Please join the live stream of the Royal Society of New South Wales (RSNSW) and Australia's Learned Academies for their Annual Forum, which this year has the theme of AI: The Hope and the Hype. The program of the day is available on the RSNSW website, while a program brochure that provides the schedule, information about each of the sessions, and biographical information about the speakers will be available shortly.

Please register through this site to gain access to the live streaming of the event, which will commence at 9.00 am AEDT on Thursday, 6 November 2025, from Government House, Sydney.

Summary

Artificial intelligence is heralded as a “game-changer” for productivity, with massive global investment and bold economic forecasts. Australia’s Productivity Commission projects AU$116 billion in gains over the next decade, mirroring a global shift from safety-focused to opportunity-driven AI policy, also seen in the U.K. However, history shows that productivity gains are rarely evenly shared; a recent Nature study found that technological innovation often widens inequality. Economists warn that forecasts may be overstated. Some view AI as revolutionary, while others, such as Narayanan and Kapoor, consider it transformative yet gradual. The Royal Society of NSW Forum will explore this tension between hype and hope.

The Forum is held under the auspices of Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales. The Royal Society of New South Wales acknowledges the generous support of Her Excellency and the Office of the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer.