Putting AI to Work for Australians

“I wanted to make a difference, and I wasn’t getting that fulfilment in the private sector anymore,” says Lee Hickin. After decades at some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and IBM, Lee wanted to shift the impact of his work away from corporate goals towards the broader public good. Now leading Australia’s National AI Centre (NAIC), Lee’s challenge is to help position the nation to seize the opportunities of AI while giving organisations the confidence, skills and agency to navigate a rapidly evolving technology ecosystem. In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Lee on a sober perspective in the ‘race for AI’ and how the government's strategy is constantly evolving to keep pace. By taking an intergenerational approach, Lee gives a clear piece of advice: learn how to use AI, but don’t become dependent on it. Links: AI Agency Toolkit Expanding AI Sovereignty to AI Agency | Tech Policy Design Institute ai.gov.au | National AI Centre Artificial intelligence expert Lee Hickin departs Microsoft to become National AI Centre director | Startup Daily Anthropic researcher believes more than 10% chance AI 'could kill all humans' | BBC