ATime&Place CCO Matt Lawson to face off against ChatGPT in ‘Human vs AI’ creative panel on Wed Nov 19 in Melbourne, hosted by The Open Table

In a bid to address the most pressing topic facing today’s creative industry, Melbourne networking event The Open Table will host a panel discussion between a human Chief Creative Officer and artificial intelligence on Wednesday, November 19th at Melbourne Bowling Club in Windsor.

The conversation between Matt Lawson, Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer at ATime&Place and ChatGPT, with the aim of exploring what makes human creativity irreplaceable. The evening will be officially opened by Sarah McGregor, National Executive Creative Director, AKQA Group.

Says McGregor: “AI is without a doubt the most revolutionary and exciting new tool we’ve had at our disposal in a long time. It’s changing our world, our culture and the way we do our jobs. For all these reasons, it requires us to engage more than ever with our humanity, if we’re to use it well.”

Says Deanne Constantine, founder of Blue Bateau and networking event The Open Table – which launched in 2024 to reconnect an increasingly disconnected industry – says the focus of this year’s event reflects the industry-wide anxiety and curiosity about AI’s role in creative work: “It’s vital that our industry start to tackle these urgent conversations shaping creative careers and the future workforce,” she said. “Last year we brought people together to rebuild connections. This year, we’re bringing them together to navigate the biggest disruption our industry has ever faced. Every creative professional is asking: ‘Will AI replace me?’ It’s time to have that conversation openly.  And what better way to explore these issues than to put one of the industry’s leading human creatives up against ChatGPT?”

Lawson says while AI was certainly processing information at speed, he hoped the head-to-head discussion with ChatGPT would highlight the place that both AI, and human creativity can play in the future of the industry: “The AI will have access to every subject matter expert in the field of creativity, and AI, across human history, and I, well I will have access to a microphone. So, if I’m honest, I’m a little worried. And perhaps this mirrors some of the concerns the industry is having. How can we compete? Do we compete? How do we work together? What’s going to change? It’s a really worthy conversation. And I’m glad Deanne has chosen the home-ground of worthy human conversations, the bowls club.”

The event will maintain The Open Table’s founding principle of “no closed doors, hierarchy or agendas” – welcoming everyone from junior creatives to C-suite executives to explore this defining industry moment together.

Adds Constantine: “As we navigate this unprecedented shift in our industry, events like The Open Table are more vital than ever. The strength of our creative community lies in coming together and sharing perspectives. There’s irreplaceable value in bringing the industry face-to-face to navigate these defining moments.”

Event: The Open Table
When: Wednesday, November 19th, 6:00pm – 9:30pm
Where: Melbourne Bowling Club, 138 Union Street, Windsor
Tickets: $70pp, including Turkish barbecue, live entertainment, bowls, networking and thought-provoking industry conversation.

PURCHASE TICKETS HERE