Summary of "Justin Flitter | AI New Zealand | The Great NZ AI Roadshow | AI Keynote"

Summary of Video: Justin Flitter | AI New Zealand | The Great NZ AI Roadshow | AI Keynote

Overview & Context

Justin Flitter, founder of AI New Zealand (established 2017), delivers an introductory keynote on AI for business. The talk sets the stage for a deeper exploration of AI concepts, use cases, and practical business adoption throughout the event. AI New Zealand’s mission is to help business leaders understand why and how to utilize AI effectively.

Key Technological Concepts & AI Types

Artificial Intelligence (AI): Machines or software imitating intelligent human behavior.
Machine Learning: Statistical techniques enabling computers to learn from data without explicit programming.
Generative AI: Uses neural networks and deep learning to generate content (text, images, audio, video) by analyzing large datasets.
Computer Vision: Teaching machines to “see” and interpret images; applied in agriculture (weed identification), quality control (grading produce), and targeted advertising.
Natural Language Processing (NLP): Enables transcription, sentiment analysis, and understanding of human language; used in contact centers, video transcription, and chatbots.
Digital Humans: Advanced AI avatars that interact with humans using verbal and non-verbal cues (facial expressions, tone), developed by companies like Soul Machines.

AI Adoption & Impact in New Zealand & Australia

Approximately 70% of Australian companies use some form of AI; New Zealand is rapidly catching up.
Demand for AI skills is growing quickly, with employers willing to pay up to 30% more for AI-competent employees.
Generative AI tools like ChatGPT have seen unprecedented adoption rates, reaching 2 billion users in under 8 months.
AI is transforming tasks rather than replacing entire jobs, automating repetitive processes and augmenting human work.

Practical Business Applications & Use Cases

Customer Service & Chatbots Modern chatbots can be trained on company data (documents, websites, audio, video) to provide intelligent, context-aware responses. Proof of concept chatbots can now be created cheaply compared to expensive enterprise solutions of the past.
Document Creation & Automation Tools such as Microsoft Co-pilot, Amazon Q, Google Gemini, and ChatGPT assist with emails, sales reports, board reports, marketing content, and even legal documents.
Building the “Company Brain” Integrating AI with disparate company data (CRM, finance, file storage, communications) creates a unified knowledge base. AI enables quick knowledge recall and decision-making by blending structured and unstructured data sources.
Creative Content Generation
- Text-to-image tools (e.g., MidJourney) aid marketing and creative processes by generating images from simple prompts.
- Text-to-video generation tools (e.g., Runway ML) enable rapid production of video content with minimal manual effort.
- Digital avatars and voice cloning (tools like HeyGen and 11 Labs) automate video content creation, including multilingual lip-synced videos.
AI in Recruitment AI automates screening and grading of job applications. Some AI tools can write cover letters, apply for jobs, and even conduct job interviews via deepfake technology, raising concerns about authenticity and security.
AI Agents & Automation AI agents can autonomously manage workflows such as order processing and supply chain coordination. Personalized, dynamic AI-driven customer interactions are expected to become the norm.
Digital Twins & Simulation Digital twin technology simulates real-world environments (e.g., hydrology, emergency planning) to aid decision-making. It is used for scenario planning in business contexts like sales, contact centers, and legal cases.

Risks, Challenges & Governance

Shadow AI: Risks arise from employees using unauthorized AI tools at work, leading to data security and privacy issues.
Ethics & Bias: There is a need for robust ethical guidelines and risk management frameworks.
Job Impact: AI replaces tasks, not entire jobs, but may reduce workforce size in some sectors.
Governance: The Institute of Directors emphasizes AI as a strategic priority requiring cross-functional leadership, risk understanding, and skills development.

Recommendations & Closing Insights

Organizations should adopt enterprise-grade AI solutions rather than relying on unmanaged personal AI tools.
Start small with manageable data sets to pilot AI use cases and secure quick wins.
The speed of AI innovation should be balanced with trust-building among employees, customers, and regulators.
Transparency, ethical practices, and strong data governance are critical for sustainable AI adoption.
AI literacy and continuous learning are essential for workforce adaptation and productivity gains.

Notable Product & Company Mentions

Soul Machines: Digital humans with advanced interaction capabilities.
MidJourney: AI text-to-image generation tool.
Runway ML: Text-to-video generation platform.
HeyGen & 11 Labs: AI video avatar and voice cloning tools.
Perplexity & ChatGPT Search: AI-powered blended search tools for research and summarization.
Genesis Energy: Real-world use of Microsoft Co-pilot for meeting transcription and productivity.
Brand IQ: Marketing content generation using AI.
Vulcan Steel / TVender Boom: AI-powered workplace safety and health monitoring.
AI Forum (Australia/New Zealand): Research on AI adoption and skills demand.

Main Speaker / Source

Justin Flitter, Founder of AI New Zealand, AI keynote speaker, and AI business consultant.

This summary captures the technological insights, business applications, challenges, and future outlook presented by Justin Flitter in his keynote on AI adoption in New Zealand and beyond.