- Global tech exec and AI expert Stephen Scheeler addresses big ethical questions at Flight Centre Travel Group’s Corporate Traveller ‘Unpacked’ event roadshow
- Says gap remains in readiness for full-scale AI implementation across companies
- Urges for policy initiatives to ensure a smooth workforce transition.
Stephen Scheeler, former CEO for Australia and New Zealand at Facebook and co-founder of a leading AI company, will call for a fresh look into ethical AI practices while headlining a national Australian business event roadshow.
Speaking at Corporate Traveller’s Unpacked event roadshow in Adelaide, Stephen, now CEO of Omniscient, will explore the current state of AI, unveiling its evolving landscape and potential in front of an audience of businesses and travel industry leaders. This comes just months after the Federal Government initiated a $17 million AI program to bolster Australian businesses[1].
Corporate Traveller, the flagship SME division of Flight Centre Travel Group (FCTG), is rolling out its Unpacked event roadshow with Stephen as keynote speaker from 15-29 May across Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, and Melbourne.
The event connects industry leaders, travel agents, and businesses that travel to gain corporate insights from leading speakers and experts – with this specific series focusing on value-add and savings for Corporate Traveller customers.
During his exclusive presentation, Stephen will reveal that AI currently falls well short of alignment with human values on standardised ethical scores. He will then go on to say that while AI promises significant advancements in business travel, the ongoing debate about its ability to augment or replace human roles must persist.
Stephen will call for a stronger focus on ethical AI research to bridge existing gaps, stressing that the business travel sector must adhere to ethical standards when integrating new technologies. He points out that 26 per cent of customer contact automation is now managed by AI, though moral alignment remains inconsistent.
He also discussed research from Ipsos showing that 57 per cent of people globally believe AI will alter their job roles within five years, with 36 per cent fearing job replacement by AI in the same period.
Despite these statistics, Stephen believes AI holds boundless potential to enhance employee productivity through task automation, improved workflows, better communication, and innovation.
Tom Walley, Managing Director at Corporate Traveller, also advocated for responsible AI integration, highlighting the company’s success in augmenting concierge services without replacing human travel consultants.
“The right mix of people and technology is crucial for success within the travel industry. We have that exact blended approach proudly woven into the very fabric of our business,” Mr Walley said.“AI can enhance performance and service delivery response times by accelerating complex decision-making processes.
“For instance, Corporate Traveller has prioritised our investment in AI fuelled process automation, which has already delivered significant productivity gains, and enabled our travel consultants to focus even more on delivering outcomes that matter most for our customers.
“Further to that, the corporate division of FCTG set up an ‘AI Centre of Excellence’ globally back in November designed to strategically harness the power of AI to revolutionise our flagship corporate businesses, by enriching customer experiences, boosting employee productivity, and more.”
Corporate Traveller’s Unpacked series offers customers travel insights and hacks through webinars and in-person events; and its regular market research uncovers business travel behaviours and needs to help businesses make informed decisions around travel, meetings and events.
Stephen Scheeler will speak at Corporate Traveller’s Unpacked event roadshow on 21 May in Melbourne, 22 May in Sydney and 29 May in Brisbane.
ENDS
About Corporate Traveller
Corporate Traveller is an award-winning business travel management and solutions provider for SMEs, operating in six global markets. Established in 1993 as Flight Centre Travel Group’s first corporate brand, Corporate Traveller has offered its personalised service, expert tailored advice, dedicated travel consultants, and advanced booking technology to more than 6500 Australian business customers. Offering an all-in-one innovative booking platform with the support of a personal travel consultant, Corporate Traveller makes travel simpler, faster, and easier for businesses. With a wide range of solutions available, Corporate Traveller can cater for simple requirements through to the most complex SME business travel management needs. For more information or to book a business consultation, visit corporatetraveller.com.au
[1] https://www.minister.industry.gov.au/ministers/husic/media-releases/supporting-australian-businesses-adopt-ai