Reflecting on a remarkable three-week voyage that began in Sydney and spanned across Europe and Southeast Asia, the journey was nothing short of transformative. Starting in Singapore, vital interactions with organizations like AI Singapore, A-STAR, HTX, NTU, and SMU centered on responsible AI, digital trust, and cybersecurity research collaboration.

Paris, the city of lights, was next, where in-depth discussions with Confiance.AI, OECD.ai, and GPAI revolved around trustworthy AI for safety-critical systems and global AI governance initiatives.

Brussels proved enlightening, with conversations with DG Connect, EU Parliament, EU International Outreach, and Digital Europe largely focusing on AI Regulation and facilitating industry adoption of responsible AI through concrete guidelines tailored for sectors and SMEs.

The journey in Germany was invigorating, with a visit to Fraunhofer IAIS shedding light on the latest in global research collaboration on AI risk management.

Embracing my scientist’s persona, a week was spent at the Dagstuhl Seminar on Software Architecture and Machine Learning. This period was rich with scientific exploration and invigorating discussions with leading minds about the future landscape of AI engineering and architecture.

Indonesia was the backdrop for engagements with several government agencies and research institutes to promote the Data for Development (D4D) data fellowship program. The anticipation was palpable as CSIRO’s Data61 is gearing up to welcome its inaugural batch of fellows.

The trip was cut short due to minor passport damage, preventing me from travelling to Malaysia for the last leg. Despite the scheduled events/meetings being cancelled, they will continue online, fostering new research ties with MIMOS, MDEC, and the University of Malaya.

All in all, this expedition undeniably marked significant strides in establishing a global research alliance in responsible AI and AI transformation during a pivotal era.