What We Are
AI & Society is a national, community-led initiative exploring the intersection of artificial intelligence and the human experience.
We bring together technologists, researchers, business leaders, policymakers, creatives, and curious citizens to ask the questions that matter: What does it mean to live well in an AI-shaped world? Who shapes AI — and for whom? What values do we want embedded in the systems being built around us?
From hands-on AI lab sessions and philosophical roundtables to keynote events and morning run clubs — AI & Society is a space for real dialogue, applied learning, and genuine connection.
Our Story
A Note from the Founder — Sophia Arkinstall
I started AI & Society in January 2025 with a simple conviction: that the most important conversations about artificial intelligence weren’t happening in the right rooms.
I’d spent years working in smart city development — leading projects at the intersection of sustainability, technology, and community. Through my MBA and a series of self-organised study tours to cities like Dubai, Tel Aviv, Paris, London, Oslo, San Francisco, Tokyo and beyond, I’d visited Tesla, Meta, Google, Stanford, Fujitsu and Toyota to understand how AI and emerging technology were being embedded into cities and society.
What I kept noticing was a gap. The technology was moving fast. Public understanding wasn’t keeping up. And the people most affected by AI — citizens, workers, communities — often had no seat at the table.
So I decided to build one.
I launched AI & Society in Brisbane in January 2025 with 20 people in a room. By the end of the year, we’d run 39 events across six Australian cities, welcomed 2,200+ attendees, and built a community of 3,000 members — from students and CEOs to artists, engineers, and policymakers.
AI & Society is how I put my MBA to work, build skills in a field I care about, and create the kind of cross-disciplinary community I always wished existed. I’m glad you’re part of it.
— Sophia Arkinstall Founder, AI & Society, LinkedIn
What We Believe
- AI is not neutral — it reflects human choices, values, and power structures.
- Everyone has a role to play — you don’t need a tech background to ask important questions.
- Interdisciplinary thinking drives better outcomes — real insight comes from bringing different fields together.
- Community over hype — meaningful change starts with dialogue, connection, and grassroots action.
- Place matters — locally grounded conversations shape how global technology lands in real communities.
Our Mission
We exist to build public understanding of AI across disciplines and sectors — encouraging meaningful dialogue, bridging the gap between emerging technology and community wellbeing, and ensuring the development of AI is inclusive, transparent, and shaped by diverse voices.
The future of AI shouldn’t be left to chance — or to a handful of corporations. It should be shaped by all of us.
Who Comes Along?
AI & Society welcomes people from all backgrounds. Our community includes:
- Technology professionals and researchers
- Business leaders, founders, and executives
- Educators, academics, and students
- Policy thinkers and government professionals
- Designers, artists, and creatives
- Community leaders and the simply curious
No technical background required. Just curiosity and a willingness to think.
Where We Meet
We run events across Australia — Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, and Parramatta — with international expansion on the horizon.
Each event is designed around its theme, hosted in spaces where innovation and connectivity are built in.
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🔗 Become a member of our group on Meetup to stay in the loop, RSVP to events, and connect with like-minded people:
👉 Join us on Meetup.com