The Dubai AI Festival 2025 is honored to welcome Nigel Toon, a pioneering force in the AI hardware revolution and a globally respected entrepreneur, as one of its featured speakers. As the founder of Graphcore, Toon has been instrumental in shaping the infrastructure powering today’s most advanced artificial intelligence systems.
With a rare blend of deep technical knowledge, startup success, and national advisory experience, Nigel Toon brings unmatched insight into the future of AI computing—and how to build technology that thinks more like us.
Engineering the Future of AI with Graphcore
At the core of Nigel Toon’s legacy is Graphcore, the company he co-founded to reimagine AI processing from the ground up. Graphcore’s Intelligence Processing Units (IPUs) have enabled breakthroughs in machine learning performance, becoming a critical alternative to conventional chip architectures.
Under his leadership, Graphcore became a major force in the AI hardware space, offering innovative solutions for developers, researchers, and enterprises pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with deep learning and AI training.
A Voice in National Innovation and Global Thought Leadership
Beyond his company, Toon is an influential figure in UK technology policy and innovation. He serves as a Non-Executive Director on the board of UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and previously sat on the UK Prime Minister’s Business Council, contributing strategic input to national science and tech development agendas.
His thought leadership has earned him widespread recognition, including:
- #1 ranking on Business Insider’s UK Tech 100
- Recognition by the Financial Times as one of the Top 100 Entrepreneurs in the UK
- Numerous innovation and leadership awards across Europe and the US
Author, Inventor, Entrepreneur
Nigel Toon is also a respected author and communicator, bridging technical complexity with public understanding. His book, How AI Thinks, has become a bestseller, praised for making the inner workings of artificial intelligence accessible to a broad audience—from technologists to curious readers.
In addition to his business and literary achievements, Toon holds three granted patents in the field of semiconductor and computing technology and was awarded a Doctor of Science (DSc) degree by the University of Bristol, recognizing his enduring contribution to science and innovation.
Keynote at Dubai AI Festival 2025: How AI Really Thinks
At the Dubai AI Festival 2025, Nigel Toon will deliver a keynote titled “How AI Really Thinks: From Hardware to Human-Centric Intelligence”, where he will explore:
- The evolution of AI hardware and why it matters
- The impact of next-gen chips on future AI capabilities
- How to democratize and humanize AI in an age of exponential change
His session promises to fuse deep technical insight with philosophical and practical perspectives—making it one of the most anticipated talks at the festival.
Nigel Toon’s presence at Dubai AI Festival 2025 reflects the event’s commitment to showcasing the global leaders who are building the very foundations of tomorrow’s intelligent world.
