The AI Leadership Summit 2024 - billed as the "AI event of the year" - has been running at the Sofitel Melbourne on Collins in Melbourne. It covered key topics such as ethical AI development, the future of work with AI integration, and advancements in machine learning technologies.
Organised by CEDA and the CSIRO's National AI Centre, the event brought together experts to discuss the role of AI in driving innovation across various industries. It also discussed the importance of fostering diversity and inclusion in AI teams. Attendees explored cutting-edge research and networked with leaders at the forefront of AI innovation.
Topics of focus included:
- AI aspirations for Australia
- Leadership, governance and regulation
- Technology and infrastructure
- Workplace education and skills
- Sustainability and social progress (ESG)
- Innovation in the industry (banking and finance, healthcare, manufacturing and a ‘Future Made in Australia’, professional and legal services, retail and customer experience)
The AI Leadership Summit 2024 is a pivotal event for the AI industry. It serves as a platform for discussing the latest advancements, ethical considerations, and potential impacts of AI on various sectors. The summit also fosters collaboration and sets the agenda for future AI development, ensuring that technological progress aligns with societal needs and values.
By providing a forum for key stakeholders to exchange ideas and insights, the summit plays a crucial role in shaping global AI policies. It encourages dialogue between policymakers and industry leaders, facilitating the creation of frameworks that guide responsible AI deployment. This collaborative approach ensures that AI advancements contribute positively to global economic growth and social well-being.
Global collaboration in AI is essential for addressing the complex challenges and opportunities presented by this transformative technology. By working together, countries can share knowledge, resources, and best practices, accelerating innovation while maintaining ethical standards. International cooperation also helps to harmonise regulations and policies, allowing AI to benefit societies worldwide in a balanced and equitable manner.
Ethical AI development is crucial to ensure technology serves humanity responsibly and equitably. It involves creating AI systems that are transparent, fair, and free from biases that harm marginalised communities. By prioritising ethical considerations, AI Leadership Summit 2024 aims to guide the industry toward building trust and accountability in AI applications. This will benefit society as a whole.
Keynote speaker, Vice President and Chief Privacy and Trust Officer, IBM, Christina Montgomery said: “Government should regulate AI risk, not algorithms. AI is ubiquitous and has applications ranging from restaurant recommendations, to helping scientists better analyse weather and climate data, to recommendations regarding entitlement to housing or a loan. And we need regulatory policies that consider these contexts and apply regulation to the high-risk use cases - like the loan for example - and not the algorithms or the technology itself.”
One strategy for promoting global collaboration in AI is to establish international research partnerships that enable data, tools, and expertise sharing across borders. Additionally, organising regular workshops and conferences where global stakeholders can come together to discuss challenges and opportunities can foster cooperation. Lastly, developing standardised guidelines and frameworks for ethical AI practices can help align efforts and ensure consistent implementation worldwide.
However, achieving global AI collaboration faces several challenges. Differences in regulatory approaches and cultural perspectives on privacy and data protection can create barriers to consensus. Moreover, geopolitical tensions and competition for technological dominance may hinder open sharing of information and resources among nations.
One way to address regulatory differences is to establish an international AI governing body that mediates and harmonises diverse approaches. Another approach could involve creating bilateral agreements between countries to align their AI policies and practices. Additionally, fostering dialogue and mutual understanding through international forums can help bridge regulatory gaps and promote collaborative solutions.
Other speakers over the two days included: Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau (CEO and Publisher, MIT Technology Review), Professor Kwok Yan Lam (Executive Director of the Digital Trust Centre Singapore and the Singapore AI Safety Institute), Julie Inman Grant (Australia's eSafety Commissioner), Professor Anton van den Hengel (Chief Scientist, Australian Institute for Machine Learning, The University of Adelaide), Kim Krogh Andersen (Group Executive, Product and Technology, Telstra), Associate Professor Catherine Ball (Associate Professor, Australian National University, Author, Podcaster, Entrepreneur, Futurist), Anthony Murfett (Head of Division, Technology and Digital, Federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources), Ruth Callaghan (Chief Innovation Officer, Purple), Jessica Cuthbertson (Executive, Customer Decisioning & Data Science, National Australia Bank), David Diviny (Chief Data and Analytics Officer, Nous Group), Simon Elisha (Chief Technologist, Australia, New Zealand and Oceania, Amazon Web Services), Professor Theo Farrell (Vice-Chancellor and President, La Trobe University), Mark Gay (Group Executive, Technology, Australian Unity), Joseph Glesta (Co-Founder and CEO, Climasens), Elayne Grace (Chief Executive Officer, Actuaries Institute), Nicola Grayson (Head of Public Affairs, Creative Australia), Ada Guan (CEO and Co-founder, Rich Data Co), Alex Jenkins (Director, WA Data Science Innovation Hub, Curtin University), Professor Dali Kaafar (Founder and CEO, Apate.AI, and Executive Director, Macquarie University Cyber Security Hub, Macquarie University), Damian Kassabgi (CEO, Technology Council of Australia), Nadia Lee (Founder and CEO, ThatsMyFace), Dr Kobi Leins (Global AI Ethics and Governance Expert), Audrey Lobo-Pulo (Head of Public Policy and Economic Graph, Australia and New Zealand, LinkedIn), Lauren Mills (Branch Manager, Strategy and Prioritisation, Digital Transformation Agency), Simon Newcomb (Partner, Clayton Utz), Patrick Kidd OBE OAM (Chief Executive Officer, Future Skills Organisation), Summer Petrosius (CEO and Co-Founder, Kindship), Prof. Dr. Iyad Rahwan (Director, Max Planck Institute for Human Development), Professor Edward Santow (Co-Director and Professor, Responsible Technology, UTS UTS Human Technology Institute), Assoc. Prof. Simon Skalicky (CEO and Founder, Eyeonic), Mark Stickells (Chief Executive Officer, Pawsey Supercomputing Centre), Dimitry Tran (Co-founder and Deputy CEO, Harrison.ai), and Jessica Wyndham (Trusted AI Lead, KPMG).