AI Safety New Zealand Conference 2026
AI Safety Australia & New Zealand presents Aotearoa’s inaugural AI Safety Conference, dedicated to discussing and building the frameworks - technical, ethical, regulatory, and otherwise - needed to ensure transformative AI is beneficial for New Zealand and the wider world.
👥 Target Audience
This conference is designed for professionals and specialists with a vested interest in the responsible trajectory of AI in Aotearoa, including:
Academics & Researchers focused on AI alignment, ethics, and computer science.
Policy Makers & Government Officials developing regulatory frameworks and public sector guidance.
Business Leaders & Strategists managing AI integration and risk assessment.
Journalists & Educators responsible for public discourse and AI literacy.
🗓️ Program Structure
Day 1: Education and Theory
The first day focuses on establishing a baseline of critical knowledge regarding the current and future landscape of AI risk.
Curriculum: Technical lectures, documentary screenings, and lightning talks on the broad landscape of AI safety. Examples of topics include Cybersecurity, Bioterrorism, Model Evaluation, Productivity, Education, Bias Detection, and DEI.
Engagement: Peer-led roundtables, workshops, and networking sessions designed to dissect recent safety research.
Main Hall Exhibition: Showcases from business and fellowship sponsors detailing existing safety solutions and ongoing projects.
Day 2: Action and Implementation
The second day shifts from theoretical understanding to applied safety measures and project acceleration.
Collaborative Sessions: Deep-dive roundtables and open discussions focused on solving specific safety hurdles within the New Zealand context.
UnConference Model: An afternoon session dedicated to participant-led agendas, allowing for tailored project leadership and high-value knowledge exchange.
Strategic Growth: Facilitating direct connections between project leads and the resources necessary to scale safety initiatives.
🎯 Conference Objectives 🎯
Ecosystem Development: Facilitating a sustainable network for AI safety collaboration across New Zealand’s academic, public sector, and commercial sectors.
Strategic Education: Equipping attendees with a deep understanding of AI risks and the specific strategies required to mitigate them.
Research Visibility: Showcasing high-impact domestic and international projects that advance the field of AI alignment and safety.
Professional Pathways: Enabling talent transition into AI safety through exposure to fellowships, scholarships, and global industry placements.
📝 Apply to Attend 📝
To ensure this event provides the highest possible value for every attendee, we have designed a curated application process.
Our goal is to foster a non-commercial environment focused on genuine knowledge exchange—not sales pitches— by bringing together a unique mix of perspectives from academia, policy, and industry.
Apply for a ticket: by completing a brief form sharing your professional background or your specific interest in AI Safety. We welcome both deep technical experts and those in policy or civil service looking to build their strategic understanding.
Committee Review: Our steering committee reviews all applications within 5 working days. Once accepted, your ticket payment is automatically processed.
Capacity Notice: We’re prioritising creating an environment for meaningful connection, and space is limited, so we won’t be able to accept all applications.
We may also need to use a waiting list - if we do, we’ll do our best to keep you updated.