As AI systems become increasingly central to business operations and public services, policymakers and organisations alike are navigating how to foster innovation while ensuring meaningful oversight and accountability. Regulatory sandboxes have emerged as a promising tool to help bridge this gap.
The panel “Innovation Meets Oversight: AI Sandboxes and Smarter Regulation”, organized by the Centre for Information Policy Leadership as part of the IAPP UK Intensive 2026 Conference, will explore how AI sandboxes can support responsible innovation, reduce regulatory uncertainty, and strengthen capacity. Drawing on CIPL’s recent research on AI sandboxes, panellists will examine how these models can help organisations implement trustworthy AI, engage constructively with regulators, and develop compliance strategies. The discussion will also consider what effective oversight looks like in sandbox environments, including the role of enforcement, performance-based compliance metrics, and cross-sector collaboration.
Nicholas Field, Director of Operations and Development at the Datasphere Initiative, will join the panel to share perspectives on how collaborative governance can balance innovation with accountability.
