Speakers
Daniel Doll-Steinberg
Speaker session
As CWIC 2026 draws to a close, the conversation shifts from the ‘how’ of network convergence to the ‘so what’ of systemic autonomy. The day has traced the technical architecture of our future, one where these technologies are merging into a single autonomous operating system. This Global Nervous System does more than carry data. It helps determine what becomes data in the first place, how it is observed, how it is trusted, and how it is used to sense risk, interpret intent, and act in real time across our physical and digital worlds. Connectivity is no longer just infrastructure; it has become the control layer of modern life, enabling trust, resilience, and accountability at machine speed. As AI, advanced sensing, and eventually quantum systems begin to reshape what can be known, modelled and acted on, that control layer becomes more powerful, and more consequential.
In this closing fireside, Daniel Doll-Steinberg joins us to explore what this transition really means. As AI embeds itself across every workflow, changing how we trade value, establish identity, and manage resources, the boundary between data movement and decision-making is dissolving. At the same time, the nature of data itself is changing: it is no longer just recorded information, but an active substrate for inference, prediction, and machine-led action. That shift forces a fundamental rethinking of governance: how do we regulate a system that moves faster than human thought? How do we preserve machine-speed trust without surrendering human agency? Daniel will examine the frameworks needed to keep this new era of intelligent networks a tool for progress, rather than a source of systemic fragility.
Daniel is cofounder of EdenBase, a venture fund investing in frontier technologies, and QBase, the UK’s quantum adoption hub. He has built disruptive tech startups, managed large-scale corporate change and advised governments and supranational organisations on policy and regulation. Daniel invests at the convergence of AI, Quantum Computing, Smart Data protocols and Immersive Tech as they become general purpose.
His book, Unsupervised (Wiley, September 2023), a Bloomberg Book of the Year focusses on how AI, Quantum Computing and other frontier technologies are impacting our lives, their impact on society, who controls them, and why action is needed now.
Daniel started his career in the global derivatives technology industry in the early 90’s, the first true disruption that technology brought to the financial industry. He led change management at a major global bank in New York, after which he founded a company that created one of the first global standards for Digital Rights Management (DRM). In 2017, he founded the Atari Token Project to build a metaverse-based new economy platform with Atari, an Ethereum founder and several gaming leaders.
Daniel was appointed by the European Commission as an expert advisor specialising in education, disruption and future of work. He was also advisor to the UK Government where he co-wrote the 2008 Smarter Regulation and 2011/2012 Innovation reports.
As a visionary speaker, Daniel brings together the investor, operator and adoption perspectives on how frontier technologies move and gain value, from breakthrough to real-world impact.
An international business executive with over 30 years experience of leading growth businesses in wireless, internet and cloud sectors. Chris has spent 15 years in the Wi-Fi Service Provider business: CEO BT Openzone Wi-Fi; Chair of the Wireless Broadband Alliance (Board Director for 10 years); MD and Board Director, GlobalReach Technology (Wi-Fi roaming and authentication specialists).
Chris is now a strategic consultant to wireless vendors and operators offering advice and delivering projects to enhance Go To Market results. Chris is NED Chairman of Handshakr SAAS platform company, bringing together large corporates and smaller innovators to collaborate.
Chris’s career includes: Sales and Marketing Director Business mobile, Telfort (Dutch Mobile Operator); CEO BT Openzone Wi-Fi; VP Advise for Communications providing advisory and wholesale services to Telcos in Middle East, Africa, Asia, LatAm; VP Europe Channels BT Internet Hosting and NED at Inet Spa, Italian Internet Hosting market leader. Chris held leadership roles in BT Global, launching services to Enterprise and Wholesale customers. Previously, Chris had Marketing and Product management positions at Ericsson, Ascom and CASE Communications.
Chris has a passion for innovation and growth and has supported start-ups and scale-ups as a mentor in accelerator programmes focused on Smart Cities, Blockchain and Authentication. Chris has a deep interest in Industrial IoT and Smart Cities.
Public sector experience includes a 12 month secondment to the Department of Trade & Industry, managing the UK Broadband Britain delivery programme and representing on BT’s East of England Regional Board.