AI has its pros and cons: Businesses need to navigate both

Together with the Victorian Chamber, the newly launched AI Workshop Series offers a clear, practical path to mastering AI.

These interactive sessions are designed to help businesses build momentum safely and sustainably, learn how to optimise the tools they already use, master essential prompting techniques, and create personalised AI workflows that drive real progress. 

AI Growth Academy supports small and medium businesses, teams, and leadership in adopting AI in ways that are built for long-term impact.

An advocate for safe and ethical AI, Catherine contributes to industry advisory boards, government initiatives, and National Artificial Intelligence Centre (NAIC) pilot programs, helping shape the future of AI adoption for Australian businesses.

Catherine also at the Victorian Chamber’s event, Age of Intelligence: How AI Can Enhance Business and Government, exploring real-world applications of AI across industries, and what it takes to build the skills, systems, and strategies to thrive.

Catherine recently joined the Victorian Chamber to share her insights on AI and how its impacts are shaping business.

1. Why does AI Growth Academy focus on helping businesses?

For over two decades, we have supported businesses in navigating technological change – from the early days of going online to today’s AI-powered transformation.

Artificial intelligence wasn’t a pivot for the Academy, it was a natural evolution. Unlike previous technologies that incrementally improved how we work or reach customers, AI fundamentally shifted the way we operate. When ChatGPT launched in 2022, it marked a pivotal moment. For us, it was clear: this was the time to go all in on educating organisations about AI – how to navigate it, how to stay safe.

We live and breathe these tools. We’re constantly consulting and advising organisations, seeing firsthand what works – not just within our own business, but across the many teams we support. That insight allows us to help others on their journey with confidence and clarity.

2. What makes AI such a game-changer?

Unlike previous tools that offered incremental improvements, generative AI has democratised access to capabilities once reserved for large enterprises. Tasks like market research, content creation, and data analysis – once time-consuming or costly – can now be done faster and at scale. AI unlocks new possibilities across marketing, finance and operations, making it one of the most transformative technologies in recent history.

We use a ‘value flywheel’ to describe AI’s impact:

• Efficiency: The first unlock – automating tasks, saving time and boosting productivity.
• Effectiveness: Doing things better – enabling deeper research, smarter decisions and freeing up human thinking.
• Innovation: The most transformative layer – using AI to do things previously impossible, like deploying intelligent agents to triage customer queries or streamline workflows.

3. What are the risks of AI, and how can businesses avoid them?

We’re facing a growing challenge with AI-generated content, recently termed ‘work slop’ – AI-generated content that looks polished but lacks depth. It’s the risk of losing actual intelligence in the workplace.

Without proper training, teams may rely too heavily on AI, leading to shallow outputs and eroding trust.

The issue isn’t AI itself but the absence of guardrails. The goal should be artificial intelligence plus actual intelligence. AI should augment and amplify human capability, not diminish it.

Businesses must educate teams on how to use AI intentionally to enhance, not replace, human intelligence. The key is education, guidance, and a clear framework that empowers teams to use AI responsibly and effectively.

4. What does the future of AI look like?

Looking ahead, there are two major areas of development in AI that are particularly exciting: the human side and the technology side.

On the human side, there’s still enormous potential to unlock. AI has the potential to break down silos, reduce duplication, and improve cross-team collaboration.

On the tech side, agentic AI – autonomous assistants that perform tasks independently – is on the horizon. While still evolving, these agents could revolutionise how businesses manage admin, scheduling and operations.

5. What can participants expect from the Victorian Chamber’s AI Workshop Series in partnership with AI Growth Academy?

The workshop series is built around three pillars that set it apart from others:

• Hands-on training: Businesses don’t need more theory or another explainer on what AI is. They need practical, guided experience to cut through the overwhelm. The workshop provides essential education and real-world skills that small to medium-sized businesses can apply immediately.
• Safe and strategic guidance: Every aspect of the training is aligned with the National AI Centre’s responsible and ethical guidelines. Participants can trust that they’re receiving safe, well-informed advice on how to navigate AI adoption responsibly.
• Community learning: No one has AI completely figured out. There’s a lot of FOMO in the space, and many feel like others are ahead. This workshop brings organisations together to learn, share, and grow collectively. It’s a supportive environment where businesses can compare experiences and build confidence in their AI journey.

For more information and registration, visit the AI Workshop Series training page. Read the summary of our Age of Intelligence: How AI can enhance business and government event from 15 October.