SingularityU was founded by entrepreneur Peter Diamandis and futurist Ray Kurzweil in 2008, in Palo Alto, Silicon Valley.

Who funds SU?

It's funded through a variety of sources, including investor, sponsor and user-pay models.

Its mission?

To educate, empower and inspire global leaders to use exponential technologies to solve humanity's Global Grand Challenges (GGCs). There are 12 GGCs including learning, water, energy and governance, closely aligned to the United Nations Seventeen Sustainable Development Goals. Exponential technologies (robotics, artificial Intelligence, AR, VR, 3-D Printing, sensors, drones, autonomous vehicles) allow us to scale solutions globally. The convergence of technologies allows us to achieve once impossible outcomes. Quadriplegics, immersed in AR and VR, immersed in a virtual reality where they walk, run and move freely, have moved limbs using exoskeleton suits after three months. After seven months they experienced limb movement without the suit. When you inspire with the reality of possibility, other possibilities are created.

SU is "a platform for education and action, focused on understanding how exponential technology can be leveraged to drive global impact". Define exponential?

Doubling. Instead of taking linear steps, 1,2,3,4, we double our capacity 2,4,8,16. Simply put, it means you reach further, faster.

Who can access SU?

Everyone. We have meetings and programs that are free and others that are high cost. Some of our high cost programs fund scholarships. It's a nice model.

What academic qualifications does SU offer and are they recognised?

SingularityU is not an accredited university. The rate of change in our world makes keeping up with accreditation impossible. Our standards are high, our online programs superbly resourced. Our programs are researched and written by vigilant teams, themselves on a continuous learning trajectory. We move fast, with consideration, agility and collaboration. We work with accredited universities, collaborate with organisations. Our global partners, including Google, Deloitte and Microsoft, are testament to SU's recognition.

What are its programs?

Chapters are volunteer organisations that run free or low-cost events. The Newcastle Chapter was the first in Australia (we are now six). We have run educationals and collaborated with OceanEarth to clean up Newcastle Beach. Start-ups and scale-ups can enter the Global Impact Challenge. If you have a Moonshot idea that addresses one or more of the GGCs and uses technology to scale, you fit the criteria. There is no entry fee and SU doesn't take equity. Low cost digital online programs run from four to 12 weeks and educate on culture, exponentials, transformative thinking and take an idea to action. Our executive, customised programs run from 3-5 days and attract C-Suites, government and education representatives, managers, entrepreneurs and SMEs. These programs are transformative, with high investment and potential for high ROI. We have customised employee training programs. Our faculty are global thought-leaders, achievers, doers.

Who benefits?

Everyone. When you experience a mind-set shift, it ripples through your family, your community, your business, your country. We are a global organisation, constantly communicating with our international colleagues. In August we are taking our team to an SU Leadership Forum in Santa Clara. The collaborative nature of the organisation means everyone benefits.

Why be involved?

A colleague said, "once you've seen it, you can't unsee it". Once you realise what has been achieved and that we are limited only by self-placed limitations, once you 'get' how collaboration can benefit humanity, your whole outlook, beliefs and behaviours change. SU has high standards and a record of high achievement.

The aim of the SingularityU Australia summit in Sydney in October?

To educate, empower and inspire on a large scale. We bring like-minded people together to experience possibility. We build relationships beyond the summit through experiential opportunities and smaller curated gatherings. Global research and knowledge are available over the two days that would take years to acquire. We also discuss what's possible for Australia. At the end, you become SU alumni and can access many resources.

How will the future workforce benefit from SU?

Once we imagine where we are going, we can map first then order consequences. Driverless vehicles will affect government revenue from fines, insurance companies who won't be required to insure cars, panel-beaters who won't repair many cars, transportation. Once we map consequences, we can map solutions. A 1960s McKinsey report said 'Technology destroys jobs but not the work'. Nothing has really changed. Now, with foresight, we have the capacity to redesign the workforce before it becomes redundant.