Research
Research documents and findings from BRAIN
Our Research
BRAIN conducts ongoing research into the impact of artificial intelligence on the Ballarat region. Our research is governed by our Advisory Board, which is a broad section of the community with skills, knowledge, and ideas about the future.
Below are our key publications and research findings.
AI Hardware Setup Guide
2025
A comprehensive guide helping businesses choose the right AI hardware setup without needing technical expertise. This practical resource breaks down AI infrastructure into five budget tiers (from $2K to $50K+), providing detailed hardware specifications, use cases, and decision-making frameworks. The guide addresses key questions about model requirements, inference vs. training needs, and helps organizations understand what's possible at each investment level - from simple chatbots to full-scale language model training capabilities. This project was completed by students from Federation University as part of their Industry Project subject, sponsored and guided by Dr Rob Layton from BRAIN.
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The Impact of AI on the broader Ballarat Region
2025
This position paper explores how AI advancements will affect the Ballarat region, examining job displacement risks, economic transformation opportunities, and strategies to manage the transition. The document highlights how the current wave of AI will impact professional workers unlike previous automation waves that primarily affected blue-collar jobs, and provides recommendations for leveraging AI while reducing negative impacts.
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The Social Licence to use AI
2025
This research report examines the social and ethical dimensions of AI adoption in the Ballarat region. Key findings highlight inadequate infrastructure and skills for AI adoption, major concerns about ethical impacts and data privacy, and fears around job displacement. The research specifically notes that 64% of healthcare professionals identified data privacy as a significant concern, while 71% raised issues about fairness and accountability in AI systems.
Download PDFUpcoming Research
Our research team is currently working on additional studies focusing on:
- Industry-specific AI adoption strategies for the Ballarat region
- AI literacy and education needs assessment
- Regional infrastructure requirements for AI integration
Check back for updates or contact us to learn more about our ongoing research initiatives.