At the 2026 Copenhagen Democracy Summit, British business leader, entrepreneur and philanthropist John Caudwell was interviewed by Politico executive editor Anne McElvoy for a wide-ranging conversation on democracy, capitalism, artificial intelligence and the future of work.
Drawing on his experience building Phones 4u into one of Britain’s best-known telecoms businesses, John reflected on the responsibilities of wealth, the dangers posed by authoritarianism, and why he believes capitalism must be rooted in fairness and humanitarian values.
He also offered a stark warning about the societal impact of AI – from deepfakes and misinformation to the risk of mass unemployment – while arguing for a radical rethink of education and skills for the next generation.
The discussion also touched on UK politics, global inequality, entrepreneurship and the importance of resilience in business, as John shared his belief that success should ultimately be measured not just by wealth creation, but by contribution to society.
The event was held at the Royal Danish Playhouse in Copenhagen on 12 May 2026.
Watch the full day’s livestream on YouTube here.
