Solving real-world problems | AI Forum News June 2024

Preparations for this year’s AI Hackathon are well underway and our team is getting excited! The four day festival features 48 hour hackathons across multiple locations, with more being added each week.
 

Why join our AI Hackathon? You’ll learn new skills, create connections and make an impact. From protecting water resources, fighting climate change, reducing pollution, managing land use, preserving biodiversity and improving the ways we experience our own environments, we’re using AI to help make a difference.

We’re also delighted to announce a very special opportunity for secondary school students. The School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences (SCMS) at the University of Waikato proudly announces the inaugural SCMS Artificial Intelligence (AI) Hackathon Award. One scholarship, valued at $5,000, will be awarded to a student from Year 12 or 13.
 

Next week we’re launching the AI Hackathon’s Essential Information. Don’t miss out on receiving everything you need to know, including example problems to solve, how to form a team, logistics and datasets. Also save the date for 9 and 23 July for our Live Q&A sessions. Join us online and have your questions answered – we’ll cover the rules of engagement, ideas and technology.

I’m looking forward to seeing what this year’s teams create and if you’re attending our Aotearoa AI Summit on 11 September in Auckland, you’ll get to meet the finalists and hear their pitches. 

Exploring AI adoption in Aotearoa 

In other news, earlier this month we joined Microsoft’s Dee Templeton, Deputy Government CDO Ann-Marie Cavanagh, Aware Group’s Brandon Hutcheson and Auckland University’s Michael Witbrock for an exclusive fireside chat. View the highlights and key insights here. Also, read more about Where AI could lead us?
 

June events

After a very busy and successful May, alongside Exploring AI Adoption, members of the Forum have been appearing on a number of stages, including the 2nd LawTech Forum, INFINZ and PR and Corporate Affairs Summit 2024 and a Confederation of Asia-Pacific Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CACCI) webinar. Thanks to everyone who gave their time!
 

AI Productivity Research

This quarter’s survey ends this week so please ensure you complete part A (just a quick 5 minutes and it’s anonymous). If you would like to support our work and have a story you would like us to feature in the report, please drop me a line here.

PS: Please consider partnering with us to ensure the success of our AI Hackathon. We need your support! Contact me for further information.