To celebrate the first time of AusDM taking place in New Zealand, we have an exicintg lineup of keynote sessions that embody the core of data science and machine learning. These sessions serve as a vital bridge between groundbreaking research and real-world application, sparking discussions and shedding light on avenues that lead to a more informed and interconnected global community.

TAIAO – Green AI in Green Aotearoa

Albert Bifet

Abstract:

In this talk, we will talk about Green AI, focusing on its two main aspects: using AI to tackle environmental issues and making AI systems more environmentally friendly. using incremental approaches. As AI becomes increasingly important for problem-solving and research, it is essential to integrate it into sustainability efforts. We will examine how AI is not only giving researchers a competitive advantage but also playing a key role in creating a more sustainable future.

Albert Bifet is the Director of the Te Ipu o te Mahara AI Institute at the University of Waikato and Co-chair of the Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association (AIRA). His research focuses on Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Science, and Machine Learning for Data Streams. He is leading the TAIAO Environmental Data Science project and co-leading the open source projects MOA Massive On-line Analysis, StreamDM for Spark Streaming and SAMOA Scalable Advanced Massive Online Analysis. He is the co-author of a book on Machine Learning from Data Streams published at MIT Press. He is one of the winners of the best paper award at the ACM  Conference on Fairness, Accountability, and Transparency (ACM FAccT) 2023, and he will be the general co-chair of the European Conference on Machine Learning and Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECML-PKDD) 2024.

What might an AI Strategy for Aotearoa look like?

Madeline Newman

Abstract:

I am very excited to be leading the AI Forum of New Zealand as Executive Director at such a pivotal time. We have a really engaged Executive Council and the work our members are producing is essential for a prosperous, equitable and inclusive future Aotearoa.

Madeline joined the AI Forum as Executive Director in 2022. She has extensive experience in strategy, transformational change and helping people to see the potential that innovative technologies bring.  Originally from New Zealand, Madeline spent 20 years working with AI and Tech in the mental health, financial services and regulatory sectors in the UK. Her more recent work included helping to shape and deliver the Financial Conduct Authority’s internationally renowned RegTech innovation programme; and Head of Innovation and Product for a science based digital mental health service. She brings new thinking and international to our AI community.

NAOI – Improving Science by Integrating Strong AI

Michael Witbrock

Abstract:

Science generally, and biology, ecology and economics in particular, has sought to model ever more complex systems ever more precisely and accurately. Processing limitations of human individuals and of human teams limit our ability to do this effectively. We are now seeing signs of genuine intellectual power in AI systems, along with some limitations that make current systems unreliable as partners in scientific teams. However, these limitations are not irreducible, and are far more subject to engineering correction than human cognitive limitations. In this talk, I’ll describe some ways that near-future AI may help us greatly accelerate the work of science, while improving quality and impact, and what is being done to get it to that state.

Michael Witbrock received his BSc(Hons) in Physiological Psychology from Otago University, and his PhD in Computer Science (AI) from Carnegie Mellon University. He previously held positions at Lycos, Cycorp and IBM Research, and currently is a full professor at the University of Auckland, where he leads a research group, the Strong AI Lab, at the intersection of machine learning, reasoning and natural language understanding, with an additional focus on maximising the near-term benefit of AI to Aotearoa/NZ, and more generally achieving the best global social and civilizational impacts of increasingly powerful AI. While maintaining a strong interest in knowledge-capture and natural language understanding, his current research goals involve the development and use of systems that learn to perform careful reasoning and carry out complex tasks. He is the founding director of the NAOInstitute which studies Natural, Artificial and Organisational Intelligence, and how they interact.