Why AI is not your friend | Rita Arrigo | TEDxMelbourne

Rita is a technologist who launched one of Australia’s first internet cafés now helps steer the country through the age of AI. In this talk, she shows how responsible AI, digital “twins,” and agentic systems will soon walk among us and why we must treat AI as a powerful tool, not a trusted friend.

Her call: become “parents” to AI, giving it values, guardrails and guidance so it can rejuvenate our societies instead of harming them. Rita Arrigo serves as the Strategic Engagement Manager at the National
AI Centre, where she is focused on empowering the Australian AI
Industry growth for collaboration across the AI landscape. Her mission is
to elevate Australia's global AI adoption and cultivate a responsible AI
industry.

With a wealth of experience in digital and AI strategy, Rita has delivered
thought leadership on topics such as Generative AI, AI for Safety, and AI for Climate Tech.

She has launched the AI Industry Connection forum to connect companies interested in emerging AI with the cutting-edge research and the AI Industry. Not a newcomer to revolution, her first love being telecommunications, having launched Australia’s first internet café at it is now recreated at the National Communication Museum as a cybercafé.
She is also a Leonardo for Science Gallery.

As a renowned digital & AI strategist she cultivates innovation with emerging technologies including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Generative AI, Machine Learning (ML), Mixed Reality (MR). Previously Chief Digital Advisor at Microsoft. She was appointed an AI Ambassador and continues to advocate for ways that AI and XR can build better futures for our work and communities. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx