Voice of Australia | AI Workshop

The recap of MASCAvoice's first ever ground event!

New Horizons

On the 29th of July 2026, MASCAvoice organised its first ever ground event in collaboration with the Consulate General of Malaysia and Study Melbourne — The MASCAvoice 2026 AI Workshop. The event held at the Study Melbourne Hub saw a full house of 35+ attendees and hosted several industry experts and names popular among Melbournians. Following welcome speeches, a keynote session on AI's impact on the future workforce and society was conducted by world-renowned academic Professor Dr. Mohd Saberi, who is also the current Chief Executive Officer and Director of the Institute for Data Innovation and Artificial Intelligence (IDEA-AI) in Victoria, Australia and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

The key impetus for the AI boom is clear: We must leverage its capabilities, but only in an effective and responsible manner. Upon concluding the AI presentation, attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions directly to Professor Saberi, with the IDEA-AI CEO further elaborating on AI's implication on career development.

"AI must be used responsibly and productively as misuse will only be detrimental to our cognitive abilities," said Professor Saberi in response to a question on the overdependence on AI by former MASCAvoice Editor in Chief, Chris Chua. Thus, attendees were able to learn about the strengths and limitations of AI, as well as how we can fully utilise its potential to reshape important aspects of our daily lives.

A Taste of Home

Upon concluding his keynote session, the Consulate General of Malaysia — Mr. Nik Muhammad — presented Professor Saberi with a token of appreciation to commemorate the enlightening session. Attendees and special guests also took the chance to indulge in meaningful networking sessions alongside some homemade Malaysian cuisine following the event. Some audience favorites consisted of satay, Malay crackers, kuih, and many more, marking the end of a welcoming and insightful experience for all attendees and the wider organising committee.