AI, the CMA, and Catching Up with Old Friends: Highlights from BVA Live 2026

AI, the CMA, and Catching Up with Old Friends: Highlights from BVA Live 2026

Thanks to Vet Sustain, I was fortunate to attend BVA Live 2026 last month. Between thought-provoking sessions, conversations with colleagues, and the chance to reconnect with friends from across the profession, I came away with plenty to reflect on.

Ahead of the Pack: Leveraging AI to Navigate the New CMA Landscape

The session that stood out most for me was "Ahead of the Pack: Leveraging AI to Navigate the New CMA Landscape."

With the recent recommendations from the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) continuing to reshape expectations around transparency, pricing, and communication within veterinary practice, it felt like a particularly timely discussion. Rather than focusing on AI as a futuristic concept, the speakers explored how it could be used to tackle very real challenges that practices are facing today.

The conversation highlighted several areas where AI could provide practical support. From helping practices present clearer pricing information and improving the consistency of clinical records, to streamlining administrative tasks and supporting client communication, there was a clear sense that AI has the potential to reduce some of the growing administrative burden placed on veterinary teams. Used thoughtfully, these tools could give clinicians more time to focus on what matters most: delivering high-quality patient care and having meaningful conversations with clients.

Importantly, the discussion wasn't simply about embracing new technology for technology's sake. There was welcome recognition that AI is only as good as the data and systems behind it. Questions around data quality, governance, bias, confidentiality, staff training, and professional oversight were all given the attention they deserve. The consensus seemed to be that AI should enhance - not replace - professional judgement, and that successful implementation will depend just as much on people and processes as on the technology itself.

As someone who spends much of my time thinking about how evidence can inform better decision-making - whether in clinical practice, sustainability, or policy - I found this balanced perspective particularly refreshing. AI is unlikely to provide easy answers to the more nuanced challenges facing the profession, but it could become a valuable tool for improving efficiency and supporting better-informed decisions when used responsibly.

More Than Just the Lecture Programme

Of course, conferences are about much more than the sessions themselves.

One of the best parts of the day was catching up with old friends and colleagues that I don't get to see nearly often enough. Veterinary medicine is a surprisingly small world, and these events provide a rare opportunity to reconnect with people working across clinical practice, academia, industry, and policy. It was also a pleasure to meet new faces, exchange ideas, and hear about the diverse work taking place across the profession.

Looking Ahead

The veterinary profession is navigating a period of considerable change. Alongside advances in technology, we're adapting to evolving client expectations, increasing regulatory scrutiny, workforce challenges, and the need to deliver care in a way that is both sustainable and economically viable.

Events like BVA Live provide an important space to step back from the day-to-day pressures of practice, learn from others, and consider how we can shape the future of the profession rather than simply react to it. Whether the topic is artificial intelligence, sustainability, clinical innovation, or professional wellbeing, these conversations are becoming increasingly important.

A huge thank you to Vet Sustain for making it possible for me to attend. It was a fantastic day, and I'm already looking forward to next year's congress.