Arc XP Connect London Panel Discussion: What’s Next in Data and AI for Media and Publishing Orgs?

At Arc XP’s Connect London event, industry leaders convened to explore the evolving role of AI and data in the media and publishing landscape. Moderated by Joey Marburger, VP of Arc Intelligence, the panel featured forward-thinking insights from Mark Watkins, Principal Solutions Architect at AWS, Venkatesh Varalu, VP of Data and Analytics at The Washington Post, David Caswell, Founder of StoryFlow Ltd., and Lars Adrian Giske, Head of AI at Mediehuset iTromsø.

The conversation centered on AI’s dual influence: streamlining current workflows while driving deeper, transformative shifts in content consumption. A key theme was how media organizations can advance beyond basic tools like ChatGPT to unlock new avenues for growth and engagement. The panel highlighted AI’s potential to not only optimize routine tasks but also fuel innovation, enhance content creation, and reshape audience interactions.

While many organizations are just beginning their AI journey, the panelists emphasized that a more disruptive wave is imminent. AI, they argued, could reshape the information landscape even more dramatically than social media has.

Concrete examples illustrated how AI is solving complex business problems and speeding up investigative journalism, but the discussion didn’t shy away from the risks—such as the fear of missing out, which can lead to hasty and misguided AI adoption.

The discussion was filled with bold claims, including hot takes that AI could one day make immortality possible—a topic you’ll need to watch the full video to fully understand.

The overall takeaway was clear: AI’s true value lies in its ability to spark creativity and foster agility. Whether through improved content tagging or faster delivery of data-driven stories, AI enables media organizations to innovate and stay competitive in an ever-evolving industry.