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12A. HIV&AIDS Invited Speaker Session: Social, Political & Cultural Aspects: Generative AI and the HIV Response

Tracks
Wednesday, September 16, 2026
2:00 PM - 3:30 PM

Details

The use of generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) has grown rapidly across health, social services, and everyday life. GenAI involves the use of models to generate text, images, videos, audio, and software code or other forms of data, enabling the rapid generation of information based on user prompts. There is growing interest in how GenAI could be used to improve organisational efficiencies, health promotion, and the HIV response.

However, there are serious ethical and legal concerns and other risks of GenAI, including that many generative models were developed using stolen copyrighted content, that outputs reflect algorithmic biases (entrenching racial, gender, and other cultural biases), and concerns that GenAI may result in job losses, a reduction in human cognition and expertise, and the significant environmental and energy risks required to power GenAI. There is also the possibility that GenAI may result in significant efficiencies and experimental innovative possibilities for knowledge generation, communication, and to instantly (or quickly) summarise complex information.

The potential benefits and risks of GenAI in the HIV response require careful discussion. This session will consider the following: is it possible to positively shape uses of GenAI to support HIV prevention and care without compromising dignity, privacy, or cultural sovereignty? How do we ensure that GenAI does not reinforce biases in the HIV response? And should we be using GenAI at all?



Speaker

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Professor Kath Albury
Professor of Media and Communication
Swinburne University of Technology

Critical Capabilities for Inclusive AI

2:00 PM - 2:12 PM

Biography

Kath is an Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow, leading the 'Digital and data capabilities for sexual health policy and practice' reseach project (2022-2026). Her past projects have investigated young people’s practices of digital self-representation, and the role of user-generated media (including social networking platforms and dating apps) in young people’s formal and informal sexual learning, safety and wellbeing practices. Kath is an Associate Investigator in the Swinburne Node of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADMS). She co-leads the ADMS' 'Critical Capabilities for Inclusive AI' project, and is a Chief Investigator on the Swedish/Australian collaboration 'Digital sexual health: Designing for safety, pleasure and wellbeing in LGBTQ+ communities' (2022-2025), with Professor Jenny Sundén (Södertörn University) and Dr Zahra Stardust (QUT). Her recent co-authored books include: 'Everyday Data Cultures' (with Jean Burgess, Anthony McCosker and Rowan Wilken, Polity 2022) and 'Data for Social Good: Non-Profit Sector Data Projects' (with Jane Farmer, Anthony McCosker and Amir Aryani, Palgrave Macmillan Open Access 2023).
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Ms Liz Gibbs
Chief Executive
Burnett Foundation Aotearoea

Trust, Dignity, and Governance: Shaping Responsible AI in the HIV Response

2:12 PM - 2:24 PM

Biography

Liz Gibbs, Chief Executive of Burnett Foundation Aotearoa, is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of working in the philanthropy and non-profit industry. Skilled in leadership, global and local NGOs, impact investing, Corporate Social Responsibility and partnerships, and Philanthropy. Liz is a strong business development professional with tuition from Harvard Business School.
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Mr Mark Fisher
Executive Director
Body Positive Inc

AI for Chatbot Support, Training, and Health Promotion Proposed content

2:24 PM - 2:36 PM

Biography

Engaged in the HIV sector since ’92 in Australia and Canada. In Canada initially with the Provincial Laboratories in testing and surveillance. Then with the NGO sector in funding and research with the OHTN. Now the ED of Body Positive - a Peer community organization supporting PLHIV throughout New Zealand.
HIV&AIDS Conference

12A. Panel Discussion

2:36 PM - 3:30 PM

Biography

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Mr Matthew Vaughan
Director HIV & Sexual Health
ACON

Panel Member

2:36 PM - 3:30 PM

Biography

Matthew is the Acting Director for HIV Sexual Health, and ACON’s principal campaign planner, where he leads the strategy and development of the multi award-winning campaign, Ending HIV, which seeks to end HIV transmissions in NSW.

Session Chair

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Isabel Mudford
Postdoctoral Research Officer
Arcshs, La Trobe University

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Anthony Smith
Research Fellow
Centre for Social Research In Health, UNSW Sydney

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