Tech Events by Manchester Statistical Society

with Phil Whittaker (Staff Engineer, AI, Umbraco)

AI has left many developers caught between excitement and existential dread — one minute the most empowering technology we've ever seen, the next a threat to make hard-won expertise obsolete. In this honest and personal talk, Phil Whittaker (Staff Engineer, AI at Umbraco and co-founder of Practically AI) shares his journey from panic to a more balanced perspective on what AI means for our work, our identity and our future. A story about adaptation, agency, and why the human parts of our jobs may matter more than ever. Hosted by the Manchester Statistical Society at Cross Street Chapel.

with Stuart Coulson (Principal Cyber Security Service Manager; Founder, HiddenText)

A Manchester Statistical Society evening talk asking not just what AI can do, but what it should do — and how, and for whom — in an age where AI permeates every system. Speaker Stuart Coulson, Principal Cyber Security Service Manager at a global telecoms firm and founder of HiddenText, strips away the jargon and challenges lazy thinking with 20+ years of turning complexity into clarity. Recognised as Cyber Mentor of the Year (2023) and a Top 50 Tech Leader (2025). A thought-provoking session for anyone weighing the practical and ethical realities of AI adoption.

The Manchester Statistical Society — one of the oldest statistical societies in the world — hosts a talk separating AI-augmentation hype from the patterns that are actually moving numbers inside UK businesses. Grounded, evidence-led, and deliberately short on vendor pitch.