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UK research and evidence market hits record £18.7 billion valuation

How are AI tools changing social research? A joint GSR, SRA and MRS half day conference

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Date and time

Jul
09
2026

Thursday
10:00–13:30

Location

1 Horse Guards Road London

EXCLUSIVE EVENT FOR MRS MEMBERS

Members

Free

Please let us know if you have any accessibility requirements ahead of the event

3hrs
CPD

Booking Details A white arrow

In a nutshell
Programme

AI is rapidly reshaping how social research is designed, delivered and analysed. From AI enabled interviewing and automation through to digital twins and synthetic data, new tools are presenting both significant opportunities and important ethical, methodological and professional challenges for the sector.

This joint event, hosted by MRS in partnership with the Government Social Research (GSR) and the Social Research Association (SRA), brings together senior government researchers, academics and practitioners to explore how AI is already being used in social research — and what this means for research quality, ethics and professional standards.

Through expert talks, applied case studies and a panel discussion, the event will focus on the practical implications of AI adoption, helping researchers and commissioners critically assess new approaches and understand how to apply them responsibly in real?world settings.

Who should attend?
This event is aimed at social researchers, analysts, commissioners and research leaders working across government, academia and the private sector who want a grounded, practical perspective on the impact of AI on social research practice.

Places are limited and demand is expected to be high. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, with a waiting list in operation should the event reach capacity.

Venue

1 Horse Guards Road
1 Horse Guards Rd,London,SW1A 2HQ

With special thanks to:

Media Partner

Breaking market research news, latest job vacancies, industry reports, in-depth analysis and cutting-edge opinion for customer insight professionals.

MRS 80th anniversary sponsor:

WALR

Walr is a data creation company that supports insight professionals globally. It specialises in reaching diverse audience segments, leveraging proprietary technology, and offering bespoke services.

With a comprehensive suite of tools, backed by a team of seasoned industry professionals, Walr’s services include efficient data collection methods, intuitive data visualisation and reporting techniques, and supportive and transparent advice.

Walr exists to unify the complex and fragmented research process by introducing more efficient, rapid, and straightforward methods.

MRS is proud to support:

MRBA

The MRBA is the industry’s only charity and is here for when life gets tough. The MRBA assists those facing financial hardship due to illness, bereavement, personal difficulties, or imminent financial distress. To date it has supported over 1,100 individuals, distributing more than £1 million in aid, either through grants or interest-free loans.

The MRBA is here for anyone, young or old, who has worked in the UK market or social research industry, as a supplier or client, for at least two years – whether in research, insights, operations, analysis, interviewing or management.

The MRBA also offers bursaries for those wishing to further their research knowledge and gain qualifications but who are unable to fund it financially. If you would like to learn more, or help us to provide financial support to colleagues in distress.

10:00 AM - 10:10 AM- Introduction and welcome - Catherine Hutchinson, Chief Analyst at DWP

10:10-10:50 - The End of the Structured Survey? Matteo Cera, Glaut

The End of the Structured Survey? Evidence, Limits and Opportunities of AI-Moderated Interviews in Public Opinion Research. Matteo Cera is the CEO and co-founder of Glaut, an AI-native Market Research Platform for experienced researchers. Since 2023, Glaut has pioneered AIMIs, a hybrid data collection methodology based on AI-moderated voice interviews, in +50 languages. With over 15 years experience in tech, Matteo began his career at McKinsey & Company.

10:50-11:30 - Real world use of AI in research – Ben Warner, Electric Twin

Electric Twin provides synthetic audiences that that allows organizations to quickly and easily understand their target demographics. While there is justifiable excitement about how these tools will impact social research, there is also a lot of hype and hyperbole to navigate. Ben will share a practitioner's view on how these tools are actually being used today. He will explore where the genuine opportunities lie, how to cut through the noise, and crucially, how we can evaluate their accuracy. Bio: Dr. Ben Warner is an AI leader, the co-founder of Electric Twin, and a Visiting Senior Fellow at LSE. He was previously Chief Advisor on Digital and Data to the Prime Minister and established the Number Ten Data Science unit (10DS).

11:30-11:45 - Tea break

11:50 AM - 12:30 PM - AI and Ethics - Carissa Veliz, University of Oxford

Carissa Véliz is an renowned expert in AI, technology and ethics at the University of Oxford and a best-selling author. She is the author of Privacy Is Power (an Economist book of the year) and the editor of the Oxford Handbook of Digital Ethics. Her latest book is Prophecy: Prediction, Power, and the Fight for the Future, from Ancient Oracles to AI (2026) which argues that predictions undermine democracy, eroding privacy and replacing human judgment. Attendees will have the chance to win a copy of the book on the day.

12:30 PM - 01:15 PM - Discussion panel

An expert panel will be chaired by Ed Dunn (SRA). Panellists are: Louise Scott (Scottish Government), Richard Owen (Head of Innovation, Firefish & Co-founder of QualifyAI) and Kylie Lovell (Deputy Head of GSR).

01:15 PM - 01:30 PM End

Additional Information

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