Georgina Bond
Steve Sammartino
Steve Sammartino, a technologist and Australia’s leading futurist, says artificial intelligence (AI) is less a threat and more a “language-based revolution” set to reshape business and society.
And as he opened today’s LawFest Conference in Auckland, Sammartino said that while AI offers powerful tools, it needs careful oversight – a responsibility where lawyers play a crucial role.
“The AI job apocalypse is laughable,” Sammartino said. “There is always a hack and a path, and lawyers are the masters of finding it.”
While AI was imperfect, it “would be perfect most of the time,” and the real skill was learning to prompt it effectively – something lawyers are already good at, Sammartino said.
The most important technology in human history
Sammartino traced technological revolutions through from cars to televisions, the internet, smartphones, and now AI, saying each innovation arrived twice as fast as the last.
Generative AI was just the start of the AI revolution, he said.
He predicted the next phase would include ‘agent AI’ that could autonomously achieve objectives, and that humanoid robots that will be common and affordable by the next decade.
“Everyone in this room is going to have a humanoid robot by 2030, and it will be less than the cost of a small car,” he said.
“You will train it, and unlike your kids, you’ll only have to tell it once.”
He said he was often asked if he was scared about robots becoming too human.
“Yes, in the sense that would mean they might become lazy like us.”
In the “dichotomy economy” up ahead, lawyers would need to be clear about what services within their business structure would be automated, and what would be provided by a human.
Issues such as agentic liability, biometric copyright and synthetic relationships would emerge as the AI revolution progressed.
But it would be an ally for businesses and organisations quick and brave enough to embrace it.
He urged lawyers to combine strategy with boldness and storytelling as they navigated AI:
“Knowledge is great, but courage is better.
“It’s not about technology, it’s about strategy. You have to sell the story. People want to know you are on the edge and leading something.”
Sammartino said human connection would always be paramount.
“Sometimes, where something is from is more important than what it is. People want to meet you, look you in the eye and shake your hand in the human way. Never forget the reason we do things is for each other.”
Steve Sammartino at LawFest 2026
Read LawFest’s earlier interview with Steve Sammartino, where he talks about how legal professionals are well positioned to guide the ethical and practical use of AI: The futurist showing lawyers they are still at the controls in an AI age – Law News
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