The Roadmap

Hosted by Bristows LLP

Business Technology

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Episodes

Latest episode

Aug 2026

Language

EN-GB

About the show

Welcome to The Roadmap, the technology law podcast series from Bristows. In this podcast, our technology lawyers dive into the digital transformation trends that are re-shaping modern businesses, even entire industries. In each episode, we will unpack a particular technology or trend – whether a type of transformational project, the latest market practice or a regulatory change – and explain what our clients need to understand in order to add value to their business. If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com - we'd love to hear from you. Also, find all the latest episodes on our tech focused site, The Cookie Jar, for views on matters shaping technology: https://www.bristows.com/the-cookie-jar-podcast-videos/

Listen to episodes

51 recent

August 19, 2026Episode 4825 min

Chinese AI models and open-weight AI

In our latest Roadmap podcast, Vik Khurana and Tom Sharpe , discuss something a lot of clients are asking about right now: use of Chinese AI models and open-weight AI. They also take a look at what’s happening on the UK sovereign AI side of things. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

August 4, 2026Episode 4728 min

AI summer trends

Vik Khurana and our new AI Partner, Tom Sharpe , sit down to discuss the big trends they are seeing in the AI market this summer. These include the posture vendors are taking on AI contract terms; key use cases ranging from HR and recruitment tools to marketing and content generation (and the different risks presented by each); where agentic AI is being silently contracted for without legal review; a renewed focus on EU AI Act compliance (and what the AI Omnibus package really means); and our favourite (or least favourite!) new AI terminology. Tom and Vik will be hosting an event at our London Blackfriars office on 22 September 2026. They will lead a practical, interactive walk-through of a realistic scenario from start to finish – from the initial request from the business, through due diligence and contracting, to the governance considerations once the tool is live. You can register your interest here . Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

June 19, 2026Episode 4628 min

Regulatory shocks in AI | Insights from the IAPP AI Governance Global Europe 2026 in Dublin

Charlie Hawes and Simon McDougall recently attended Europe’s leading AI conference, the IAPP AI Governance Global Europe 2026 in Dublin. During the event, Simon chaired a panel discussion examining the impact of regulatory shocks on AI alongside fellow industry experts. In this podcast, Charlie and Simon reflect on the key themes, insights and debates that emerged from the panel, and explore what they mean for organisations navigating the evolving AI regulatory landscape. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

June 3, 2026Episode 4530 min

Content Licensing | AI Considerations

This episode explores AI content licensing in the media space. Alice Esuola-Grant , Jamie Cox-Deakins and Vik Khurana discuss why content owners and AI developers are increasingly utilising licensing arrangements, the commercial drivers for this and how these types of deals differ from traditional content licensing. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

March 18, 2026Episode 4433 min

Contracting for AI | latest market practice

In this episode, Vik Khurana and William White break down how the rise of generative and agentic AI is reshaping technology contracting. Mapping practice across traditional IT, gen AI and agentic AI, they offer practical guidance on IP ownership, performance risk, liability frameworks and negotiation strategy – cutting through the uncertainty for anyone negotiating AI deals. In particular: How AI-generated outputs and autonomous agent workflows are complicating data and IP ownership models New approaches to performance warranties as AI systems shift from deterministic to probabilistic Liability caps, IP indemnities and why agentic AI disclaimers deserve extra scrutiny Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

February 6, 2026Episode 4318 min

Agentic AI | Hot takes on the latest hyped-up tools

In this episode, Vik Khurana and Simon McDougall take time out from our new series on agentic AI risks, to give their “hot takes” on the latest tools causing a stir in AI circles - Claude Code and Cowork, and OpenClaw and Moltbook - in a way that legal people can easily understand and talk to their business teams about with confidence. Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

February 3, 2026Episode 4220 min

Agentic AI | liability and risk

In this episode, Vik Khurana and Naomi Foale explain agentic AI – the features that distinguish it from GenAI, the ‘modes of failure’ that mean risks arise differently, and the potential liability and risk issues that could arise and how those are likely to be allocated between the different players and moving parts involved in agentic systems. Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

November 13, 2025Episode 4117 min

AI Governance | Manage & Monitor

In the final episode of our series on AI Governance, Vik Khurana and Simon McDougall set out how organisations can manage and monitor AI risk on an ongoing basis, focusing on turning governance into a BAU process, monitoring the performance of AI systems and the importance of AI literacy and training for your teams. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

November 6, 2025Episode 4016 min

AI Governance | Design & Implement

In the second episode of our series on AI Governance, Vik Khurana and Simon McDougall set out how organisations can design and implement AI governance into their organisations, covering the gap analysis required, risk classification tools, regulatory mapping and requirements inventory. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod

October 30, 2025Episode 3916 min

AI Governance | Identify & Assess

In the first episode in our mini-series on AI Governance, Vik Khurana and Simon McDougall set out how organisations can kick off their programme, starting with the important work of identifying and assessing the use of AI, risk framework maturity, roles and responsibilities and high level risk and regulatory exposure. Send us Fan Mail Note: All information was correct at the time of recording. Thanks for listening! If you have any feedback, questions or comments, please email us at theroadmap@bristows.com Find all the episodes as we release them here , and don’t forget to subscribe! Follow us on LinkedIn using #TheRoadmapPod