AISUM26The AI Safety Unconference, Melbourne 2026
The world is paying attention to AI risk. What should those of us in or from Australia and New Zealand do about it?
Applications now open
Friday 27 November 2026
All day · Melbourne Connect, Carlton VIC
Learn more · Looking for last year? AISUM25
From “why isn’t anyone listening?” to “what do we do now?”
For years, the hard part was getting anyone to take the risks of advanced AI seriously, the catastrophic ones included. That has shifted: people in government, industry and the media are now asking what should actually be done. Attention doesn't last, so the job now is to have good answers while they're still asking.
AISUM is a one-day, application-only unconference for people already working on or seriously engaged with AI safety. Around 50 researchers, practitioners, and advocates: based in Australia and New Zealand, or from here and working elsewhere. Little '101' content: it's all 201+.
Bring a Proposal
Pitch, test, and sharpen concrete ideas: a policy ask, a research agenda, an evaluation that should exist, a new organisation. Find the collaborators to make them happen.
Argue About Priorities
What work should be happening that isn't? From evals and capability tracking to governance, talent, and funding, work out where our effort counts most. You'll need to be familiar with the field to get the most out of the day!
Build the Community
Connect with researchers, practitioners, and advocates from across Australia and New Zealand, and build the working relationships that outlast the day.
What's an Unconference?
Much like a normal conference, except the agenda isn't set in advance. Attendees pitch the sessions they want to run (or want someone else to run), everyone votes, and the organisers build the program on the day. This year we're asking every pitch to say what it ends in: a proposal, an ask, or a decision. Come for the community and dynamism!
Applications for AISUM26 are open: apply here. Places are limited, so we run an application process rather than first-come-first-served. Tickets are priced to partly recoup venue and catering costs, with options to pay less if you need the support.
The sessions are up to you
Attendees pitch and vote on the program, so the agenda isn't set in advance. Sessions might span areas like these.
Alignment and interpretability
Technical work on making AI systems do what we intend, and understanding why.
Governance and policy
What Australian and New Zealand institutions can do, and how to help them do it well.
Philosophy and ethics
The conceptual questions underneath the technical and policy ones.
Law and regulation
Liability, standards and the legal tools available on both sides of the Tasman.
Field-building
Growing the community, careers and organisations that do the work.
Projects and collaborations
Pitch an idea, test it with people who know the field, and find collaborators.
Get Involved
Apply, and we'll email you the outcome. Acceptances go out on a rolling basis. Once you're accepted, you register on this site, signed in with the email you applied with, and choose what you pay for your ticket.
2. Register
Accepted? Sign in with the email you applied with to register. Tickets are pay what you want.
RegisterQuestions?
Questions, or want to talk sponsorship? Reach out to the organisers:
Who runs AISUM
AISUM is run by AI Safety Australia & New Zealand (AISANZ), housed within Good Ancestors, a charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission.