The University of Western Australia and Oxford University have partnered to deliver a series of events exploring the challenges and opportunities of generative artificial intelligence in higher education.

Oxford’s AI and Machine Learning Competency Centre and UWA’s Generative AI Think Tank  are launching the GenAI in Academia series next month.

The launch event will feature keynote presentations by Kelly Webb-Davies, from Oxford University’s AI Competency Centre, and Associate Professor Celeste Rodríguez Louro, Deputy Chair of UWA’s GenAI Think Tank.

Ms  Webb-Davies  will present Reframing AI in Academic Practice and will draw on her expertise at the intersection of technology, education, and academia.

She will explore how AI can be positioned in ways that enrich and transform academic work, while challenging current narratives about its role in the university.

Associate Professor Rodríguez Louro will present Beyond the Calculator Analogy: Why GenAI Demands Critical Engagement and will expand on her latest publication, which critiques the common comparison of generative AI to a calculator.

She argues for sharper critical thinking and a more nuanced understanding of the realities of adopting these technologies in academic contexts.

“This initiative will bring together voices from across Oxford, UWA and beyond to engage in productive, critical and future-facing conversations,” Associate Professor Rodríguez Louro said.

“It will foster dialogue across institutions, disciplines and world regions to address the evolving landscape of AI in academia.”

The launch event is on Thursday 4 December from 8am to 10am in the UK, and from 4pm to 6pm in Perth. To attend online register here.