Agency in an AI-enabled world
Agency in an AI-Enabled World: The Choices Facing Australia, Canada and New Zealand
As artificial intelligence becomes embedded across economies, workplaces and public institutions, governments face new questions about capability, accountability and decision-making.
How can leaders ensure that public institutions remain informed, effective and trusted in a world where expertise, analysis and decision support are increasingly shaped by AI? What capabilities should governments develop internally? Where should they rely on partners? And what can Australia, Canada and New Zealand learn from one another as they navigate these challenges?
Hosted by Kate Carruthers, ANZSOG Program Director of AI Tools and Ethics, this discussion will bring together voices from Canada, Australia and New Zealand to explore how governments are responding to the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.
The discussion will examine how public institutions can retain meaningful agency in an increasingly AI-enabled world, build capability where it matters most and work collaboratively to navigate emerging opportunities and dependencies.
This event is presented by ANZSOG in partnership with the Forum of Federations, a global organisation that promotes learning, collaboration and the exchange of practice across federal and multi-level systems of government. Together, ANZSOG and the Forum of Federations will convene leading public sector thinkers and practitioners to explore how governments can retain agency, build capability and make informed decisions in an increasingly AI-enabled world.
Why this conversation matters now
Around the world, governments are increasingly viewing AI capability as a strategic national asset rather than simply a technology or productivity issue.
Questions that once focused on innovation and digital transformation are now expanding to include resilience, capability, economic competitiveness and national interests.
For public sector leaders, the challenge is no longer whether AI will influence government. The challenge is understanding what governments must know, build, retain or influence in order to remain effective stewards of public value in an AI-enabled future.
Who should attend?
This event is designed for:
Senior public sector leaders and policy-makers
Digital transformation and technology executives
Regulators and oversight bodies
Strategy, innovation and reform leaders
Public sector researchers and practitioners
Government partners and stakeholders interested in the future of AI governance
Audience takeaway
Participants will leave with a clearer understanding of:
What "agency" means for governments in an AI-enabled world
Which capabilities may be strategically important to retain
How comparable jurisdictions are approaching similar challenges
Where collaboration can strengthen capability and resilience
The choices governments face as AI becomes increasingly embedded in public administration