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Written by Robin Knowles, CEO, Digital Leaders

Every December, I like to take a moment to reflect on the pace of change in our digital world—and every year it seems to move faster. This year, with the rise of transformative AI across every sector, the opportunities have never been greater. That’s why, starting on Monday 1st December, our members at #AIExpert will be publishing one AI tool or app each day until Christmas Eve: 24 ideas, innovations, and inspirations that I believe every Digital Leaders member should take a look at.

Think of it as an Advent Calendar (our comms team certainly have) for people who care about the future of AI use across public services, business and charities.

Over the past year, through Digital Leaders events, the DL100 programme, and our growing AI Pulse newsletter, I’ve heard one recurring question: “Where should I start with AI?” Organisations want practical examples, not abstract promises. They want to see tools they can actually use—today—to save time, improve services, reduce costs, or spark creativity.

That’s exactly what this December series is all about. Every day, one of our AI Experts will highlight one tool that stands out for its usefulness, accessibility, and potential impact. Some are powerful platforms you may already have heard of; others are emerging gems that deserve more attention. Each one has been chosen by an individual because it solves a real problem in a clever way—whether that’s automating admin tasks, improving communication, supporting decision-making, or helping teams learn and innovate faster.

Across the 24 days, you’ll see tools relevant to public services, SMEs, charities, educators, technologists, and leaders of every kind. My hope is that, whatever role you play in digital transformation, at least a few of these will earn a permanent place in your toolkit.

We’ll publish each daily recommendation on LinkedIn, making them easy to follow, comment on, and share with your teams. By Christmas Eve, you’ll have a curated set of 24 practical ideas to carry with you into the new year—resources designed to help you experiment, explore, and build confidence with AI in 2026 and beyond.

And of course, this isn’t just about the tools themselves. It’s about inspiring a mindset: small steps, taken consistently, can lead to meaningful change. Organisations don’t transform by accident; they transform because leaders choose to explore what’s possible.

So I hope you’ll join me from 1st December as you open one digital advent calendar “door” each day. Try the tools. Share them. Discuss them with your colleagues. Tell me which ones resonate—and which ones surprise you.

AI is moving quickly, but together, we can move with it.

Let’s make December a month of discovery, curiosity, and practical innovation.

24 days. 24 tools. 24 great ideas for Digital Leaders. Personally, I can’t wait to get started.

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