Dates and Times
02 April 2026
12:30 - 13:30
Event for
Location
Organiser
Centre for Cultural and Creative Research (CCCR), Faculty of Art and Design
Enquiry
Centre for Cultural and Creative Research (CCCR)
Event about:
Culture and Creativity Seminar – Robotic Musicianship: Trust, Failure, and Agency in Creative AI
Speaker: Richard Savery
Date\Time: Thursday 2 April 2026, 12:30-13:30
Location: Building 1 Level A Room 1A21, University of Canberra (NB Room 1a21 is accessed from the foyer joining Building 1 and Mizzuna café);
or Zoom: http://zoom.us/j/95029077504
Abstract
This presentation reintroduces robotic musicianship as a way of understanding human–AI interaction through musical practice and performance. It begins with Savery’s recent work with Jen Music, a generative music start-up exploring ethical dataset construction, attribution, and transparency in AI training. It then turns to a DECRA project on robotic musicianship, which investigates long-term interaction, group dynamics, and trust in human–AI collaboration. From this broader agenda, three recent projects are presented: failure and ambiguity in creative AI, AI understanding of expert saxophone practice, and agency in AI-assisted lyric writing. Together, these projects position music as a testbed for more human-centered AI.
All are welcome!
Bio
Richard Savery develops AI and robotics, using music and creativity to design richer interactions between humans and machines. He is currently an ARC DECRA Fellow (2026–2028) at the University of Canberra, researching robots and AI for long-term use and group interaction. Previously, he was a Research Fellow at Macquarie University, where he built robotic musicians that could rap and drum with human performers, and later worked at Jen Music on high-fidelity, ethically trained AI music systems. His work has attracted $3.8 million in funding and been featured by Scientific American, BBC Radio, and Disney+.
Dr Savery is the recipient of an Australian Research Council Australian Discovery Early Career Award ( DE250100275) funded by the Australian Government.
Interested audience can see examples at www.richardsavery.com
The Culture and Creativity Seminar Series is hosted by the Centre for Cultural and Creative Research (CCCR), Faculty of Arts and Design, University of Canberra. To discover upcoming seminars, please follow us on Facebook @uccccr, or Instagram and Twitter @uc_cccr. Alternatively, join our mailing list by emailing cccr@canberra.edu.au.
Any questions and accessibility requests please contact: cccr@canberra.edu.au.
UC acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, traditional custodians of the lands where Bruce campus is situated. We wish to acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of Canberra and the region. We also acknowledge all other First Nations Peoples on whose lands we gather.