Last month, I had the opportunity to attend a public forum in Bendigo focused on the future of artificial intelligence. With more than 100 registrants, I was invited to demonstrate the use of AI on the big screen.
The forum was hosted by Nationals Member for Northern Victoria Gaelle Broad and Senator Bridget McKenzie, Nationals Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.
Presenters included myself, Nathan Vincent - technology columnist for McPherson Media Group; Craig Hunter – director at Clear Dynamics; Shainal Kavar – La Trobe University chief information officer; Doug Amos – sales manager at Ag Leader; and Dr Umair Masood – founder of ConsultNot.ai and Bendigo Health board member.
I was invited to attend the forum because of my series on AI in small businesses. The audience posed some challenging questions, which I then input into ChatGPT. Thanks to a new feature, I was able to have AI respond with voice. The audience was divided between those who had used AI and those who had never seen it in action, making it an excellent introduction for the latter. I demonstrated how AI can be instructed to respond in different tones, such as humour.
Here’s one of the many questions asked:
What are the best numbers to win the next Powerball? And use some humour in your response in 100 words.
The AI response:
Ah, the elusive Powerball numbers! If only I had a crystal ball — or a cheat code. Picking the winning numbers is like finding a needle in a haystack, but with more adrenaline and fewer hay allergies. Some folks swear by birthdays, anniversaries, or the age of their dog, while others trust the randomness of ‘quick picks’. The best advice? Play responsibly and for fun, because the real jackpot is enjoying the thrill without betting the farm. And remember, my "AI intuition" isn't legally recognised — yet! So, choose wisely, and may the odds be ever in your favour!
After my segment, I listened to the other speakers discuss how they are using or developing AI tools. They spoke about using AI to automate the processing of vast amounts of business data and enhance interaction with this information. We also learned how universities are employing AI to assist teachers and keep students engaged in their learning. Additionally, we heard from the agricultural sector about AI's role in farming, such as scanning fields to target weeds, thus reducing the need for weed killers and other chemicals. Dr Masood shared his AI-driven software designed to assist in general practice. It was fascinating to hear how every sector is embracing AI and exploring its endless possibilities.
After all the speakers finished, we all joined a panel, and the floor was opened for questions. One of the main questions asked was how AI would affect employment. This is a critical issue, and everyone was eager to hear our thoughts. We all agreed that there will inevitably be some job losses, but as technology evolves, new businesses and jobs are created every day. I always like to refer to the impact of email on Australia Post. When email became popular in 1995, many thought no-one would send letters anymore. However, eBay emerged, and parcel delivery became one of the main drivers keeping Australia Post alive. To this day, we still have posties delivering mail.
Another issue of concern was how and where AI sources its data. Some AI systems address this by providing the source of the information. However, a major issue remains: misinformation. If AI happens to source misinformation, it isn't as adept as humans at determining whether the information is part of the misinformation circulating on the internet.
Overall, it was a fantastic forum to attend, and I had a wonderful time. There was so much information and so many uses for AI discussed that I hadn't even considered. It was gratifying to know that people are reading my column and that it gave me the opportunity to attend such a wonderful event.
As always, if you have any questions or suggestions, feel free to reach out to me at askatech@mmg.com.au