This week more than 100 business and technology executives, academics, policy makers and practitioners will come together in Melbourne to showcase the latest artificial intelligence (AI) advances and their impact on business and society, as part of Deakin University's 2022 AI Festival.
The festival will also mark the official launch of Deakin's new Centre for AI and the Future of Business, led by Professor Hind Benbya.
Professor Benbya said AI had the potential to help tackle some of the world's most challenging business and social problems.
"The aim of the festival is to share the latest thinking about meaningful problems that can be solved by AI alongside other technologies," she said.
"We'll be exploring issues around developing inclusive, fair and sustainable credit, fighting financial crime, disrupting hiring bias with AI, contributing to safety and environmental outcomes in the mining industry, and amplifying human creativity and innovation with AI."
The festival will feature presenters from a broad cross-section of industries, from large companies to small and medium sized enterprises. More than 42 companies are represented at the festival, including 26 speakers.
Program highlights include a 'fireside chat' between Professor Benbya and Director of the CSIRO's National Artificial Intelligence Centre Stela Solar. Plus, a presentation from Opyl Chief Executive Officer Michelle Gallaher will explore the potential for AI to make healthcare more human-centred.
Deakin's Centre for Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Business is a multidisciplinary centre based in Deakin Business School that connects industry, academia and government through a shared focus on how AI technologies can reduce inequalities.
Professor Hind said the centre was created with the aim to provide thought leadership, research and education on AI and the future of business.
"Our goal is to inspire business leaders, practitioners and policymakers with insights and frameworks to rise to the challenges created by AI technologies and leverage them more effectively to reduce inequalities," she said.
