Helping Demystify AI Tools and Spark Meaningful Conversation

We recently had the pleasure of delivering a dynamic and engaging workshop at the Regional Economic Development & Investment Workshop hosted in Sydney. With a room full of local government professionals from across regional NSW, we explored how Artificial Intelligence can empower councils to boost productivity, communicate smarter, and unlock new efficiencies — all without overwhelming their teams.

It was an hour packed with insight, interaction… and a good dose of humour.

Watch the recap here …

Breaking the Ice with Chatto

We kicked off the session by introducing Chatto, our AI sidekick with a uniquely Aussie personality. A playful intro that helped lighten the room and dismantle any hesitation around the topic. If the idea of AI felt intimidating at first, it didn’t for long — laughter broke the silence, and from there, the session took on a truly collaborative energy.

A Global Glimpse into What’s Next

We shared real-world examples of AI already transforming industries, from Waymo’s autonomous ride-share experience to Google’s new Veo 3 video generation capabilities. These moments helped set the scene for what’s possible — not five years from now, but right now.

Hands-On with Brand Codex, Multimodal AI, and Image Generation

The workshop’s core was built around three interactive demos, each showing how AI can integrate directly into the way councils already work:

• The Brand Engine™: We demonstrated how a well-structured Brand Codex — in this case, based on Lake Macquarie City Council — can train AI to write on-brand content in seconds, from blog posts to investor emails.
• Multimodal AI in Action: We explored how AI tools like ChatGPT and Copilot can now process text, images, and documents — summarising strategic plans, interpreting visual input, and handling complex briefs with remarkable speed.
• Image Generation: A highlight for many was seeing how an AI can generate conceptual visuals from a single sentence. Clean-tech business parks by the lake, bustling foreshore festivals, or smart city precincts — all created on the spot.

Comfortable Conversation and Candid Questions

One of the most rewarding aspects of the workshop was the open dialogue. Attendees asked questions freely, shared their own AI experiments, and leaned in with curiosity rather than caution.

The session wasn’t about preaching the future — it was about demystifying the present and giving people real tools they could start using now.

Ethics, Security & Microsoft Copilot

We also addressed the big questions: data privacy, security, and responsible AI usage in the public sector. We touched on Microsoft’s Responsible AI Principles and the trusted framework behind Microsoft 365 Copilot — helping councils understand how they can explore AI safely within existing systems.

Ending with Ideas, Laughter, and a Clear Next Step

We wrapped with an engaging Q&A, which ranged from the highly technical to the delightfully philosophical. From ethical concerns to “how do I get started?”, the discussion underscored a shared eagerness to experiment.

And most importantly, we ended where every great session should — with smiles, shared insights, and a clearer sense of possibility.

A Civic AI Engine in the Making?

As we continue our mission at psyborg® — blending creativity with logic — this workshop reaffirmed what we’ve suspected all along: councils are ready. What they need is a bridge between complex tech and real-world outcomes.

We’re proud to be building that bridge, one Codex and one conversation at a time.

Read more: Where is your Brand Positioned? >>

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Cheers Daniel