AI is changing everything

✨ Event Description

From 25 years of applied AI to the future of generative and agentic systems — connecting research and real-world impact.

Join us for this special keynote by Professor Zbigniew Michalewicz, Chief Scientist at Complexica, hosted by the RAIsE Hub (RMIT Artificial Intelligence Advanced Innovation Experience Hub).

With over three decades across academia and industry, Professor Michalewicz brings a rare perspective on how artificial intelligence has evolved — and where it is heading next.

This session explores the shift from early optimisation and decision-support systems to today’s data-driven, learning-based, and generative approaches. Through real-world examples across multiple industries — drawing on large-scale applications in areas such as manufacturing, resources, finance, and defence — it will unpack how organisations are applying AI to solve complex problems, and what this means for research, software, and decision-making in practice.

Designed for both academic and industry audiences, this keynote connects technical evolution with practical impact — offering insights relevant across research, practice, and leadership.

👥 Who should attend?

• Researchers and academics interested in how AI is evolving in real-world settings

• Industry practitioners working with data, analytics, or AI systems

• Business and technology leaders exploring the strategic impact of AI

• Students and professionals looking to connect technical advances with practical application

🎤 Title: AI is Changing Everything

🧠 Summary

This talk presents the application of artificial intelligence to large-scale business problems over a 25-year period, from the perspective of both an academic researcher and software company founder.

It traces the evolution of AI methodologies — from early optimisation and decision-support systems to today’s data-driven, learning-based approaches that enable organisations to convert vast volumes of data into actionable decisions.

Through a series of real-world case studies, the session highlights how AI is being used to improve forecasting, optimise operations, strengthen customer engagement, and support strategic decision-making.

The talk will also explore recent advances in generative and agentic AI, examining how these paradigms are reshaping software design, development, and delivery — and what this means for organisations navigating an increasingly AI-driven world.

👤 About the Speaker

Professor Zbigniew Michalewicz is the Chief Scientist of Complexica, an artificial intelligence software company, and an Emeritus Professor at the University of Adelaide. He also holds professorial positions at the Polish Academy of Sciences and the Polish-Japanese Academy of Information Technology.

A globally recognised leader in evolutionary computation and applied AI, he has published over 350 technical papers with more than 70,000 citations, and authored several influential books. His contributions have been recognised with numerous honours, including the IEEE CIS Evolutionary Computation Pioneer Award.

Professor Michalewicz has also co-founded multiple successful AI companies, including SolveIT Software (later acquired by Schneider Electric) and NuTech Solutions (acquired by Netezza/IBM), leading large-scale AI projects for organisations such as Ford, BHP, the U.S. Department of Defence, and Bank of America.

His career reflects a rare combination of deep technical expertise and real-world impact — bridging research, innovation, and industry application.

https://zbigniewmichalewicz.com/