AI & Society’s March 2025 edition wrapped up at The Precinct in Brisbane! Incredible energy in the room as technologists, researchers, designers, educators and city-makers came together to unpack how AI is reshaping the fabric of our society.
A Room Full of Perspectives
There’s real power in putting diverse minds in the same room.
From PhD candidates and lecturers to engineers, UX designers, school teachers, legal thinkers, smart city innovators, and the AI-curious with zero tech background — the mix of voices at AI & Society Brisbane is what makes it special.
Why do people show up — in their own time?
- To connect.
- To learn.
- To challenge ideas.
- To shape a future where AI serves people and communities — not just markets.
Because lifelong learning isn’t a buzzword — it’s a mindset.
Key Themes & Takeaways
🔍 Cities Are More Than Infrastructure
I shared my insights from AI tech tours and reminded us that thinking about the future comes naturally when you work for a masterplanner building a city.
We explored the idea that:
- Cities are ultimately about people, communities, and society
- Education, healthcare, and smart city systems form social infrastructure, not just physical assets
💡 The Spirit of AI
We were reminded of how far we have come. Check out this short clip of Steve Jobs (watch here):
- How revolutionary thinkers believed computers could transmit emotion and experience, not just information
- The potential for AI to embody the “spirit” of individuals — like the example of Aristotle teaching through AI
John Crook and AlexNet
John Crook CEO and Founder of Rule 30 AI and delivered a captivating presentation on the transformative milestones of artificial intelligence.
AlexNet was the groundbreaking convolutional neural network that revolutionized image recognition. Developed by Alex Krizhevsky, Ilya Sutskever, and Geoffrey Hinton in 2012, AlexNet was a pivotal moment in deep learning that dramatically improved how machines understand visual data.
Key highlights included:
🧠 The architecture of neural networks
📈 Evolution from basic to deep learning models
🎨 How pixel values interpret colours
🏆 The impact of the ImageNet Challenge between 2010-2017
🐶 And….. we all now understand more about how AI recognises images thanks to the very cute Yorkshire Terrier example!
👥 Workshop Highlights
For the first time, we ran five breakout groups to explore key questions at the intersection of AI and society. Here’s what we learned:
1. How will AI change our daily work in the next 2 years?
- Expect the unexpected: innovation will arrive in unforeseen ways
- Routine tasks will be automated; AI assistants will personalise workflows
- Decision-making will be enhanced, not replaced
- Virtual collaboration will be more intelligent and seamless
2. How can society keep pace with AI?
- Education systems must evolve to focus on AI-complementary skills
- Continuous reskilling must become the norm
- Australia may lag behind unless it embraces models like Singapore’s free AI education for over-40s
- We must look after those at risk of being left behind
3. What values should guide AI design?
- Call for a Kyoto Protocol-style global agreement on AI ethics
- Transparency, explainability, fairness, and consent are essential
- Privacy and data sovereignty must be protected — are we truly consenting to data collection via wearables like Apple Watches?
- Open vs. closed AI models need better regulation and trust-building
4. What are the pros and cons of combining human and machine intelligence?
- AI can enhance human decision-making with data insights
- Emotional and ethical judgement still requires a human touch
- Some skepticism remains about current AI capabilities — human oversight is vital, especially in finance and justice
5. What’s the untapped potential of AI for local communities?
- AI can help small businesses, optimise public services, and personalise education
- Missing out means falling behind economically and socially
- Communities that act now will lead the AI-driven economy of tomorrow
📚 What More? Here’s some Recommended Content & Resources
🎧 Podcast: What No One is Telling You About AI’s Future or Past – John Crook, Rule30
🌍 Read: Updates from the Paris AI Summit & US AI governance
🔍 Explore: Rule30 AI
🙌 Join AI&S
In this era, the path forward isn’t about having all the answers — it’s about embracing curiosity and taking action.
If you’re keen to shape how AI impacts our lives (and let’s be honest, who isn’t?), come join us at the next AI & Society event. Dive into new technologies, connect with curious minds, and co-create the future together.
👉 Register on Meetup.com 💬 Looking forward to seeing you at the next one!
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