UNSW AI Symposium 2023

In November 2023, I moderated the UNSW AI Symposium at the Roundhouse in Kensington. It was the annual event for the UNSW AI Institute, bringing together researchers, industry people and government stakeholders to discuss the growing breadth of AI research and practice.

What struck me was the range of work represented across AI, data science and machine learning, from engineering and science through to business, law, medicine, design and public policy. The Institute supports more than 300 academics and over 50 research groups, labs and centres, so the symposium was an excellent reminder that AI is not just a technical field.

The program covered AI and cybersecurity, scientific discovery, health, ethics and fairness, law and policy, smart cities, privacy, defence, business and creative practice. The National Smart Sensor Network also participated with a display on AI-powered smart sensors.

The conversations covered the opportunities AI creates, but also the issues that need to be addressed early: data governance, security, privacy, accountability and human oversight. These are not secondary considerations. They are central to whether AI can be used safely, responsibly and to good effect.

It was a privilege to help guide the discussion.