Adelaide leading the charge in AI innovation
Across the globe, AI is changing the way we think, work and solve problems. But right here in South Australia, something special is happening. Adelaide is quickly becoming one of the country’s most exciting centres of AI innovation, powered by bold thinkers, practical builders and a community eager to lead the way.
Adelaide is emerging as a significant hub for artificial intelligence (AI) innovation, driving transformative advancements across diverse industries.
A city once known for its manufacturing roots, Adelaide is now proving itself as a launchpad for cutting-edge technology, homegrown talent, and bold thinking that’s helping redefine the future.
AI is rapidly reshaping how we live and work, and Adelaide is stepping confidently into the spotlight as a national leader in real-world AI solutions.
From classrooms and courtrooms to marketing campaigns and manufacturing lines, South Australian innovators are applying AI to solve problems that matter, and they’re doing it with creativity, care and conviction.
One of those innovators is Hamish Cameron, founder of Legal Oracle.
What began as a weekend side project has evolved into a powerful, free legal research tool that simplifies complex legislation for users across Australia and New Zealand.
Legal Oracle now processes over 1.2 million pages of legal text, delivering precise, cited answers at speed.
“There appear to be two camps, those that overestimate AI’s abilities and those that underestimate it,” Cameron said.
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“Knowing when to use AI and when not to is critically important. The AI itself isn’t the issue, it’s the quality of information you give it.”
Cameron’s platform reflects a growing movement in Adelaide: using AI to empower professionals, not replace them.
In high-stakes environments like law, where getting things wrong can have serious consequences, AI needs to be as accurate as it is fast.
Legal Oracle solves this through layered AI verification, ensuring responses are grounded in authoritative, cited sources.
This kind of thoughtful innovation is becoming a hallmark of Adelaide’s AI scene. Across the city, startups, government teams, educators and marketers are pushing boundaries with AI, but they’re doing it with care, context, and collaboration.
The result is a thriving tech culture that’s forward-looking, practical, and increasingly being recognised around the country.
What makes Adelaide’s approach unique is its emphasis on community-driven innovation.
Unlike the often-isolated tech hubs of larger cities, Adelaide’s more intimate ecosystem fosters meaningful connections between academia, government, and industry.
The University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning is a cornerstone of this community, providing both cutting-edge research and next-generation talent that flows directly into local startups and established businesses alike.
“AI Day is our chance to share our AI ideas, use and plans for the benefit of the whole community,” said Ryan Jones, one of the organisers of Digital Adelaide.
“We’re putting this on specifically because our Digital Adelaide audience asked for it, so we look forward to a great day.”
That momentum comes together at AI Day, happening Friday 16 May 2025 at The Drive.
Organised by the team behind Digital Adelaide, the city’s largest marketing conference, AI Day brings together thought leaders, trailblazers and curious minds for a full day of insights, inspiration and action.
Hamish Cameron of Legal Oracle will be speaking at AI Day in Adelaide
The speaker lineup is a celebration of Adelaide’s diverse AI talent:
- Rebecca Weber, AI Education Integration Specialist Lead, Dept of Education. Rebecca helped create EdChat, the Department’s award-winning AI chatbot developed with Microsoft, and will share lessons from bringing AI into classrooms.
- Lexie Walker, Senior Regional Marketing Director, Thomson Reuters. Lexie will reveal how global marketing teams are using AI to speed up content production, personalise messaging, and deliver smarter campaigns.
- Dr Jamie Sherrah, Inject.AI and Deep Liquid. Jamie will explore how AI is fuelling product innovation in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, helping producers make better decisions faster.
- Ryan Jones, CEO and Founder, Refuel Creative. Ryan will wrap up the day with a reflection on what we’ve learned, and some bold predictions on what’s coming next.
Plus, attendees will hear from four local marketers who will lift the lid on how they are using AI every day to boost productivity and performance.
What makes this gathering particularly significant is its timing: Adelaide stands at a pivotal moment in its technological evolution, the foundations have been laid through years of dedicated work in AI research and application.
Now, as these technologies mature and become more accessible, Adelaide has the opportunity to define its unique contribution to the global AI conversation, one that balances innovation with ethics, speed with care and technological advancement with human wellbeing.
For anyone working in business, government, education, law or tech, AI Day offers a rare window into what is possible when AI meets ambition. And it is happening right here, in the heart of South Australia.
Whether a tech enthusiast, a business leader, a policymaker, or just curious about what’s next, AI Day is a chance to see the future being built, and to be part of the conversation that shapes what comes next.
Join AI Day to celebrate Adelaide’s emerging role as Australia’s most exciting AI hub, and discover how you can be part of this extraordinary journey.
