Hotel, Bournemouth | Workshop | From £99.60 | |
Thu 7 May, 18:30-20:30 | AI Made Simple for Small Business | Roast & Sip, Totton | Workshop | Free | |
Wed 13 May, 10:00 | Turn AI Into Your Content Sidekick | Fareham Innovation Centre | Workshop | Free | |
Thu 14 May, 10:00-13:00 | AI and Redesigning the Workforce | Beaulieu Inn, Brockenhurst | Workshop | £30 | |
Thu 21 May, 7:00-9:00 | Designing Context First AI Systems & Building a Modern Day Language - and AI | The Avenue, Southampton | Workshop | Free |
📰 Hampshire AI in the News
AiLab announces new Responsible GenAI public workshops for Portsmouth and Southampton
AiLab (the Solent-based AI education organisation led by Dr John Flackett) has announced two new public dates in its Responsible Generative AI in Business series: Tuesday 12 May at The Queens Hotel Portsmouth, and Tuesday 2 June at the Leonardo Royal Hotel Grand Harbour Southampton. Previous editions in this Solent Growth Partnership-backed series sold out across five sessions. Spaces are described as limited.
University of Southampton launches AI Music Lab
Southampton's Web Science Institute launched an AI Music Lab in March 2026, led by Professor Thomas Irvine, exploring AI's impact on musical creativity and composition. The initiative sits within AI@Southampton and follows the University's AI Arts Festival in Winchester. Professor Irvine also attended India's AI Impact Summit 2026 in New Delhi as part of the University's growing international AI engagement.
Stanford AI Index 2026 published - AI capabilities and adoption accelerating faster than any prior technology
The Stanford Human-Centered AI Institute published its annual AI Index on 13 April 2026, finding that leading AI models continue to improve rapidly and that public adoption of AI is outpacing the personal computer and the internet at equivalent stages. The report also notes AI companies are generating revenue faster than any previous technology boom. A useful annual benchmark for practitioners across academia, public sector and industry in the region assessing where AI is heading.
PwC study finds 74% of AI's economic value flows to just 20% of organisations
A PwC global AI Performance study published 13 April 2026 found that the majority of businesses remain stuck in pilot mode while a small group of AI leaders capture most of the gains. The research, covering 1,217 executives across 25 sectors, found that companies focused on AI-driven growth - not just efficiency - led the field. Directly relevant to Hampshire SMEs debating whether and how to invest.
Citations & Sources
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