ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

Opportunity, Responsibility and the Future

Recently, Scotch Oakburn College had the pleasure of hosting Professor Toby Walsh, one of Australia’s leading Artificial Intelligence researchers, for a thought-provoking community presentation in the Horton Auditorium. Presented in partnership with the Royal Society of Tasmania, the event attracted more than 250 members of the College and broader Tasmanian community, including Her Excellency the Honourable Caroline Wells, Governor of Tasmania.

Professor Walsh provided a balanced and accessible overview of the current state of Artificial Intelligence. While much of the public discussion around AI focuses on either excitement or concern, he encouraged a more measured perspective. He spoke positively about advances in science and technology that have the potential to improve lives, solve complex problems and create significant efficiencies across organisations and industries. At the same time, he highlighted a range of challenges that require careful consideration, including environmental impacts, the reliability of chatbots, changing workforce demands and the potential impact on learning when AI is used as a substitute for thinking rather than a tool to support it.

These themes closely align with the work already underway at Scotch Oakburn College through our AI Guidelines, which focus on the responsible, ethical and purposeful use of AI in teaching and learning. As technology continues to evolve, our challenge is not simply teaching students how to use AI, but helping them understand when, why and whether it should be used.

The audience was highly engaged throughout the afternoon, with many thoughtful questions raised during an extensive Q&A session. I was particularly interested in Professor Walsh’s perspective on future career pathways, a topic especially relevant as our senior students select TCE courses and consider life beyond Scotch Oakburn.

While he acknowledged that some graduate-level roles may become increasingly AI-dependent, he emphasised that careers built around distinctly human qualities such as care, creativity, judgement, empathy and connection will remain highly valued.

It was an insightful afternoon that reinforced the importance of preparing young people not only for a future shaped by technology, but for one in which human capability remains our greatest strength. The strong attendance at the event further highlighted the significance of the conversation and the importance of engaging thoughtfully with the opportunities and responsibilities that accompany emerging technologies.

A sincere thank you to Mr David Morris, and to the staff and students who supported the event behind the scenes. Together, they helped deliver a highly engaging community event that reinforced the responsible, ethical and purposeful use of technology that sits at the heart of the College’s AI Guidelines.

Ross Patterson
Principal