Australia’s leading artificial intelligence expert academics visited Gippsland to talk to the region’s leaders on the new world of supercomputers, demystifying artificial intelligence and advancing its usage across local businesses.
Hosted by Latrobe Health Services, Dr Sandra Peter, Director of Sydney Executive Plus at the University of Sydney, and Kai Riemer, Professor of Information Technology and Organisation in the Discipline of Business Information Systems at the University of Sydney Business School presented to Gippsland Regional Executive Forum on what artificial intelligence is, how its currently used and how business can start to use.
Dr. Peter said that artificial intelligence is advancing at a phenomenal speed, and there’s a need to start thinking about how businesses can use this type of technology to enable efficiencies and the customer experience in the business.
“Artificial intelligence is simply advanced mathematics and systems performing tasks, but there’s no doubt the use of this technology works best with humans, not replacing them,” Dr. Peter said.
“Australia currently has a low adoption rate of artificial intelligence in business, and as a result, we’re woefully unprepared for the future of advanced technology which is already upon us,” Dr Peter said.
CEO Latrobe Health Services Ian Whitehead said artificial intelligence is a lever regional businesses can pull to drive efficiency and sustainability into the future.
“We’re already thinking about how we can use robotics in back-end processing like reading and paying claims for our members which enables our staff to focus on higher value work like talking to members,” Mr. Whitehead said.
Mr. Whitehead explained that having some of our nation’s brightest minds in the room talking to leaders in the community about what’s coming and demystifying artificial intelligence is an important step for business and keeping pace with evolving technology.
“Artificial intelligence is an unstoppable technology of the future. We need to have good controls and ethics around the use of artificial intelligence to make the future a bright one, and never lose sight of our values and the human touch that will always be needed for our customers,” Mr. Whitehead said.
Gippsland Regional Executive Forum Chairman John Mitchell said these conversations are all about thinking progressively and embracing what’s coming for our region.
“We have progressive and engaged leaders in Gippsland, and thinking about artificial intelligence and embracing future technology is just one just one example of how our leaders are thinking about a thriving Gippsland and business sustainability,” Mr. Mitchell said.
Gippsland Regional Executive Forum brings together more than 20 local business leaders committed to sustainable regional development and to continuously promoting and championing Gippsland.