Date: Thursday, 6 November 2025, 8.30 for 9.00 am–5.00 pm AEDT
Venue: Government House Sydney: in person by invitation, and live-streaming
Entry: No charge
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, seen also in the U.K. Yet history shows productivity gains are rarely evenly shared; a recent Nature study found technological innovation often widens inequality. Economists warn forecasts may be overstated. Some see AI as revolutionary; others, like Narayanan and Kapoor, view it as transformative but 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.
31 December 2025
Various face-to-face and online venues 
