Australian businesses should embrace artificial intelligence (AI) to develop workplace survival skills, according to a leading Chinese entrepreneur who will address local entrepreneurs in Sydney next month.
Robert Hsiung of the global online education powerhouse, Udacity China, is the keynote speaker at CityTalks Sydney: Our future with Artificial Intelligence and its rise in China, on Tuesday 9 April.
The talk is a key event in the visiting entrepreneur program, produced by the City of Sydney in collaboration with the local startup sector and technology industry, and will bring together leading thinkers from China and Australia to look at the growing use of AI and examine how it is transforming business and society.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the talk will give invaluable insights into the fast growing global AI market.
"China is forging ahead and becoming a leader in artificial intelligence," the Lord Mayor said.
"So as part of our commitment to our local startup sector and technology industry, we're bringing together some of the smartest minds in AI from both China and Australia to discuss how to minimise risks and make the most of possible advancements in education, healthcare and society."
Speaking ahead of his keynote address at the Sydney Town Hall, Mr Hsiung says the new AI industrial revolution will impact blue and white collar workers.
"There are a lot of reports showing AI is going to replace 50 per cent of today's jobs in the next decade," Mr Hsiung said.
"Whether you're a doctor, lawyer, accountant or work in the stock market, we're seeing AI programs spread across all industries and replace workers.
"There is a massive digital transformation of the workplace and my advice is to invest in yourself – take part in the revolution or be made obsolete by it.
"It's not the AI that we see in scary movies or robots gone wild. Ultimately, the future is AI, but it's humans controlling AI.
"What AI is not good at is creative things. The key point is to focus on sharpening critical problem-solving skills, creativity and the ability to innovate in your industry.
"We may not notice it, but AI technology is already affecting our lives in terms of consumer technology – from robot vacuum cleaners to driverless cars and voice-activated technology in our homes – and we're going to see that increasing. "AI is going to take a lot of the menial tasks that we do, either at home or in the workplace, away and is going to free us from manual labour. I think we should be super excited."
Mr Hsiung is in Sydney as part of the City's Visiting Entrepreneur Program. Produced in collaboration with over 50 partner organisations from the local startup ecosystem, the program features five days of talks, seminars and mentoring sessions tailored to the local startup community and entrepreneurs.
The City's Visiting Entrepreneur Program is supported by funding from the Australian Government under its Entrepreneurs' Programme.
CityTalks Sydney: Our future with Artificial Intelligence and its rise in China
Date: Tuesday 9 April
Time: 6.30pm to 8pm
Where: Lower Town Hall, Sydney Town Hall, 483 George Street, Sydney
Keynote: Robert Hsiung – Managing Director, Greater China – Udacity
Host: Holly Ransom – CEO, Emergent
Panellists:
- Dr Jordan Nguyen – Biomedical Engineer & Inventor, TV Documentary Presenter, Founder - Psykinetic
- Dr Terry Sweeney – Managing Director, Asia – IBM Watson Health.
- Nina Xiang – Founder, China Money Network.
- Dr Fang Chen – Executive Director Data Science and Distinguished Professor
- University of Technology Sydney
Tickets to this event are free: ticketmaster.com.au/event/1300566D82712B2A
