Episode 1: Introduction — This is the first episode of Steering Deliberately Into Disruption, a field briefing on AI for the Superyacht and broader Maritime Industries. Delivered to hundreds of industry leaders internationally in Australia and the United States, this series guides you through understanding AI's profound impact on our sector and how to navigate this transformation with confidence.
What is Going On?
The speed that AI is infiltrating our lives is keeping many of us up at night. From deepfakes imitating public figures to self-driving vehicles and constant surveillance in some regions, we're witnessing a technological transformation unlike anything before.
We're in a collective societal crisis where we are all grappling with what these new technologies mean for us—our norms, our morals, and the things we protect: education, intellectual property, the environment, our livelihoods, our children, and the equitable distribution of wealth.
A Fourth Industrial Revolution
Artificial intelligence represents one of the most profound societal shifts that we'll witness in our lifetimes. Sundar Pichai, Google's CEO, believes it's potentially more transformative than electricity or fire—what industry leaders are calling a fourth industrial revolution, and it's coming at us fast.
Chris Lehane, Chief Policy Officer at OpenAI, has said that this upheaval is less likely to happen over 10 years, and more likely to happen within five. It took the internet 10 years to get to where generative AI got to in only two.
Global Policy Landscape
The regulatory environment is evolving rapidly:
- —United States: In July 2025, President Trump released a strategic action plan accelerating AI approval processes and framing American AI leadership as a strategic national imperative
- —European Union: Passed the world's first AI law, imposing safeguards on AI model builders to protect EU citizens
- —Australia: Released national AI policy guidelines in October 2024, pushing businesses toward adoption—a significant shift from previous risk-averse policies
About the Presenter
Kristina Agustin has spent 20 years in the international superyacht industry—the first decade as crew, the second in large yacht operations, legal, and management. As a qualified Australian lawyer and fleet business consultant, she navigates contracts, insurance, regulations, and relationships to achieve the highest industry standards.
Six years ago, after relocating back to Australia, Kristina started a digital agency focused on web development, uniquely positioning her to see the transformative wave of AI coming. She pursued a Masters in AI, completed executive education at UC Berkeley, became an AWS AI practitioner, and a certified CPD AI Trainer and consultant.
What This Industry Briefing Covers
- How we got here and what these technologies are—because to know what you can do with AI, you need a basic picture of how it works
- Use cases from the broader maritime sector and AI applications for each industry sub-sector
- Considerations: Security, responsible AI practices, environmental impact, and return on investment
- Where to start: Practical guidance for your organisation
"My goal is to help you steer deliberately into this disruption."