AI Futurist
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Manon Dave is the principal lead AI engineer for will.i.am and Idris Elba, and the founder of multiple new business ventures focused on creating better AI equity for all. He believes AI is the key to a more equitable globalised economy, but the potential for AI to make everyone’s lives better will only be realised with fair access and inclusion.
The world is in the midst of an AI revolution. New technology is set to transform every aspect of our lives, not least by providing millions of people with an avenue for empowerment. Through the widespread application of AI technology, individuals have the tools to unlock new productivity, creativity and entrepreneurial potential.
While AI could be the key to a more equitable globalised economy, it will need to be realised with fair access and inclusion. Against this truth, geopolitical and cultural tensions are increasing, with organisations around the world scaling back DEI initiatives.
Manon Dave operates at the intersection of politics, art, music, education and creativity. From humble beginnings, Manon has overcome the odds to establish himself as an expert AI developer of innovative new products and experiences. He is passionate about building new businesses and transforming established brands by harnessing creativity and improving equality for all.
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The future of the creative economy depends on investing in people, not just technology. AI alone won’t foster diversity – education, funding, and opportunity will.
With businesses deprioritising DE&I efforts, Manon believes equality shouldn’t be an afterthought. Advocating for unrepresented voices and challenging traditional DEI approaches, he advocates for Create Equality Instead (CEI).
Manon believes in a need for real structural change, ensuring that talent thrives based on ability, not privilege. Creativity shouldn’t be restricted by elite institutions. In his view, access – not bureaucracy – drives progress.
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As an AI futurist and developer, Manon sees AI at a crossroads – will it remain under big tech’s control, or will individuals reclaim ownership of their data?
Manon champions a shift towards personal AI ownership, privacy, and decentralisation, seeing the future of AI as personal, secure, and user-controlled, shaping a landscape where people – not tech giants – dictate the value of their digital footprint.
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As a creator, songwriter and producer, Manon believes AI is not replacing artistic talent – it’s fuelling a creative revolution. Those who embrace AI strategically will thrive, while those who resist risk falling behind.
Manon rejects the fear-driven narrative surrounding AI in Hollywood and the arts. In his view, AI is lowering barriers that have historically kept independent artists out of major industries.
In Manon’s opinion, rather than being exploited, artists can leverage AI to monetise their catalogues, creating new revenue streams and redefining intellectual property in the digital age.
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Like any of these technologies that have emerged since the Web, AI has augmented parts of the creative process. Creatives don't necessarily have all the skills, they don't have the 10,000 hours in every single aspect of their craftsmanship – but they still have equally valid, or even better, ideas.
People use the word 'tool', but I prefer to call it a collaborator. I prefer to call it another thing that is bouncing ideas back and forth with you – just bantering and ping-ponging different concepts. Sometimes you need that as a creative. Sometimes it's other people, and sometimes it's the tools you use.
Another problem whether you are signed in or not is misinformation ethics. "This includes the concept of AI hallucination and how it might generate answers that are less accurate or almost a reflection of your own perspective rather than presenting the facts,” says Manon Dave, an AI futurist.
First of all, AI can enable new voices - those who may not previously have had a chance to showcase their talent – to participate, innovate, and shape the creative landscape. But true innovation in this space should empower artists with rich catalogues of material to monetise their work within AI models and frameworks, creating new revenue streams in an industry that has long struggled to adequately reward its creators. The UK has a chance to lead in AI innovation without sacrificing its globally renowned creative sectors.
Co-founded by AI visionary and engineer Manon Dave and acclaimed actor, musician, and entrepreneur Idris Elba, the agency was officially launched at the Barcelona-based creative festival Blend. Its mission is to fuse art, technology, and culture into meaningful products and experiences that resonate deeply with audiences.
Form From Less, his business with Elba, was born out of a shared desire to realise the untapped opportunity at the intersection of culture, entertainment and technology. One of their projects, created with Stefan Schwartz – veteran of feature films and TV shows Spooks, Luther and The Walking Dead – is Talking Scripts, an iOS app that reads film and TV scripts using different voices for the characters.
Manon Dave wears a lot of creative and professional hats, always with the aim of “pushing boundaries in creativity, technology, and the ways we experience the world,” in his own words. He developed transformative AI-driven experiences across industries like music, fashion, tech, and more, collaborating with industry giants like Google, LVMH, and Apple. Alongside successful business ventures, Manon is committed to helping make lasting change through education – he’s an ambassador of A.R. Rahman’s KM Music Conservatory in India and has also launched a scholarship with Royal College of Music in memory of his daughter, Maia.
So, Schwartz and Elba teamed up with AI engineer Manon Dave to create Talking Scripts, an app that lets people read and rehearse scripts in a hands-free, accessible way. Users can import any PDF script into the app, which then automatically analyses it to ascertain all the character names. The app will then identify the four main characters based on dialogue volume, and assign them unique voices from its built-in database.