The potential for artificial intelligence to improve public services, generate new economic opportunities and support growth in Papua New Guinea was a central theme at a recent AI masterclass hosted by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) in Canberra.
The event featured a panel moderated by Australia's Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Jessica Hunter, bringing together Papua New Guinea's Secretary for the Department of Information and Communications Technology, Steven Matainaho, alongside regional experts from across the Indo-Pacific.
Discussions centred on the value of regional collaboration and the sharing of practical experience in AI adoption, as well as the need to establish appropriate foundations to ensure the technology is adopted safely, securely and responsibly.
According to the Australian High Commission in Port Moresby, the masterclass reflected Australia's broader commitment to partnering with Papua New Guinea on the safe, secure and inclusive adoption of AI, an area increasingly seen as critical to the region's economic and digital future.
The discussion comes amid growing attention across the Pacific to how emerging technologies might be harnessed to strengthen service delivery and economic development, while managing the risks that rapid AI adoption can pose for developing digital economies.