Laurel Papworth

Metaverse strategist and AI educator helping organisations navigate three decades of digital transformation — from early online communities to ChatGPT

Overview

Laurel Papworth has been at the frontier of digital culture since the early internet — building and managing online communities from the late 1980s, running virtual worlds for Sony and major reality TV franchises, and becoming one of Forbes' Top 50 Social Media Influencers globally. That deep foundational expertise in how humans behave online has evolved into her current focus: artificial intelligence, the metaverse and Web3 — she's taught AI subjects at the University of Sydney since 2008, and now licenses her own AI course, "AI Is My CoPilot," through the Australian Institute of Management.

In 2005, drawing on her background in virtual currencies, Laurel filed a patent for decentralised currency — three years before Bitcoin. She's since consulted for organisations including Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Sony, Parliament House Australia, and various banks, translating complex, fast-moving technology into practical strategy for governments and global brands alike.

Career Highlights

• Named Forbes' Top 50 Social Media Influencer globally

• Filed a patent for decentralised currency in 2005 — three years ahead of Bitcoin

• Taught AI subjects (behavioural, semantic, computer vision) at the University of Sydney since 2008

• Creator of "AI Is My CoPilot," licensed through the Australian Institute of Management

• Consulted for Facebook, Google, Microsoft, Sony, Parliament House Australia and major banks

• 22,000+ students across her online courses

• Delivered keynotes on the metaverse since 2005

Key Speaking Themes

• Artificial intelligence and generative AI (ChatGPT, Copilot) for business

• The metaverse, Web3, NFTs and blockchain

• Virtual worlds, gaming and immersive digital communities

• Building engaged communities across digital platforms

• Responsible and ethical AI adoption

Signature Talks

• AI Is My CoPilot — practical, hands-on generative AI strategy for teams, covering responsible use, prompting and real business applications

• Metaverse Odyssey — how the metaverse is genuinely changing the business landscape, beyond the hype

• Alchemical Innovation — how AI can spark creativity and drive fresh business solutions

What Your Audience Will Gain

Audiences get practical, hands-on guidance from someone who has been building and studying digital communities since before most attendees were online — grounded in real, current experience with generative AI tools, not secondhand commentary. Laurel is known for making genuinely complex, fast-moving technology accessible and immediately usable.

Ideal For

• AI and technology conferences

• Marketing and digital transformation events

• Government and public sector briefings

• Corporate AI/ChatGPT training and workshops