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 AM
Coffee & 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 & Jam
AI 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.

Contact the host of EPIC AI Conference - PM Presentations