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From 19 to 24 August 2026, Curtin University celebrated its inaugural Festival of Artificial Intelligence (AI). The festival featured presenters from across the University showcasing different use cases, lessons learnt and exploring how the technology impacts the way we work and learn. Library staff delivered two sessions at the event that challenged attendees to reflect more deeply on their use of generative artificial intelligence (Gen-AI).
Lydia Dawe, Copyright Officer at Curtin University, was up first with her presentation, Navigating Gen-AI and copyright at Australian universities. With humour, Lydia recounted the developmental journey of the tools many of us use daily and the many laws that were sidestepped (if not outright broken – court cases continue) to enable them to learn. Gen-AI and copyright are awkward bedfellows. In many ways, they stand in direct opposition, and Lydia deftly explained the challenges Australian universities face in using these tools while respecting the intellectual property rights of human creators. The presentation encouraged spirited discussion, plenty of questions and reflection among attendees.
The Library’s second presenter was Emily McNamee, Project Coordinator at Curtin University Library, who is currently leading a project to increase AI literacy among Curtin University’s students. Emily’s presentation was titled Who’s actually in the loop? Self-regulated learning as the foundation for AI literacy. The session explored Emily’s experience of helping students develop their AI literacy skills and how student questions about Gen-AI often reveal a deeper question or information need. Emily explained how the Library’s Gen-AI workshops support students to develop their critical thinking, become more information literate and understand the authority of knowledge – all skills that empower them to use Gen-AI critically in their learning.
A big thank you to Lydia and Emily for prompting thoughtful reflection, and to the festival organisers for bringing together such a broad range of conversations about AI.
Written by Claire Murphy, Deputy Director, Learning and Library Experience
