ACS opens AI hub in Melbourne

The ACS has launched a new artificial intelligence hub at its Docklands, Melbourne premises aimed at helping build the capacity and capability of the Australian AI sector.

The new hub will include 50 seats dedicated to AI businesses operating onsite from Bay City Labs, as well as an eight-panel multimedia wall to help onsite tech scale-ups and host companies demonstrate their AI products and machine learning capabilities to customers and investors.

“AI is not yet, and unlikely to be for some time, a push-button technology. Our intent in creating this artificial intelligence hub is to focus on building capacity and capability of Australians in the AI space,” ACS President Yohan Ramasundara said.

“We will achieve this by positioning the AI Hub as a centre of activity, creating programs that bring university students, industry, start-ups, corporates and government together to systematise serendipity.”

Meanwhile, the ACS has appointed Steve Nouri, recent ACS Gold Disruptor winner in the ICT Professional category, to the role of Head of AI Community Development. 

Nouri joins the ACS from the CSIRO’s Data61, where he was leading teams of researchers and data scientists across multiple projects. He has more than 15 years of experience in the ICT industry across various roles.

ACS CEO Andrew Johnson said the AI focus is aimed at ensuring Australia does not remain left behind in the digital economy.

“Automation and digitisation is accelerating, and we need to ensure Australia positions itself to embrace this change in order that our citizens may attract higher paying jobs in Industry 4.0,” he said.

Pictured: ACS President Yohan Ramasundara and CEO Andrew Johnson. Courtesy ACS.