Prof. Marek Kowalkiewicz

Artificial Intelligence Professional Program
Stanford University
January 29, 2023

The Artificial Intelligence Professional Program is designed for working professionals who want to dive into AI topics at graduate-level depth, but with additional flexibility of schedule and scope.

Modeled after the Stanford AI Graduate Certificate, the professional courses provide a rigorous introduction to machine learning, as well as opportunities to dive into theoretical and project-based learning in natural language processing and understanding.

XCS221 Artificial Intelligence: Principles and Techniques
Stanford Center for Professional Development
January 29, 2023

This professional course provides a broad overview of modern artificial intelligence principles and techniques. Specific topics include machine learning, search, game playing, Markov decision processes, constraint satisfaction, graphical models, and logic. Learners grasp how machines can engage in problem solving, reasoning, learning, and interaction. They design, test and implement algorithms and gain an appreciation of this dynamic field. The main goal of the course is to equip learners with the tools to tackle new artificial intelligence problems they might encounter in life.

XCS224W Machine Learning with Graphs
Stanford Center for Professional Development
November 21, 2021

Complex data can be represented as a graph of relationships and interactions between objects. This course explores the computational, algorithmic, and modeling challenges specific to the analysis of massive graphs. By studying underlying graph structures, learners get a deeper understanding of machine learning and data mining techniques that can improve prediction and reveal insights on a variety of networks. Learners complete colab assignments focused on learning node embeddings, constructing, testing and training graph neural networks.

XCS224N Natural Language Processing with Deep Learning
Stanford Center for Professional Development
February 23, 2020

The field of natural language processing (NLP) is one of the most important and useful application areas of artificial intelligence. In this course, learners explore the fundamental concepts of NLP and its role in current and emerging technologies. They gain a thorough understanding of modern neural network algorithms for the processing of linguistic information. They gain the skills to move from word representation and syntactic processing to designing and implementing complex deep learning models for question answering, machine translation, and other language understanding tasks.

Leveraging industry 4.0–A business model pattern framework
International Journal of Production Economics
July 01, 2020

Industry 4.0 (I4.0), also known as the fourth industrial revolution, describes the digitalization of manufacturing industries. The transition to I4.0 is crucial for manufacturing firms to sustain competitive advantage and seize new opportunities. Most research has focused on the technological aspects of I4.0 in the form of product and process innovations. Despite I4.0's rising attention from both researchers and practitioners, little research exists about I4.0 business model (BM) innovation, even though BM innovations can be more successful than product or process innovations. To address this research gap, we analyze 32 case studies of I4.0 BM innovators. We develop a taxonomy to characterize I4.0 BMs and derive 13 patterns of I4.0 BMs by applying the taxonomy to the case studies. Three super-patterns are identified: integration, servitization, and expertization. Integration innovates a BM with new processes and integrates parts of the supply chain. New combined products and services are the basis for servitization. Expertization is a hybrid of product- and process-focused BMs, which includes consulting services and multi-sided platforms. This study contributes to research with a framework for describing, analyzing, and classifying BMs for I4.0. The findings deepen the understanding of how I4.0 impacts ecosystem roles, BMs, and service systems. Archetypal patterns show how firms can leverage I4.0 concepts and build a conceptual basis for future research. The taxonomy supports practitioners in evaluating the I4.0-readiness of their existing BM. The patterns additionally illustrate opportunities for becoming an I4.0 firm.

Queensland AI Hub Advisory Board Member
Queensland AI Hub
December 01, 2020

The Queensland AI Hub Advisory Committee furthers the Queensland AI Hub’s mission to connect, promote and grow the capability of artificial intelligence across Queensland.

Member of Ministerial ICT Advisory Council
Queensland Government
April 01, 2019

Chaired by Minister for Digital Technology Mick de Brenni, MICTAC brings government, industry and academia together to work on optimising the industry and keeping Queensland at the forefront of global ICT trends.

AI on the Menu
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
September 07, 2023

Digesting AI's Nutritional Facts

Lost in Automation
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
August 31, 2023

How we Struggle to Speak Robot.

Going MAD
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
August 24, 2023

Gary Marcus calls it the imminent enshittification of the Internet. He’s way too dramatic: compared to some corners of the Internet I saw almost 30 years ago (anyone remembers alt.* groups on Usenet?), the Web these days is pristine and civilised—we managed to clean up a lot of human-created digital guano. But if you filter out Marcus’ doomsday thinking, what remains is still quite significant: indeed, it seems like there’s another wave of binary dung about to hit us. And academics have a word for it, too (though not as catch as enshittification): MAD.

I'm not a robot
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
August 17, 2023

CAPTCHAs were designed to be the Internet’s bouncers, keeping robots at bay. But now, it’s the humans getting stuck at the door while algorithms waltz right in.

Dances with Algorithms
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
August 10, 2023

Last week I came across a recently published working paper suggesting that Large Language Models like ChatGPT-4 might have an edge over humans in generating business ideas (a “working” paper is one that hasn’t been peer-reviewed yet). Is AI on the cusp of overshadowing human creativity?

Scented Bytes
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
August 04, 2023

Imagine a world where fragrances aren't just crafted by the hands of expert perfumers but are also fine-tuned by algorithms.

Poetical Science
LinkedIn: The Economy of Algorithms
July 28, 2023

It’s fascinating how history intertwines the brilliance of past visionaries with today's groundbreaking innovations. Our journey today starts not in the 21st century but way back in the 19th century.

Think digital investment, think smart
Financial Review
January 06, 2016

Craig Emerson correctly emphasised concerns over improvements to multifactor productivity and living standards for Australians in the digital age ("A happy and disruptive new year", January 5). His concerns are amplified when Australian Bureau of Statistics data from 2000-15 is analysed because it clearly shows the problem, with national aggregates growth in real gross domestic product per capita, on average, slashed by 49 per cent and growth in real net national disposable income per capita slashed by about 84 per cent.

With the mining boom over, and little spare cash to invest, it is time for Australian businesses to change and put to work their capital investments if the economy is to improve. In the digital age, it is time to reap a return from investments in information and communications technology (ICT). Our analysis of data from the 1960s to 2015 in the working paper "Technology investment is not enough: Growing Australia's productive digital economy" shows clearly that ICT investment is not enough. Our analysis shows that over the longer term, measures of multifactor productivity show no systemic relationship with ICT investment across different sectors of the economy.

Clearly it is now time for Australian businesses to make effective and efficient use of their ICT capital if we are to reverse Australia's recent lacklustre economic performance. Changing business models, as well as product and process innovations that draw on ICT investments, can make a difference. It is only through changes and improvements to organisational, managerial and individual capabilities that ICT investments can be realised. At Queensland University of Technology, the PwC Chair in Digital Economy is working with industry to ensure this happens.

AI on the Menu
The Economy of Algorithms
September 07, 2023

Digesting AI's Nutritional Facts

Lost in Automation
The Economy of Algorithms
August 31, 2023

How We Struggle to Speak Robot

Going MAD
The Economy of Algorithms
August 24, 2023

Gary Marcus calls it the imminent enshittification of the Internet. He’s way too dramatic: compared to some corners of the Internet I saw almost 30 years ago (anyone remembers alt.* groups on Usenet?), the Web these days is pristine and civilised—we managed to clean up a lot of human-created digital guano. But if you filter out Marcus’ doomsday thinking, what remains is still quite significant: indeed, it seems like there’s another wave of binary dung about to hit us. And academics have a word for it, too (though not as catch as enshittification): MAD.

I'm not a robot
The Economy of Algorithms
August 17, 2023

When Bots are Better Than Humans at Proving They're Human

Dances with Algorithms
The Economy of Algorithms
August 10, 2023

Algorithms outshine us in ideation. And that's a good thing.

Dances with Algorithms
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August 09, 2023

Algorithms outshine us in ideation. And that's a good thing.

Scented Bytes
The Economy of Algorithms
August 04, 2023

Imagine a world where fragrances aren't just crafted by the hands of expert perfumers but are also fine-tuned by algorithms.

Scented Bytes
Import from wordpress feed
August 03, 2023

Imagine a world where fragrances aren't just crafted by the hands of expert perfumers but are also fine-tuned by algorithms. Earlier this year, I attended DLD Conference, where the world's sharpest minds share and ignite new ideas. Among the many innovative concepts, one particularly caught my

Poetical Science
The Economy of Algorithms
July 28, 2023

It’s fascinating how history intertwines the brilliance of past visionaries with today's groundbreaking innovations. Our journey today starts not in the 21st century but way back in the 19th century.

Poetical Science
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July 27, 2023

Earlier this month, I spoke at Queensland Artificial Intelligence Hub about the history of Generative AI and called for more transparency when sharing algorithmic outputs. I received great feedback after the talk, and I thought you might like it too. While there isn't a video available, I made an au

10 ChatGPT governance checks
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February 07, 2023

How to ensure the proper use of ChatGPT—and similar tools—in business?

Demirobots
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March 18, 2022

It happens almost every weekend: Okuri (送り) arrives at the table and delivers our lunch. Okuri is a robot working in a shopping centre restaurant. Or, more precisely, a stack of food trays and a tiny screen on top of a Roomba-like platform. We order the food through an app, and Okuri b

Artificial dreams
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March 07, 2022

Do algorithms dream of electric sheep? What is creativity? Can a machine, an algorithm, be creative? A dictionary definition would have creativity as “the use of imagination or original ideas to create something.” Can a machine use imagination? Can an algorithm create original ideas? Goo

Intrusion detected
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February 27, 2022

NKVD In March 1940, in the middle of the night, NKVD guards banged on my grandmother’s door. Maria was to be deported by the Soviets from Poland to Siberia. Her crime? She was a teacher. The guards gave her 20 minutes to pack up, take her children, and leave the house. She had three kids: a 10

Pay up
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November 03, 2021

Forty-five years ago, Bill Gates banged his fist on the table and asked people to pay up. At the time, almost no one thought you could make money selling software to mere mortals: “the hobby market”. Hardware, sure. But software? No way! Bill disagreed. We know the rest of the story: he

Payment declined
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April 15, 2021

[This post has also been shared with subscribers of QUT Centre for the Digital Economy newsletter. You can follow it here.] I came back from China with stacks of cash. I didn’t say it was a lot of money. In 2006, Microsoft Research Asia invited me to stay with them for a few months. I am still

The White Mirror Manifesto, Part 3
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December 20, 2020

Foresight

The White Mirror Manifesto, Part 2
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December 13, 2020

Insight

The White Mirror Manifesto, Part 1
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November 29, 2020

Hindsight

Fool them twice
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November 22, 2020

How humans make algorithms behave in surprising ways

Automated decision making in the public sector
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November 15, 2020

A few months ago, I took part in a discussion on law reforms in the context of automated decision making and administrative law. Recently, the Australian Law Reform Commission released their update on the outcomes of these consultations. I recommended we should introduce a language around automation

Connected customers
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November 01, 2020

I have a confession to make

When Algorithms go shopping
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October 25, 2020

In the world where algorithms make shopping decisions on our behalf, all bets are off.

Less is more. Stop trying to be a disruptor.
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October 18, 2020

Successful innovators change one step at a time and use one of these ten strategies.

Australia’s Digital Purpose
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March 17, 2020

How the public sector can help Australia thrive in the digital economy

State Library of Queensland
State Library of Queensland
March 01, 2017

The Library Board is the governing body of State Library of Queensland. The Library Board is committed to improving access to information and knowledge for all Queenslanders.

The Economy of Algorithms: Rise of Digital Minions
Black Inc.
March 05, 2024

An insider's guide to the invisible new economy that is reshaping our lives

Welcome to the economy of algorithms. It's here and it's growing.

In the past few years, we have been flooded with examples of impressive technology. Algorithms have been around for hundreds of years, but they have only recently begun to 'escape' our understanding. When algorithms perform certain tasks, they're not just as good as us, they're becoming infinitely better, and, at the same time, massively more surprising. We are so impressed by what they can do that we give them a lot of agency. But because they are so hard to comprehend, this leads to all kinds of unintended consequences.

In the twentieth century, things were simple: we had the economy of corporations. In the first two decades of the twenty-first century, we saw the emergence of the economy of people, otherwise known as the digital economy, enabled by the internet. Now we're seeing a new economy take shape: the economy of algorithms.

How do you advertise to a fridge? Can an algorithm take your job? Do algorithms dream of electric sheep? These questions and more are answered by this exciting and ground-breaking book, which includes nine rules for flourishing in the new economy of algorithms.

'AI appears to be eating the world. How then to understand where this is taking us, both the promises and the threats? This book is for you. A down to earth tour that will help you understand how the algorithms are increasingly taking on human roles.' —Toby Walsh, Chief Scientist at the UNSW AI Institute and author of Machines Behaving Badly

Bridging the academia-industry gap through design thinking: research innovation sprints
Edward Elgar Publishing
March 10, 2023

The infamous gap existing between academia and industry has its root causes in the different approaches, methods, goals, and funding modes that these two worlds follow. Researchers are striving to increase the impact of their work in the ‘real-world’, while industry partners are looking to leverage the solidity and rigour of scholarly investigations. As an answer to multiplying calls for academic research to increase its impact on society, in this chapter, we present a selection of 30 design-led, problem-focused innovation projects called Research Innovation Sprints (RIS). Conducted by the QUT Centre for the Digital Economy, these engagement and research formats are enrooted in Design Thinking and mainly adopt design-led methods to allow rapid exploration of innovative opportunities and co-create viable solutions to solve client organisations’ problems. We share our learnings from running RIS to propose them as an innovative approach to conducting quality research whilst delivering real-world impact.

The Business Consequences of a Digitally Transformed Economy
Shaping the Digital Enterprise
September 27, 2016

The prevalence of digital technologies is forcing organizations to re-imagine the way their business models are configured, the way their business processes are designed, and the way they work in what is known today as a digital economy. While this brings a plethora of challenges due to the disruptive nature of digital technologies, the digital economy is also bringing plenty of promising opportunities for those who are aware and prepared to embrace the digital evolution. As such, it is imperative for digital enterprises to be opportunity-driven, as soon as they have identified a business problem that can be tackled. They can do so by leveraging the five emerging digitalization trends we are witnessing today, namely: (1) hyper connectivity, (2) supercomputing, (3) cloud computing, (4) smarter world, and (5) cyber security. In this chapter, we describe each trend, what it entails, and what its implications are for enterprises steering towards digitization by leveraging the five digitalization trends. We show how enterprises that benefit from these trends are able to attain not only competitive advantage through innovation, but also adapt to the changing circumstances while capturing new opportunities by means of transforming the way they run their business in the digital economy.

The Business Opportunities of a Digitally Transformed Economy
openSAP
February 24, 2021

Since our first openSAP course on digital transformation and its impact in 2015, the world has changed even more than we could have imagined. Many businesses have already started their journey towards a digitally transformed economy, while others are just starting out. There are many catalysts of change which challenge companies to reconsider their traditional business models, and in 2020 there are even more than expected.

Given the unprecedented pace of change we’ve experienced in the last 5 years, we’d like to share the latest trends, industry examples, predictions, and best practices with you.

This nutshell course will give you food for thought on how you can make your company more resilient, profitable, and sustainable. After sharing the bigger picture of the digitally transformed economy, we’ll focus on “drivers of change” that accelerate business transformation and then discuss the “value lever model”, which helps to identify and optimize areas that make your business more profitable.

Sven Denecken and Bert Schulze will once again be your hosts, joined by Corina Kinzel from SAP and Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz, Director at the QUT University (Brisbane Australia), who will share his perspective on the economy of algorithms and the characteristics of resilient businesses. Also presenting the course is Jan Waals from Deloitte LLP, a recognized global leader in digital transformation, who will share first-hand customer experiences with you.

I2G: Business Information Systems Institute
I2G
August 22, 2006

I2G Business Information Systems Institute Ltd is a Polish SME established in 2006 by researchers and practitioners in the area of Information Systems. It is a spin-off set up to conduct innovative projects with required strong research involvement and potential for commercialization. Its main capital is the know-how of its founders.

Innovation - Powering future industries
Wavell State High School
August 24, 2023

Both students and staff were informed of the new frontier of AI and the unique challenges and opportunities that it poses. Students were challenged to think about the prospects that AI would provide in their futures and the types of industries and jobs that would become available in their futures.

The Economy of Algorithms
QUT
August 22, 2023

In the lecture on 'The Economy of Algorithms' for the BSB105 The Future Enterprise unit at QUT, students were introduced to the fast-paced world of technological innovation and its impact on contemporary business. Focused on the interconnectedness of technologies and the autonomy of algorithms, the lecture explored how algorithms are reshaping traditional roles and creating new opportunities for human creativity and efficiency. The session aligned with the unit's goal to develop resilience and agility, equipping students to navigate future business scenarios and succeed in an algorithm-driven world. This lecture serves as a practical example of how the future of work is already unfolding, preparing students to adapt and thrive in a constantly changing landscape.

Innovation and Disruption in the Digital Age
Queensland Leaders
August 10, 2023

The application of ideation lenses in innovating business value propositions.

The use of AI in Business
The CEO Institute
July 19, 2023

A session with a CEO Institute's syndicate. Topic: the use of Generative AI in business.

Generative AI: Opportunities and Impact
AI4Diversity
July 13, 2023

Better Boards Conference Opening Keynote
Better Boards Conference
June 02, 2023

How will the economy of algorithms shape the future of boards?
We live in a world in which bots engage with other bots, people, and businesses. These bots have a signifi cant impact on individuals, organisations, and the economy. Marek will discuss how organisations should respond in this new economy. Can artificial intelligence be of meaningful help to boards? What governance
mechanisms should be introduced? How should decision-makers collaborate with artificially intelligent agents?

How AI can support private practices
Australian Medical Association Queensland
March 18, 2023

Don’t miss our keynote speaker, an international expert in digital disruption Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz, at the Private Practice Finance, Innovation and Technology Conference on Saturday 18 March.

The PwC Chair of Digital Economy at QUT’s Centre for Future Enterprise will share the many ways artificial intelligence (AI) is already reshaping the healthcare sector, and the opportunities that await private practices with the foresight to embrace it.

Discover how AI can support private practices:

Impact of new AI models on healthcare – including drug discovery and the use of AI in healthcare/rehabilitation.
Broad impacts of ChatGPT on private practices.
The exciting, worrying, challenging and promising space for the inclusion of AI in supporting health practitioners.

Imagine what it might mean for healthcare in future with AI supporting health practitioners
https://www.ama.com.au/qld/events/medical-careers-expo-2023
March 18, 2023

The impact of AI on future health practitioners.

The Algorithmic Enterprise
QUT Centre for Future Enterprise
November 30, 2022

Are algorithms tyrants or our friends? Or both? Algorithms rule our economy today, but how much do you know about them, their quirks, their roles and their potential? You may not, for example, have asked yourself the following questions, but you most certainly need to know the answers:
• Are your employees hiring “digital minions”?
• How can you advertise to a fridge?
• Could your organisation become human-less, and survive?

Mastering SAP Closing Keynote
Mastering SAP Technologies
November 15, 2022

How to beat the robots: a guide to ensure your students stay ahead in the age of AI
IPS Alliance Leadership Day
October 31, 2022

Is artificial intelligence the end of education as we know it? In this presentation, we'll explore the impact of AI on education and how it will shape the future of our children.

The digital economy and the future of public services in Australia
Department of Resources, Queensland Government
October 25, 2022

The digital transformation undertaken in the private sector has exceeded the pace of transformation of government-citizen service delivery and associated policymaking. With increasing pressure to deliver solutions for complex social problems like climate change, poverty, migration, and inequality, and the decreasing economic resources, governments are increasingly expected to do more with less.

Public sector organisations have a high potential for initiating and delivering transformational digital initiatives. The abundance of data, as well as experience in large-scale transformational projects, should make digital transformation easy. However, there are challenges posed by large-scale digital transformation projects: a need for a holistic perspective, challenges in managing sensitive data, and a tendency to stick to well-known approaches rather than experimenting with new ones. Failing to overcome these challenges may lead to failed or misdirected digital transformation initiatives.

In his talk, Prof. Kowalkiewicz will focus on the opportunities for public sector transformation that the digital economy brings. He will share his team’s research on the future of public services in Australia, and explore the future shaped by the emerging trends in business, technology, and society. He will also share advice on the next steps for the public sector to take to remain relevant.

The Economy of Algorithms
QUT Centre for Future Enterprise
October 13, 2022

In the last several months, we have seen an explosion in examples of computer algorithms. They're often classified under an umbrella label of artificial intelligence. Their performance is at least matching the performance of an average human. Often it far exceeds our skills. While this is old news in areas such as mathematical calculations, information retrieval or data storage, the new developments show the dominance of algorithms in areas considered safe until now: creative text, image, and video creation.

This superior performance of algorithms in areas that have long been seen as human-only has led many to believe these software artefacts are becoming "sentient". As a result, many of us are increasingly comfortable handing over agency to these tools.

Given these developments, what is the nature of creativity and what is human thought but a collection of firing neurons? Is that it for the human race? In his talk, Marek will not waste much time pondering such philosophical questions. They're important, sure, but that's not Marek's skill. Instead, he will ask another set of questions:
- what does the superiority of algorithms, combined with their increased agency, mean for business?
- what happens when algorithms become employees, managers, customers, and even entire organisations?
- what new (research) questions emerge?
- what should we do when a computer says no?

Marek's session will cover several papers he co-authored in the past. But the bulk of it will be about opportunities for future research in the emerging economy of algorithms.

Brisbane meets Munich
German Australian Business Council e.V.
October 04, 2022

What is happening in the Queensland AI Hub? Marek Kowalkiewicz reports by recorded video to the meeting in Munich „Brisbane meets Munich“.

The Economy of Algorithms
apidays
September 14, 2022

Are algorithms tyrants or our friends? Or both? Algorithms rule our economy today, but how much do you know about them, their quirks, their roles and their potential?
- Are your employees hiring “digital minions”?
- How can you advertise to a fridge?
- Could your organisation become human-less, and survive?
Welcome to the “economy of algorithms”. It’s a world in which algorithms engage with other algorithms (and people) to create and consume value. It’s here, and it’s growing.

In this talk, I'll share my research on how the economy of algorithms is changing the way we live, work and think. I'll answer why the API economy is an enabler of this fascinating new world. I will draw a picture of the future that is both optimistic and realistic.  

You, too, can join the organisations riding the wave of opportunities created by the economy of algorithms. Join me to understand the forces that will reshape your businesses into the future.

The Economy of Algorithms
Queensland Leaders
August 25, 2022

Are algorithms tyrants or our friends? Or both? Algorithms rule our economy today, but how much do you know about them, their quirks, their roles and their potential? You may not, for example, have asked yourself the following questions … but you most certainly need to know the answers:
- Are your employees hiring “digital minions”?
- How can you advertise to a fridge?
- Could your organisation become human-less and survive?
- Do you know what’s possible today in your business that wasn't possible yesterday?

Welcome to the “economy of algorithms”. It’s a world in which algorithms engage with other algorithms (and people) to create and consume value. It’s here, and it’s growing.

During the session, Marek Kowalkiewicz, a professor in the school of management at Queensland University of Technology and globally renowned digital economy expert, will outline how the economy of algorithms is changing the way we live, work, and think. 

In that economy some businesses thrive, and others are left behind, unable to understand what made them fail. The leaders that prosper in this emerging economy are the RACERS—businesses that focus on relentless automation (RA), continuous evolution (CE), and relationship saturation (RS).

Prof. Kowalkiewicz will introduce the nine rules for flourishing in the economy of algorithms, based on his study of—and consulting work with—the largest, fastest-moving businesses across China, Singapore, Silicon Valley and Australia.

You, too, can join the RACERS – the organisations riding the wave of opportunities created by the economy of algorithms. This workshop is a must for business leaders searching for ways to understand the forces that will reshape their businesses into the future.

Operation Renewed Hope identifies more than 300 probable victims of child sexual abuse using controversial AI
ABC News
August 24, 2023

A global investigation has identified more than 300 probable victims of child sexual abuse with the help of facial recognition technology that is currently banned in Australia.

The children's identities were previously considered cold cases — some decades old — with not enough distinguishable clues in the online abuse material seized by authorities to identify them.

Operation Renewed Hope, run by Homeland Security Investigations Cyber Crimes Centre's Child Exploitation Investigations Unit out of the United States, finished earlier this month.

It involved two Australian investigators.

But the technology used to identify hundreds of victims is banned here, after it was found to breach the Australian Privacy Act.

'I'm sorry, Dave. I'm afraid I can't do that': Artificial Intelligence expert warns that there may already be a 'slightly conscious' AI out in the world
Daily Mail Australia
February 13, 2022

OpenAI cofounder, Ilya Sutskever, claims artificial intelligence is conscious
He didn't specify which neural network had reached this stage, if any at all
Experts called out his claim as being 'off the mark' and called him 'full of it'
They suggest we don't have human level intelligence, let alone consciousness

From mundane to marvellous: Generative AI for fast decision making.
Something Digital
August 29, 2023

Once we skip away from the parlour tricks of generative AI, we delve into the real value of automation and augmentation, discovering a realm where neglected or large datasets become valuable information sources for decision-making.

What does data science decision modelling look like through the lens of available AI tools? How do we overcome challenges such as data privacy? What does this mean for the future of data science? And how can you effectively harness AI to enhance your decision-making process?

Emerging AI will soon defeat the regulation of curriculum and assessment
Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities Conference 2023
August 03, 2023

From time to time, global disruptions create transformative challenges for education systems. No-one needs to be reminded of the impact of COVID-19 on education systems the world over.

While it was dramatic and frightening, the pandemic disruptor also had an element of familiarity. Perhaps this was because the strategies for managing it were unsurprising — tighter regulation, lock-downs, sanitisation, a frantic search for a preventive or cure. The imperative was to cleanse and eliminate.

As the door closes on this profound disruptor, it feels like another slipped through while it was ajar. Artificial intelligence (AI) has been influencing our lives for some time, but the discourse around the new digital disruptor seems to have been propelled by the pandemic condition. The greater the atomisation of society, the greater our reliance on digital means to stay connected and informed, to preserve familiar ways of living. During the pandemic, technology became the saviour for work, recreation and education. We embraced it wholeheartedly; but then ChatGPT gave us a reason to be cautious. The prospect of limitless possibilities, ultrafast change and apparent uncontrollability is not so comforting.

There is no avoiding the challenge if we are to do justice to students. The 2020 Shergold [report on senior secondary pathways](https://www.education.gov.au/quality-schools-package/resources/looking-future-report-review-senior-secondary-pathways-work-further-education-and-training) recognised that today’s students face a range of challenges resulting from technological change, globalisation and automation. It recommended that digital literacy should join literacy and numeracy as a new essential competency.

Schools too are finding ways to incorporate new technologies in their educational programs. A cursory glance at the topics of recent and forthcoming education conferences shows that teachers are becoming more familiar with the uses of AI, virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR) — the metaverse classroom is a concept that we will surely have to get used to.

Shergold’s observation was timely; and yet it was made without explicit reference to AI. Just three years on and the stakes now seem immeasurably higher. Digital literacy for students and the use of edtech in schools are among our top priorities.

It follows that digital acculturation is necessary for curriculum and assessment authorities if we are to ensure senior secondary certificates of education remain relevant, valued and trusted. What does it mean for our syllabuses, our assessment techniques, our development processes and our support for schools?

Should we take our cue from the pandemic and aim to harness AI through restriction and control, finessing it into existing education models? Or should we see this as folly, and instead embrace the creation of a new education paradigm where technology sets the pace?

Our panel of experts will explore this dilemma from different perspectives — ethics and equity, academic integrity, digital economy, social and political disruption, etc. After offering some initial responses to the session provocation, they will engage in further discussion and debate, prompted by the moderator.

Changing the Conversation: Cultural and Human Rights in the Digital Age
Multicultural Australia
June 14, 2023

Facilitated by Benjamin Law, and featuring a panel of experts, the discussion will explore approaches to individually and collectively navigate the challenges, and opportunities of living in an era of seemingly unstoppable technology and new forms of community and culture shaped by online and offline interactions.
The digital world offers many different experiences. We are more connected, and at the same time more remote. The start-up movement has transformed our workplaces and our public lives are increasingly being lived from the privacy of our homes.
In the age of opportunity, where technology has the potential to build cultural bridges, enable greater inclusion and equal opportunity through increased connectivity, innovation, and transformation of services, how can we overcome the many challenges that come with technological advancements? Issues such as the digital exclusion of historically marginalised groups, the impact of systemic bias being embedded into AI systems and algorithms, and a lack of appropriate safeguards to protect the vulnerable have the potential to make our society more unequal.

Exploring opportunities for the education sector
IPS Alliance Leadership Day
October 31, 2022

Facilitated by Sophie Renton, with Dr Jordan Nguyen, Prof. Marek Kowalkiewicz and Dr Luke Houghton

Secrets of Bilingualism – Language and AI
Queensland AI Hub
October 12, 2022

The Queensland AI Hub are proud to be collaborating Office of the Honorary Consul of Germany as part of Brisbane German Week to bring you this exciting panel presentation of data scientists, language researchers, German teachers, families, students and AI experts.

Game Changers: In conversation with Queensland business leader Alex Dreiling
Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame
June 23, 2022

Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame and State Library of Queensland is proud to present Alex Dreiling, CEO and Co-Founder of Clipchamp, now General Manager at Microsoft.

"Don’t get comfortable in your comfort zone. The world around you will change – learn to feel comfortable outside your comfort zone."
Alex Dreiling, CEO and co-founder Clipchamp
Alex will be in a conversation with Professor Marek Kowalkiewicz, Founding Director of Centre for the Digital Economy at QUT, that is guaranteed to be inspirational, candid and thought-provoking.

Learn from Queensland’s leading entrepreneurs in business, technology and the creative industries at Game Changers.

Game Changers is a Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame initiative presented by State Library of Queensland, QUT Business School and the Queensland Library Foundation.

A New Frontier for AI and the Arts
Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art
June 20, 2022

In June 2022, the QAGOMA Foundation hosted a panel discussion ‘A New Frontier for AI and the Arts’, engaging representatives from Brisbane’s technology in a discussion exploring the convergence of artificial intelligence (AI) and cultural practice, and shared research and outcomes of the ‘Unlock the Collection’ project.

Professor and Chair in Digital Economy
Queensland University of Technology
August 03, 2015

Marek is a Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School. He joined QUT from Silicon Valley, where he led global innovation teams as a Senior Director at SAP. Before Silicon Valley, Marek worked in Singapore as a Research Manager of SAP's Machine Learning lab. Prior to that, Marek was a Global Research Program Lead of one of SAP’s main research programs, as well as a Research Fellow at Microsoft Research Asia. His upcoming book is called "Digital Minions, AI and the new economy of algorithms" He is a keen long-distance trail runner.

Assistant Professor
Poznan University of Economics and Business
October 01, 2002

Responsible for FP6 projects at the department of management information systems. PhD thesis in an area of web content extraction.