Exciting learning opportunities, open to everyone

#2604 A.I. in our daily lives

AI in our daily lives: navigating trust, ethics, and the future

Speaker Andrew Lensen

Date Saturday 28th March  10am-1pm

Venue Waikanae Presbyterian Church Hall

43 Ngaio Road, Waikanae

Dr Andrew Lensen is a Senior Lecturer and Programme Director of Artificial Intelligence at Te Herenga Waka VUW. With a research focus on explainable and interdisciplinary artificial intelligence, Andrew  investigates the social and ethical dimensions of AI, ensuring its responsible application across diverse fields, including ecology, healthcare, and public policy.

He has published extensively on the challenges and opportunities of integrating AI into real world settings, with his work recognised nationally and internationally. As a passionate science communicator, Andrew regularly contributes expert commentary, op-eds, and interviews to demystify AI for the broader public. His public engagement work also includes co-authoring an Open Letter on AI regulation in New Zealand and speaking at forums on the role of AI in society. With a commitment to making AI accessible, understandable, and ethically grounded, he brings both deep technical expertise and a strong sense of social responsibility to his teaching and outreach activities.

Discover the fascinating world of artificial intelligence. In this seminar, Andrew will discuss how new tools like ChatGPT, Veo 3, Sora, and other types of AI are shaping our lives, focusing on issues such as transparency, trust, and ethics in AI. The seminar will delve into key societal questions, such as: how do we navigate the risks of AI-generated content? what would meaningful AI regulation look like for New Zealand? and how can AI be designed to support, rather than undermine, fairness and equity? He will help us gain a deeper understanding of how AI systems work, the choices behind their design, and how they impact society.

Participants will be encouraged to ask questions and share their perspectives. Whether you’re curious, cautious, or simply want to demystify the headlines about AI, this seminar offers a space to learn, engage, and debate the future direction of this transformative technology.