AiLab = Artificial Intelligence Laboratory

AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory) assists organisations with navigating the Artificial Intelligence (AI) landscape and learning about the exciting field of AI. We have helped thousands of people within industry, government, community and academia across the globe in their AI journey via our world-class AI education, talks, research and advisory services. AiLab train organisations to be AI-ready, empowering companies to develop AI skills and capability, and build effective strategies for implementing AI.

Co-founded by Dr. John Flackett (Head) and Emma Berry, AiLab has offices in Southampton (United Kingdom), in Adelaide (South Australia) and within Auckland University of Technology (New Zealand). With clients around the world and a vast AI background, AiLab is built on decades of teaching AI, researching AI and building AI (specialising in fundamental algorithm research to create more advanced learning machines), providing us with a deep understanding and knowledge of AI that we can impart to our clients. We’re qualified AI experts with extensive academic and industry experience in the AI field.

AiLab was officially launched in 2017 at one of our sold-out events ‘Future Jobs in a World of Artificial Intelligence’, which was part of the Open State Festival in Adelaide, South Australia, and was also featured in The Advertiser newspaper. AiLab's mission is to raise awareness and understanding of AI, to demystify and provide hype-free information, as well as advancing AI knowledge about tools and techniques, rewards and risks. We champion global collaboration to further AI awareness and the promotion of the ethical development of AI solutions.

AiLab is a UK Registered Learning Provider (UKRLP) – UKPRN: 10100578. We provide a range of custom online and in-person Artificial Intelligence workshops and masterclasses that enable businesses to make the informed decisions required to become AI-ready and equip organisations with the necessary knowledge to successfully identify AI projects, plan AI strategies, adopt AI-driven systems and transition into the AI space. AiLab help prepare key stakeholders for provider engagement (pre-vendor planning), assist all staff with using AI tools and techniques, and provide guidance for AI implementation policy and strategy development.

Understanding the complex world of AI and learning about the opportunities for Artificial Intelligence within an organisation is usually just the start of the journey, so AiLab offer consultancy and advisory services that provides on-going AI advice to help guide an organisation and their staff through their AI journey, as well as providing support for future AI needs.

Partnering and collaborating with a range of international experts and organisations, AiLab demystifies the world of AI by providing research and insights to showcase how AI is transforming the world in which we live. We also partner with academic institutions to help promote AI awareness, research and collaborations between industry and universities.

In 2020, we expanded AiLab into New Zealand where we launched ‘AiLab at AUT’ within Auckland University of Technology. ‘AiLab at AUT’ helps promote, educate and expand ethical AI adoption. It provides access to AI support and works with the university and industry partners to coordinate and support AI opportunities with partners and the established local AI community – providing another conduit between academic research and commercial entities. AiLab has also led a number of private and public research projects with industry, researchers and students to help further the field.

Through our workshops, advisory and talks, AiLab have worked with numerous government departments at federal, state and local levels, as well as large and small corporations and organisations, including some world-renowned technology companies.

In addition to our education programs, AiLab present on AI at events and conferences around the globe. We have given hundreds of AI keynotes, seminars, talks and lectures, highlighting the incredible opportunities AI brings and the future impact of AI on society and the workforce. Proudly community focused with a passion for diversity and inclusion, AiLab also hosts, sponsors and organises events to help support and grow the AI ecosystem – including founding and building Adelaide AI in 2018, which is a huge success and has grown into the largest Artificial Intelligence networking community in South Australia. AiLab are also proud to be Community Partner for the Women in AI Australia and New Zealand Awards that celebrate and honour Women in AI, as well as being a sponsor and champion of the Strong Women in Future Technologies (SWIFT) program.

AiLab also advise and contribute to AI discussions through radio, news and publications. The AiLab journey has been fortunate to be featured in the media with articles about our launch, events, expansion and impact. We're privileged to have interviewed and brought together leading local and international industry speakers to showcase and promote the latest in AI.

AiLab are building and growing the Artificial Intelligence community and pride ourselves on being a reliable, trusted, impartial and ethical source of Artificial Intelligence information. We are helping everyone to develop AI skills, capability and knowledge. If you wish to get involved, partner with us or would like more information on AiLab offerings, please drop us a line.

AiLab Co-founders

Dr. John Flackett

Co-founder & Head, AiLab

Dr. John Flackett is a leading Artificial Intelligence educator, speaker and advisor with 30 years’ experience working in the field. Achieving his PhD in AI in 2005, John’s pioneering research in the mid-1990s contributed to the early understanding of scaling neural networks for natural language processing, ideas that would later become central to the development of today's large language models. In 2025, John was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Science in recognition of his significant contributions to Artificial Intelligence and education.

Passionate about creating environments where people can learn about AI, John is the Co-founder and Head of AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory). As an AI educator, John leads AiLab workshops and supervises AI PhD students. Working with some of the biggest companies in the world, John is proud to have helped thousands of people around the globe in their AI journey.

Before founding AiLab, John spent a decade as a senior university academic teaching AI and software engineering at both undergraduate and master's levels at Southampton Solent University, helping educate the next generation of AI professionals. He later served as the AI Specialist in Residence and AI Ambassador for Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand.

John also previously designed and developed commercial-grade software used in major global corporations and is the co-founder of a smart web company. His accolades include various awards and he is a sought-after media interviewee and contributor to publications. As an AI advisor and consultant, John has served on multiple boards and committees and has contributed to AI policy and skills initiatives internationally, including serving on Australia's Federal Government AI Action Plan Committee. An acclaimed international AI speaker, John frequently shares his expertise on AI trends and applications supporting AiLab’s mission to raise global awareness and understanding of AI.

Specialising in fundamental algorithm research to create more advanced learning machines, John is interested in numerous aspects of AI and cognitive science, in particular, representational adequacies, Natural Language Processing, feature extraction, signal fusion & hybrid systems for applied AI.

View John’s full profile on AiLab.

Emma Berry

Co-founder & Director, AiLab

Emma is the Co-founder of multiple tech companies. As the Co-founder and Director of AiLab (Artificial Intelligence Laboratory), Emma is driven by a desire to make Artificial Intelligence relatable and accessible to all and is dedicated to bringing AI education to the widest possible audience across the globe. Passionate about advancing women in technology (especially in AI), Emma has a background in deisgn and has a wealth of experience developing AI education programs and initiatives for the AI industry and community.

An advocate of utilising technology to deliver powerful, automated solutions and experiences, Emma is also the Co-founder and Creative Director of a smart web company; designing next-generation online solutions that empower businesses.

Emma gives her time to develop community initiatives and events that encourage diversity – including being the Co-founder of the Adelaide AI meetup series in South Australia. Emma is also a board advisor and provides mentoring for individuals and businesses in the technology community.

Become an AiLab Partner

AiLab collaborates and partners with organisations to support our mission to build global Artificial Intelligence awareness and continuing to bring our AI education to the wider community. We love forming cool partnerships, so if you are interested in partnering with us, we’d love to hear from you. Find out about our AiLab partners.

Navigate & learn about Artificial Intelligence with AiLab

ArtificiaI Intelligence Workshops & Masterclasses

AiLab in-person and online workshops and masterclasses assist with learning and navigating AI, developing AI skills and capability, building AI action plans and strategies, using AI tools and techniques, privacy/ethics surrounding AI and more. Find out more about our AI Workshops.

AiLab at AUT

Find out about AiLab's expansion into New Zealand and partnership with Auckland University of Technology (AUT) to launch and host an 'AiLab at AUT'. Working with the University and industry partners, AiLab at AUT will educate and help expand ethical Artificial Intelligence adoption. Find out more about our AiLab at AUT.

Artificial Intelligence Research

AiLab undertake Artificial Intelligence research projects both internally and for clients within industry and Government. We also collaborate with academia and other organisations to produce publicly available research. FInd out about our publically available AI Research Projects.

ArtificiaI Intelligence Talks

AiLab's provide AI keynotes, talks, seminars and presentations at events and conferences around the world, presenting on all aspects of Artificial Intelligence, as well as policy, ethics, privacy, emerging technology and future work. Find out more about our AI Talks and if you would like to book Dr. John Flackett to speak at your next event, please make an Speaker Enquiry.

Artificial Intelligence Events

AiLab's Event Journal details Artificial Intelligence talks and workshops that we have delivered. We also attend events across the globe to bring you the most current news and have a listing of AI events from all over the world. Find out about the latest AI Events

Artificial Intelligence Resources

Collection of online and offline Artificial Intelligence resources, including useful information, interviews easy to digest explanations, glossary of terms, reading list and more! Learn more from our AI Resources.