Human vs AI: The Open Table Puts Creativity on Trial in Melbourne
Melbourne's The Open Table is hosting a bold live debate next month: a human chief creative officer versus artificial intelligence. Matt Lawson, co-founder and chief creative officer at ATime&Place, will go head-to-head with ChatGPT to interrogate a tough question for every creative: is creativity replaceable?
The evening will open with remarks from Sarah McGregor, national executive creative director at AKQA Group. The format stays true to The Open Table's core principle of "no closed doors, hierarchy or agendas," welcoming everyone from juniors to C-suite.
Why this matters to creatives
AI is forcing a reset in how creative work gets made, judged, and sold. As McGregor put it, "AI is without a doubt the most revolutionary and exciting new tool we've had at our disposal in a long time… it requires us to engage more than ever with our humanity, if we're to use it well."
Deanne Constantine, founder of The Open Table and Blue Bateau, says the focus reflects the questions many are wrestling with: "Every creative professional is asking: 'Will AI replace me?' It's time to have that conversation openly."
- Find the line between idea generation at scale and human taste, judgment, and originality.
- Get practical about workflow: what to automate, what to craft by hand, and where collaboration with AI makes sense.
- Reduce risk: protect authenticity, avoid sameness, and keep ethics and IP front of mind.
- Turn uncertainty into a plan for your role, your team, and your clients.
What the debate will dig into
Lawson is candid about the stakes: "The AI will have access to every subject matter expert in the field of creativity and across human history, and I, well, I will have access to a microphone… How can we compete? Do we compete? How do we work together? What's going to change?" Expect a frank, practical discussion that goes beyond hot takes.
Who should attend
- Designers, writers, art directors, creative technologists, strategists, producers.
- Agency leaders and brand-side teams building AI policies or upskilling roadmaps.
- Students and juniors looking for real-world direction on where to focus.
Event details
- Date: Wednesday, 19 November 2025
- Time: 6:00 pm - 9:30 pm
- Venue: Melbourne Bowling Club, 138 Union Street, Windsor
- Tickets: $70 per person, including Turkish barbecue, live entertainment, and bowls
Make the night count
- Bring 1-2 live project challenges you'd like to test with and without AI.
- Leave with a shortlist of tasks to hand to AI and a sharper brief for what your human craft does best.
If you want structured ways to build AI fluency for creative roles, explore practical courses here: AI courses by job.
The Open Table exists to bring the creative community face-to-face to work through defining questions together. This conversation is one of them.
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