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Our new Board

Taking this opportunity to welcome our 2025/2026 Board and to once again thank outgoing Board members for their contribution over the last 12 or so months. For more information visit our website - www.airesearchers.nz Albert Bifet Richard Green Mengjie Zhang Julian Maclaren Daniel Wilson Fangfang Zhang Dr. Dwain Allan Paul Brown Bing Xue Seyed Reza Shahamiri Thomas H Li Dr Mahsa McCauley (Mohaghegh) Bernhard Pfahringer Nicholas Knowlton Prof Sandhya Samarasinghe Stephen Cranefield Farhad Mehdipo...

Tech on the tree tops: How AI can protect forests

An international team has trained a Siamese Attention U-Net model on Google Earth imagery to spot forest-cover changes automatically—no massive hand-labelled datasets required. The study finds the planet lost 100 million ha of forest between 2000-2022, and the new pipeline can flag the high-risk zones that need urgent protection. New Zealand’s own University of Otago is among the collaborators, putting Kiwi researchers at the centre of this low-cost, scalable tech that could soon monitor Aot...

7 food threat "mega-trends" and what AI can do about them

University of Otago researchers Margaret Thorsen and Dist. Prof. Phil Bremer have catalogued the big risks—from climate-driven pathogens to supply-chain shocks—and show how AI can spot contamination, slash waste and steady food production. Their Newsroom NZ analysis argues that smart algorithms plus better data could future-proof food safety, but only if we tackle cost and skills gaps for smaller producers. Find out more...

Ewe losses on NZ farms may be reduced, says Massey University researcher

Recent Massey University led research tracking 34 New Zealand flocks found 25-35 % of ewes are lost or culled each year—a hit Massey vet Dr Anne Ridler says can be trimmed with smarter decision-making tools. The multi-institution team (Massey, Lincoln University (NZ), The University of Hong Kong) is now zeroing in on the drivers of that wastage. For Aotearoa’s hashtag#AI community, that’s a call to action: edge sensors, yard-camera vision models and hashtag#predictive health hashtag#analyt...

AI and the future of education

Our Executive Director spoke to Naomii Seah for this story in School news about the potential for AI in Education. The article unpacks how educators can harness generative AI while ensuring that human connection, critical thinking, and inclusive learning remain at the centre. A timely read for anyone exploring how technology can support—not replace—teachers.Find out more...

AI driven underwater tech set to boost NZ mussel industry by $80Mn

University of Canterbury engineers led by our Co-Chair South Island Professor Richard Green are trialling autonomous underwater robots that scan mussel lines in 3-D, use computer vision to size shellfish and flag pests—all without sending divers overboard. Early modelling suggests the tech could lift Greenshell™ mussel yields by NZ $80 million a year, helping the sector hit the Government’s NZ$1 billion target under the Aquaculture Strategy 2035.For New Zealand’s AI research community th...

Mid year workshop planned

We have put together another opportunity for researchers and students to come together for in-depth and timely discussion of emerging insights in artificial intelligence.This year we are hosted by the University of Canterbury and will have discussion papers taking center stage, accompanied by research talks and related sessions.The initiative aims to provide an immersive environment for exchanging ideas, fostering collaborations, and exploring AI’s potential to support priorities important for...

Generative Reo Māori AI – The Good, the Bad and the Ugly

On April 10, 2024, AI researchers gathered at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association Conference for a panel discussion around Generative Reo Māori AI. The panel was chaired by Associate Professor Te Taka Keegan (Waikato-Maniapoto, Ngāti Porou, Ngāti Whakaue) from the University of Waikato. The panellists consisted of:Lynell Tuffery Huria (Ngāti Ruanui, Ngāruahine Rangi, Ngā Rauru Kītahi) Tumu Whakahaere | Managing Partner, Kahui LegalTe Mihinga Kōmene (Waikato-Maniapoto...

Accountants and Large Language Models

Our Executive Director, Jannat Maqbool, was recently interviewed for CPA Australia's In The Black magazine about customising Large Language Models.Read more here....

Getting strategic with national AI

Read more here....

Following our third AGM we welcome our new Board

Following our third AGM we welcome our new Board including our Executive Committee - Albert Bifet & Richard Green who were re-elected as Co-Chairs, Julian Maclaren & Mengjie Zhang who were re-elected as Co Deputy Chairs, Gill Dobbie - Treasurer, Fangfang Zhang - Secretary, Varvara Vetrova - Diversity Chair, and Dr. Dwain Allan + Paul Brown as our Tangata Whenua representatives. The wider board includes Seyed Reza Shahamiri, Bing Xue, Thomas Li, Mahsa Mohaghegh, Bernard Pfahringer, Ruili ...

AI's impact on society panel summary

On April 11, 2024, AI researchers gathered at the 2024 Artificial Intelligence Researchers Association Conference for a riveting panel discussion chaired by Albert Bifet and Phil Mourot from the University of Waikato. The panelists, Daniel Wilson, Emma MacDonald, Jonathan Kim, and Paul Seiler, shared their expert insights on the transformative potential of AI, particularly within the context of Aotearoa New Zealand.The discussion kicked off with each panellist sharing their background and perspe...

Latest whitepaper!

Our main message in the 2024 edition of Aotearoa NZ AI: A strategic approach is that we must invest in leveraging our strong AI research base to increase the competitiveness and productivity of Aotearoa New Zealand in a manner that suits our needs and priorities. Building and strengthening mechanisms that efficiently disseminate AI expertise from research to industry has the potential to significantly increase productivity and prosperity for all of Aotearoa New Zealand.Download the paper here....

Conference presentation recordings now available!

Recordings and photos from our 2024 conference are now available at the conference website - www.ainz.ai. A thank you once again to our sponsors The University of Auckland, The University of Waikato, University of Canterbury and Amazon Web Services (AWS)....

How to attract funding panel summary

The "How to attract funding" panel at our 2024 conference sparked lively discussion and enthusiastic audience participation. Moderated by Prof. Gillian Dobbie FRNZ from the University of Auckland, the panel featured accomplished experts who have secured grants from diverse sources, Dr Qi Chen (VUW), Prof Richard Green (UoC) and Prof Mengjie Zhang (VUW).Throughout the discussions, several common themes emerged, offering valuable insights for individuals seeking funding:Advance preparation is keyC...

Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency conference keynote

We have a fantastic line up for this year's conference including a keynote presentation from Vikash Kumar - Waka Kotahi NZ Transport Agency, four panel discussions covering: AI policy in NZ, Generative Reo Māori AI, attracting research funding & AI's impact on society, research presentations, a PhD forum, and loads of opportunities to connect and network including at the conference dinner....

Engineering NZ AI Advisory Committee members

Fantastic to see our members as part of the Engineering New Zealand Te Ao Rangahau AI Advisory Committee including Ali Knott & our Treasurer Bing Xue.Engineering New Zealand has commissioned a desktop review from the Rutherford Business Institute about the current state of artificial intelligence and its possible near- and medium-term impacts for engineering, engineers, and Engineering New Zealand. This working paper will inform the...

We are now an NZ Tech affiliate member

We are excited to announce that we have joined NZTech as an affiliate member alongside Canterbury Tech, the Digital Health Association (DHA), Manawa Tech, the NZ Hi-Tech Awards, Tech Leaders Executive, the Technology Investment Network (TIN), Trust Alliance NZ Inc, NZGDA, and TUANZWe looking forward to engaging with other Affiliates and across the NZ Tech Alliance in pursuit of our purpose.For information on our activities visit our website....

A/NZ and responsible AI

In Australia they are proposing mandatory safeguards for high-risk AI use, with Ed Husic MP launching the interim response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia consultation earlier this month, welcomed by the Tech Council of Australia, and so it was quite timely that in New Zealand our discussion paper promotes responsible AI innovation and adoption looking specifically at the unique challenges and opportunities presented to our Small and Mediu...

Responsible AI discussion paper launch

Watch last week's launch of our Responsible AI discussion paper where a highly engaged audience asked great questions of the panel after a brief overview of the paper from Helen Lu. Session Chair Paul Brown did a great job enabling a great discussion & of course the panelists were invaluable in sharing their knowledge & perspectives.The paper addresses the unique challenges & opportunities for Aotearoa NZ, provides up-to-date ethical principles for&...

AI in the survey and spatial sector

We contributed some thoughts on the potential of AI in the survey & spatial sector as well as insights around Dos and Don'ts for the September Survey and Spatial New Zealand magazine (see Page 10 & 11)...

Webinar - AI in Health

A recording of our October webinar with Kevin Ross, CEO - Precision Driven Health, Prof Sandhya Samarasinghe - Lincoln University (NZ) and Professor Gill Dobbie from The University of Auckland is available here....

Webinar - Large Language Models

A recording from our August webinar focused on large language models with Paul Geertsema - The University of Auckland, Johan Barthelemy - NVIDIA, and Albert Bifet - Artificial Intelligence Institute is now available here....

2023 election results

We welcome a number of new faces to the Board for 2023/24 following the 2023 elections and would also like to thank our members for their participation in the election this year. Our new Board members include Nuwan Gunasekara (University of Waikato), Thomas Li (University of Canterbury), Yun Sing Koh (University of Auckland), Jesse Wood (Victoria University of Wellington), Heitor Gomes (Victoria University of Wellington), Varvara Vetrova (University of Canterbury) and Tangata Whenau represe...

Women in AI Awards Finalists

It is fantastic to see Association member Mahla Nejati from The University of Auckland in the list of Finalists for the 2023 APAC Women in AI Awards. Congratulations to Mahla and all the other finalists.Our Executive Director Jannat Maqbool is a member of the NZ Advisory Panel and also a Judge for the awards again this year and has been impressed with the caliber of candidates applying #AI to some of the worlds most pressing challenges and the focus on&nbs...