AI in Action
Industry leaders and academics gathered earlier in November for a dynamic panel discussion ‘AI in Action – Turning Innovation into Impact’ – a joint initiative between AUT Business School and the British New Zealand Business Association (BNZBA).
The event, which took place in the School of Engineering, Maths and Computer Science, explored how artificial intelligence is transforming workplaces.
Organised by Philip Wood (President of BNZBA), the Business School’s Dr Geri Harris (Programme Director - Business Undergraduate) welcomed guests to AUT and expressed the importance of preparing graduates for an AI-augmented future.
Her message? AI isn’t just the future, it’s already here – now, how can we make the most of it?
Moderator David Nothling-Demmer (Managing Editor of NZ Business magazine) chatted with James Atchison-Wootton (Global Head of Innovation and AI, Robert Walters Recruitment), the Business School’s Dilani Gedera (Associate Professor of Digital Education and Innovation) and Meg Smith (founder of CloverBase and former Agency Lead at Google).
Panellists shared practical use cases of technology enablement, discussed strategies for responsible AI adoption, and supported the role of universities in preparing graduates for an AI-enabled future. Topics included ethical considerations, workforce readiness, and how organisations can leverage AI to enhance productivity and innovation.
Speaking from a recruitment perspective, James touched on how AI is already improving applicant engagement and supporting more targeted hiring decisions, whereas Dilani applied a higher education lens, noting the need to prepare students for jobs that do not exist yet.
“This means shifting attention away from specific AI tools and instead bringing AI literacy, along with the development of strong technical and human skills, ethical understanding and lifelong learning mindsets, into the classroom”, she said.
The event concluded on a high note with a special cameo appearance by AUT’s new generation Humanoid Robots – AUTo and AUTaia, who entertained attendees with an impressive display of breakdancing and speech. A memorable tech twist to a memorable event!