EPIC AI Conference - PM Presentations
Description
Big ideas, practical lessons, and the questions that matter now
The afternoon speaker session of the EPIC AI Conference brings together practitioners working at the edge of AI implementation, risk, infrastructure, and strategy.
These are not abstract future-gazing talks. They are grounded presentations from people thinking deeply about what happens when AI moves from prototype to production, from possibility to governance, and from technical novelty to social consequence. Across four sessions, you’ll hear perspectives on operational excellence, AI safety, privacy-preserving infrastructure, and the long-term future AI may unlock.
Hosted by the Christchurch AI Meetup Group as part of TechWeekNZ, the EPIC AI Conference is designed for professionals who want to understand where AI is going, what real adoption requires, and how to think more clearly about both the opportunities and the risks.
Whether you are leading AI adoption, building systems, advising clients, or simply trying to keep up with the pace of change, this session will leave you with stronger mental models, sharper questions, and a clearer sense of what matters next.
Hosted and emceed by Caelan Huntress, founder of the AI Coaching Academy and organiser of the Christchurch AI Meetup Group, this afternoon series continues a full-day event filled with learning, experimentation, and community.
PM Presentations lineup
1:30–2:15pm — Arthur Machado
Filmmaking Frameworks for High-Impact AI Visuals
Learn how to create stronger AI-generated visuals by thinking like a director rather than a technician. Arthur will share a practical visual storytelling framework for prompting better creative assets, from hero images to product mockups, and attendees will also receive access to a Custom GPT that helps translate briefs into high-fidelity image prompts.
2:30–3:15pm — Emma Humphrey
AI Self Defence: Risks and Solutions
As generative AI becomes more powerful, it also creates new challenges for cybercrime, misinformation, bias, digital trust, and vulnerable communities. Emma Humphrey brings experience from AI implementation in the UK Home Office to explore the current AI threat landscape, and the practical frameworks organisations can use to respond. This session will cover ethics-by-design, safety engineering, and responsible procurement, helping attendees move beyond hype into more mature thinking about AI governance and risk.
3:30–4:15pm — Dr. Chandranil Chakraborttii
Ghost Vectors: Securing AI Privacy Without Sacrificing System Performance
Vector databases power many modern AI systems, but they can also create hidden privacy vulnerabilities when deleted or updated data leaves behind structural traces. In this technical session, Dr. Chandranil Chakraborttii examines how “ghost vectors” can expose supposedly removed information, why conventional deletion methods fail in high-dimensional environments, and what architects can do instead. Attendees will gain insight into privacy-by-design approaches that improve both compliance and performance.
4:30–5:00pm — Caelan Huntress
The Case for a Superabundant Future
To close the afternoon, Caelan Huntress zooms out from present-day implementation into the larger human story. Drawing on recent writings from Dario Amodei and Peter Diamandis, this talk explores the idea that AI may not just change how we work, but could also change what it means to be human - for the better. It is an optimistic, philosophical challenge that invites us to look beyond disruption, towards a possible future of superabundance.
Tickets are $10 each for Workshops, Speakers, and Panel. RSVP for those parts of the day you want to attend ($30 for the whole day), or only those events that interest you.
Also happening at the EPIC AI Conference
Build your own conference day with these other TechWeek26 events at EPIC and nearby:
AI Workshops AM — 9:00am–11:45am
Hands-on workshops designed to help you build practical AI skills, explore tools, and learn by doing.
RSVP AI Workshops AMCoffee & Jam by Ministry of Awesome — 12:00pm–1:15pm
A relaxed networking session with founders, builders, and members of Christchurch’s innovation community.
RSVP Coffee & JamAI Speakers PM — 1:30pm–5:00pm
Talks and demos from speakers across business, research, startups, and the innovation ecosystem, sharing how AI is being applied in practice.
RSVP AI Speakers PM (on this page!)Leadership in AI Panel — 5:30pm–7:00pm
A panel conversation exploring strategy, governance, adoption, and the leadership questions shaping AI’s role in everyday work and life.
RSVP Leadership in AI Panel
Networking with Christchurch’s innovation community
As part of TechWeekNZ, the Christchurch EPIC AI Conference event highlights local capability, shared learning, and the expanding role of AI in shaping how we live and work in Aotearoa. Register early to receive speaker announcements and secure your place at EPIC Innovation.
FAQs
- Who is this event for?
This event is designed for professionals, founders, operators, researchers, students, and decision-makers who want to understand how AI is being applied in the real world. The session is especially relevant for people interested in AI strategy, operations, governance, infrastructure, privacy, and the practical implications of AI adoption. If you are looking for practical AI training in Christchurch, this TechWeek26 programme is built to help you see how AI is being used across business, leadership, community, and creative contexts.
Who should attend:
Professionals working with AI in product, operations, strategy, or delivery
Leaders and decision-makers exploring AI adoption and governance
Technical practitioners interested in production systems, privacy, and safety
Founders, consultants, and operators tracking where AI is heading next
Researchers, students, and curious professionals who want substance over hype
- Do I need technical experience to attend?
No. Some talks will touch on technical systems and infrastructure, but the session is designed to be useful for both technical and non-technical attendees. If you work near AI, lead teams, make decisions, or want to understand what matters beyond the headlines, you will get value from the programme.
What to expect
Four in-depth talks from experienced practitioners and researchers
Real-world lessons from production, policy, privacy, and infrastructure
Big-picture thinking grounded in practical experience
A strong mix of technical, strategic, and societal perspectives
Fresh ideas to take into leadership, product, engineering, and organisational conversationshttps://events.humanitix.com/epic-ai-conference-panel
- What is the difference between the three EPIC AI Conference events?
The day is split into four public sessions so you can choose the format that suits you best. AM Workshops focuses on hands-on learning and live demonstrations. Coffee and Jam, hosted by Ministry of Awesome, showcases local founders working with AI. PM Presentations brings together talks and case studies from practitioners applying AI in real settings. The Leadership in AI Panel in the evening is a discussion for people interested in strategy, governance, adoption, and the bigger questions leaders need to think about now.
8-9am - Doors open, networking, AI gameplay
9-11:45 - AM Workshops
12:00-1:15 - Coffee and Jam
1:30-5pm - PM Presentations
5:30-7pm - Evening panel
RSVP for only those events you want to attend, or for the whole day.
Tickets are $10 each for Workshops, Speakers, and Panel ($30 for the whole day).
- Can I attend just one part of the day?
Yes. Each part of the EPIC AI Conference has its own Humanitix listing, so you can attend the afternoon speaker programme on its own or combine it with the morning workshops, Coffee & Jam, and the Leadership in AI Panel.
- What kinds of topics will be covered?
This session covers production AI systems, operational excellence, AI safety, governance, digital trust, privacy in vector databases, and long-term perspectives on the future of AI. The aim is to give attendees a stronger understanding of both the practical realities and the broader consequences of AI adoption.
You’ll leave with
A clearer understanding of what production-ready AI really requires
Better language for discussing AI risks, governance, and trust
Exposure to emerging privacy and infrastructure challenges in AI systems
A broader perspective on where AI may be taking us next
New connections within Christchurch’s growing AI community
- Will the talks be useful for business leaders, or only for technical people?
They will absolutely be useful for business leaders. While some presentations include technical insight, the wider themes are highly relevant for executives, managers, founders, and policy-minded professionals who need to understand what responsible AI adoption looks like and what questions they should be asking.
- Who is hosting the event?
The EPIC AI Conference sessions are hosted by Caelan Huntress and the Christchurch AI Meetup Group as part of TechWeek26. Caelan Huntress is an AI educator based in Christchurch who helps professionals become more capable AI operators through workshops, training, and the AI Coaching Academy. The Christchurch AI Meetup Group brings together developers, business leaders, researchers, and curious professionals to explore AI practically, ethically, and locally.
The venue is sponsored by EPIC Innovation, the central hub for clever businesses in downtown Christchurch.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
