AI Webinar Series #3: Expert panel on AI risk

AI is advancing fast, and so are the risks. A recent survey of 272 AI experts by MIT and the University of Queensland found five AI risks had more than a 10% chance of catastrophic outcomes by 2030, even with pragmatic safeguards. Harm to the environment was one of them.

This one hour online panel, co-organised by PauseAI Australia and the Conservation Council ACT Region, will cover recent developments in AI, the catastrophic risks they raise, and how Australia can chart a safer way. Each panellist will give brief opening remarks, then take your questions, which can range from AI's resource use to the risk of losing control of advanced AI systems.

MC: Simon Copland, Executive Director, Conservation Council ACT Region

About the panellists:

Greg Sadler is CEO of Good Ancestors Policy, an Australian charity working to reduce catastrophic and existential risks, including from advanced AI. Greg has 15 years' experience in the Australian Public Service, including in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Attorney-General's Department, and the Department of Home Affairs. He also served as a senior national security adviser to the Home Affairs Minister. He holds a BA/LLB(Hons) from the Australian National University, majoring in philosophy. -- Greg was one of the 272 experts surveyed, and will speak on catastrophic AI risks and policy responses.--

Gregory Andrews is the founder, owner and Managing Director of Lyrebird Dreaming Pty Ltd .

Gregory represented Australia as an Ambassador and High Commissioner in West Africa, and as a diplomat in China, Japan and United Nations negotiations. He was Australia’s first-appointed Threatened Species Commissioner and led development and implementation of Australia’s first Threatened Species Strategy. An experienced senior executive, Gregory worked at SES levels in the Departments of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Environment, Climate Change, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. In the NGO sector, he grew and reformed a national Indigenous charity.

In 2023, Gregory led Indigenous co-design processes to write an Indigenous Employment Strategy for Australia's Parliament House, a Reconciliation Action Plan for the National Capital Authority, and an Indigenous Community Inclusion Strategy for the Cooks River Alliance in Sydney.

Gregory has lived and worked in remote Indigenous Australia, West Africa, China and Japan. He has a First Class Honours Degree in Economics and a Masters Degree in Foreign Affairs and Trade. -- Gregory was Australia's deputy chief climate negotiator at the United Nations, and will speak on what climate diplomacy teaches us about global agreements.--

Laura Nuttall MLA is the first Gen Z Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly. Laura is passionate about environmental and economic justice, and young peoples’ participation in decision-making that affects their lives. Lauras background is in Asia Pacific studies and Politics, Philosophy and Economics. Laura joined the Greens in 2018 to get involved in pushing for faster action on climate change and refugee rights. --Laura will speak on what the ACT can do.--

Peter Cain, MLA, raised in the Hunter Valley in NSW, had a 20 year career as a high school mathematics teacher, then as a teacher and principal in the non-government school sector. He was later drawn to the legal profession and completed a law degree in 2001, being admitted to the ACT Supreme Court Roll soon after.

Prior to his election to the ACT Legislative Assembly in October 2020, Peter managed the tax disputes section within ACT Treasury and served as Vice President of the ACT Law Society from September 2017 to September 2020. Peter was also Chair of the Government Law Committee from 2014 to late 2020. -- Peter will speak on what the ACT can do. --

Note that this webinar will be recorded.