Interviewer: Hello and welcome to the AI Summit London. Today we are joined by Katie Debrah, Founder and Creative Director of Halo and Echo. You have an incredible background. For people who may not know your story, could you share a little of it?

Katie: I started about 15 years ago and took a big leap of faith. I was expected to follow a path into law but my heart was in music and creativity.

I discovered YouTube when it was relatively new. I built a small following, collaborated with different artists and musicians, and wanted to understand the business behind it. Through video and content, I taught myself everything I could about production and started a small video production company focused on social good. That turned into a career that led me to Google, where I led teams, and now I am here.

Interviewer: Through that journey, you have seen AI accelerate at an astronomical rate. You have a workshop at The AI Summit London that focuses on cutting through the noise. With the internet increasingly flooded by what some call AI slop, how can brands and creators use AI tools to stand out and create genuine impact instead of adding to the clutter?

Katie: The one thing AI cannot do is be authentic. It takes what is on the internet and produces an average version. I am trying to bring back the human element, the soul, our ethos. What do we live for? What are we trying to do? That is not something AI can manufacture. What it can do is streamline production and help with consistency, and that is what I will be teaching tomorrow.

Interviewer: The AI tech space is famously male dominated. What has your experience been navigating the industry as a woman, and what unique perspective has that brought to your career?

Katie: I am fortunate to have been there at the beginning of using AI for creative work and content. At Google, we were able to shape tools, and I helped educate people about AI. Some of what is used now by millions, perhaps billions, I had a small part in. It is important to recognise that I am a woman, British, and a woman of colour. I am a rare voice in this space, which is exciting. If you are an entrepreneur, you like a challenge and want to see what you can do, and that drives me. I also acknowledge that I was lucky. I had a head start working at a big tech company, which gave me the confidence to move forward. Now I am trying to democratise it for everyone.

Interviewer: You went on to create Halo and Echo. Through fractional consulting and expert training, you help people navigate this new frontier. What is the number one transformation you see as people transition into AI and try to master it?

Katie: As with anything that changes an industry, you have to think about your niche. For me it is content creation and digital storytelling. How can I use AI and digital storytelling to help others? That is my focus. If you are a nurse, consider how AI could support patient care. If you are a midwife or a farmer, the same applies. There is space for all of us to bring our lived experience and professional background and combine it with AI. 

Because AI is so vast, I suggest people start with their ethos, interests, and background. Experiment. Use ChatGPT. If you are interested in robotics, come to the AI Summit and see what is happening. I was overwhelmed by AI, even after almost eight years working in it, but there was one talk here two years ago that changed my mind. I decided to focus and master this, and everything that followed has been a bonus. Come to The AI Summit London. I would not be here if it were not a fantastic event.

Interviewer: Looking ahead 12 months, what trends are you seeing within the AI space?

Katie: Agentic AI is a game changer for content production. It can replace teams for mundane tasks. However, I worry that people who do not understand the art of storytelling or music production may think every profession is replaceable. We are already seeing layoffs and redundancies. The downside is that parts of the creative class, especially those who do not use these tools and are very anti AI, may be left behind. My suggestion is to learn about agentic AI. There is plenty of content on YouTube. Learn the basics. Get a head start before the inevitable happens, because some people will lose their jobs if they do not upskill. That is my advice.

Interviewer: So the key takeaway is that AI is a set of tools people can use, but the human element still needs to drive the work.

Katie: Absolutely. If you use AI in combination with your knowledge, skills, and expertise, you will increase your productivity tenfold compared with resisting it. There are repercussions, and we must acknowledge them, but this is one of the most exciting moments I have seen. I have not been around for very long, but long enough to see that AI is a game changer for many people. I strongly suggest people get involved now if they have not already. My parents are in their sixties and early seventies, and they are using AI as if they have used it for years. If they can do it, anyone can.

I hope to have the same impact on someone that a speaker once had on me, opening minds and helping people grow their business. There are many SMEs that are not naturally tech companies and think AI is not for them. I want to change their minds and show how far they can go with AI.

Closing Note

Katie Debrah’s message is clear: start with your own ethos and expertise, use AI to amplify authenticity rather than replace it, and build confidence through practice.