Macquarie University Appoints Interim Leader for AI
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Quick Overview
- Phil Laufenberg departs from Macquarie to join La Trobe University.
- Richard Watts-Seale selected as the acting head of AI at Macquarie.
- No anticipated effect on Macquarieâs AI integration.
- ChatMQ, the AI assistant of Macquarie, continues to develop.
- La Trobe University is pursuing an âAI-firstâ approach.
Leadership Transition at Macquarie University
Macquarie University has named Richard Watts-Seale as the acting head of AI following Phil Laufenberg’s departure to take a position as pro vice-chancellor at La Trobe University. Watts-Seale was formerly the technical lead of Macquarie’s AI transformation initiative.
AI Program Continues as Planned
In spite of the leadership change, Macquarie’s AI program is on course. The university’s chief information and digital officer, Jonathan Covell, together with Eric Knight, the deputy vice-chancellor of people and operations, will maintain oversight of the university’s AI strategy.
ChatMQ Development
Under Laufenberg, Macquarie launched ChatMQ, an open-source generative AI assistant for its staff members. ChatMQ enables staff to utilize OpenAIâs ChatGPT, hosted on Microsoft Azure, and Anthropicâs Claude Sonnet on AWS Bedrock. There are plans to add Google’s Gemini into the platform.
La Trobe Universityâs Aspirations in AI
La Trobe University has plans to emerge as an âAI-firstâ institution. With Laufenberg’s onboarding, the university intends to harness his expertise to refine its AI strategy and execution, advancing efforts to enhance staff capabilities and create proactive AI systems.
Overview
As Phil Laufenberg transitions to La Trobe University, Macquarie University names Richard Watts-Seale as acting head of AI. Macquarieâs AI initiatives, including the ChatMQ project, proceed without interruption, while La Trobe aims to become an AI-centric university.
Reader questions
Frequently asked questions
Fast answers to the questions readers ask most about Macquarie University Appoints Interim Leader for AI.
Who is the newly appointed acting head of AI at Macquarie University?
Richard Watts-Seale has been chosen as the acting head of AI.
What position is Phil Laufenberg taking at La Trobe University?
Phil Laufenberg will be serving as pro vice-chancellor for artificial intelligence and chief artificial intelligence officer at La Trobe University.
Will Macquarie Universityâs AI program be influenced by Laufenberg’s exit?
No, Macquarie Universityâs AI program is anticipated to move forward as intended with no interruptions.
What is ChatMQ?
ChatMQ is Macquarie University’s open-source generative AI assistant, enabling staff to engage with models from OpenAI and Anthropic, with future intentions to integrate Google’s Gemini.
What are La Trobe University’s AI objectives?
La Trobe University aims to transform into an âAI-firstâ institution, emphasizing the improvement of its AI strategy and execution.