We’re thrilled to announce that our CEO and Co-Founder, Christopher Weavill, has been named a finalist for the AI Champion of the Year award at the National AI Awards 2026. This category recognises leaders who are helping move AI from theory into real-world application, delivering practical impact across industries.
Celebrations are taking place on June 10th at The AI Summit London, the UK's premier gathering for AI professionals and innovators.
The National AI Awards celebrate individuals and organisations driving meaningful progress in AI across the UK, with a focus on innovation, leadership, and real-world outcomes.
The AI Champion of the Year category is particularly focused on those helping others understand and adopt AI in a responsible and practical way.
For us, this nomination reflects a long-standing focus at Hertzian: building AI that delivers measurable value in the real world, not just in concept. It’s also a meaningful moment for Cornwall and the wider South West. It reinforces that world-class AI innovation isn’t limited to traditional tech hubs, it’s being built here and recognised on a national stage.
Since 2015, Hertzian has been focused on a simple idea: organisations make better decisions when they truly understand what their customers are saying. Today, we specialise in turning unstructured data from public discussions, reviews, and social platforms into clear, actionable intelligence. Under Chris’s leadership, Hertzian developed the proprietary AI technology behind our platforms, PlayerXP and CustomerXP.
At the core of both is a simple goal: turning complexity into clarity and insight into action.
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“I don't have any titles or letters after my name; I'm simply Chris, founder of an AI company called Hertzian here in Cornwall. My passion is fuelled entirely by the brilliant people I have the privilege of working with. A true 'Champion' in AI doesn't just advocate for and build AI tools; they prioritise ethics, people, transparency, and real-world value.
I’ve spent my entire career championing these exact principles, and I'm particularly honoured to receive this recognition from the judges at the National AI Awards. The incredible standard of nominees and judges on this panel is overwhelming and highlights how competitive this nomination must have been. For me, this represents recognition for investing over a decade of my life promoting AI when others wouldn't, a relentless drive to dispel misconceptions dating back to 2015 when AI was mostly known as Natural Language Processing or 'black box' magic.
Above all, this nomination highlights the calibre of innovation that is achievable from anyone, in any place, like right here in Cornwall.
Congratulations to everyone nominated, and I will see you at the AI Summit ceremony during London Tech Week!”
We’re proud to be included alongside an outstanding group of individuals who are helping shape the future of AI in different ways across industry, policy, and applied innovation:
This recognition is a proud moment for Chris and the entire Hertzian team, but more importantly, it reflects the growing importance of practical, responsible AI deployment. It’s also a strong signal for Cornwall and the South West. The region is increasingly emerging as a serious contributor to the UK’s AI landscape, proving that meaningful innovation can come from anywhere. We’re looking forward to attending The AI Summit London, connecting with peers across the industry, and celebrating the progress being made across the UK AI ecosystem.
Read the full press release here!
