AI Day 2026: Engineering with AI
- Thursday 22 Oct 2026
- 9:30am - 3:30pm
- University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton, Rooms SG.02 and SG.03
- Registration is FREE but required for attendance.
Thursday 22 Oct 2026
9:30am - 3:30pm
University of Waikato, Hillcrest Road, Hamilton, Rooms SG.02 and SG.03
Registration is FREE but required for attendance.
At its core, AI Day 2026 asks a simple but important question: How will engineers work with AI, and how should New Zealand’s engineering profession prepare for what comes next?
Agentic AI, Engineering Practice and the Future of Work in New Zealand
AI Day 2026 explores the next stage of artificial intelligence in engineering: moving from AI as a supporting tool to AI as an active part of engineering workflows. Now in its third year, the event will bring together engineers, researchers, industry leaders and technology practitioners to examine how applied AI and agentic AI are reshaping engineering practice in New Zealand.
The programme will focus on practical applications across design, analysis, modelling, coding, project delivery, asset management and decision-making, while also exploring the emergence of AI agents capable of undertaking multi-step tasks, coordinating workflows and interacting with engineering data and software. Alongside the opportunities, AI Day 2026 will address the impact of these technologies on the New Zealand workplace, including productivity, changing skills and roles, professional accountability, governance, data security and human oversight.
The event will feature keynote presentations, industry case studies, applied research and panel discussions, providing a practical and forward-looking perspective on how engineers and organisations can adopt AI responsibly and effectively.
Engineering Design Show 2026
Attendees will be able to visit the annual Waikato Engineering Design Show (EDS) (opens in a new tab) as part of the days programme. EDS is the highlight of our internationally recognised professional engineering degree programmes, showcasing innovative projects in which our students design, build, and test new products, structures, and solutions in response to real-world problems that matter to people both in New Zealand and overseas.
