Queensland AI Hub 2025 Key Takeaways

Just as we closed out 2025, I had the privilege of attending the final Queensland AI Hub Sunshine Coast Chapter event - "AI 2025: The Year That Was". And what a room to be in.

Co-founders Craig Josic and Dr Karen Sutherland (SFHEA) guided a conversation that went far beyond what’s been, to confront the very real and societal impact and guardrails of AI as we step into 2026.

There was strong focus on AI safety, and a sobering yet actionable look at how AGI and today’s AI technologies are reshaping society, and why we all need a voice in shaping what comes next.

The fireside chat with Paul Salmon (University of the Sunshine Coast) echoed what many of us have been hearing - that we’re at a critical juncture in technological history - the most significant theme to me was what he termed the 'socio-technical system risk'.

This risk that emerges when advanced AI is deployed into sectors like healthcare, defence, or education without the necessary governance, policies, or training in place.

Open Q&A sparked wide-ranging conversations, from the usual over-reliance on AI and skill degradation, technological unemployment, limited extraction windows, deepfakes and misinformation to more specific focus on comparison Australian efforts vs. global context. 

The discussions unpacked the Australian Federal Government’s recent AI safety plan and the establishment of a national AI Safety Institute, and that while this is seen as a positive step, key concerns remained: 

• Funding gaps → Australia’s $30m investment is a 'mere drop' compared to the billions being spent by countries like the UK

 • Lack of specificity → current plans remain high-level and light on concrete actions

 • The race to the bottom → with enormous commercial incentives at play, AGI development has become an 'arms race' that government intervention alone may struggle to contain

So, we asked - what can be done?

Despite the pace of change, discussions highlighted practical ways communities can regain, and retain, influence:

1. Prioritise education

There is a massive need for AI literacy at all levels, so people understand how AI makes decisions and when it is, and isn’t, appropriate to use.

2. Demand feedback mechanisms

From local councils and safety institutes, so communities can report risks or negative impacts encountered in daily life.

3. Organisational readiness

Businesses and institutions shouldn’t wait for AI to be enforced upon them. Now's the time to establishing clear understanding, policies, training programs, and reporting frameworks.

4. Build 'the cage' before release

Prof. Paul Salmon likened the rapid release of unproven AGI, to Australia Zoo announcing a new, potentially dangerous animal with no cage and planning to release it into the public regardless of risk.

And that was a wrap! Honestly, seeing community come together like this around ethics, responsibility, and the thoughtful application of AI in our societies gave me such optimism - I hope to see many more.