Wellbeing, Digital Inclusion and Broad AI

[Ben Reid is away this week, so Emma Naji, CEO of Wellington-based AI Advisory, has kindly stepped up to guest edit our newsletter. Thanks Emma!]

Kia ora Readers

Recently I had the opportunity to take part in a discussion with school students at the screening of “More Human than Human” as part of the recent DocEdge film festival. It was fantastic to answer questions from the young students which were actually much more technical and cultural than I expected – some of the kids asked better questions than some of the adults I have met ;-). Very impressed with the management of the event by Mathew Donaldson and the team; a rewarding experience all round.

Also recently I had the pleasure of joining three experts on the Increasing AI Adoption in Aotearoa speaking panel, which was full of insightful discussion. I am a great believer in the power of positive, local storytelling, particularly in the challenge to improve AI adoption. So it gives me huge joy to share with you examples of New Zealand’s wellbeing and digital inclusion progress.  

Last week, Ana Arriola was one of six global thought leaders who spoke at The Future of the Future in Auckland. Ana was recently appointed to head a team devoted to AI + Research & Search at Microsoft and notes “the risk is that any progress that has been made in societal attitudes over the last 65 years will evaporate” describing the creep as a recolonisation – not in physical geopolitics but in the digital realm.” Inclusive AI is essential across society and culture. “Indigenous People/Māori need to be a part of the new technological revolution now and begin to get involved. If we don’t we will be just another negative statistic,” says Karaitiana Taiuru in Māori cultural considerations with Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. 

It’s fantastic news that The University of Auckland is investing $4 million in AI For Good led by returned Kiwi Professor Michael Witbrock. Let’s hope there is much more investment to come. Michael features in the first AI Forum Podcast in discussion with Ben Reid here.

Michael points out that New Zealand has often shaped human civilisation for the better, leading the world in fair wages and votes for women. He presents AI as a way to lead humanity towards a better future. Further evidence of New Zealand’s predilection to shape a better society can be seen in NZHIT’s vision of digital technology enabling world class health and wellbeing for all. 

Meanwhile, how many executive teams across New Zealand now have  a Chief Data Officer, or at the very least someone accountable for data across the organisation? I will be joining the Institute of Director’s Wellington Governance Group this afternoon where I will be  exploring this in more detail.

I read with interest how 25 years ago, when Superintendent Rob Cochrane joined the New Zealand Police, he could not have imagined the part AI and digital humans would play in policing! As acting CIO, he says the mission of New Zealand Police is to be the safest country in the world and technology has a serious role in optimising what the Police do. Currently they are exploring proof of concepts with Soul Machines around deploying a digital human police officer and the use of intuitive forms.

In other news:

• For those of you interested in RPA, join Robotic and Intelligent Automation 2019, 23-25 September in  Melbourne.
• I’d blush if I could: closing gender divides in digital skills through education is an excellent read on gender bias and inclusivity. 
• Plus, further reading on how companies are failing in their efforts to be data driven.

Thanks AI Forum for inviting me to take up this weeks newsletter quill.

Nga mihi nui

Emma Naji
AI Advisory

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