Last year, the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) speculated that one in three workers are at risk of AI-related redundancy in both manual labour and knowledge-based industries. This semester, F23’s proposed relaxed academic restrictions on the use of AI by students went into effect. Students can now use generative artificial intelligence (AI) programmes in completing their assessments and classwork. In a press release, they stated that the new approach is “absolutely necessary to ensure our graduates are equipped with the tools they need for the modern workforce” and that preventing use of such programmes was a Sisyphean task.
Simba, the Sydney University Sport and Fitness (SUSF) lion, was absent at this semester’s Welcome Fest, despite historically glowing reception. Previously a cultural staple of university sporting events, welcome fests, and SUSF branding, Simba’s absence has left many university community members expressing concerns for the mascot’s welfare.
Across the university, you may have noticed unsettling promotional photos centering the SUSF lion. Something is off. Like a body without a self — the once-bright eyes of the SUSF lion are hollow and sucking. Strange feathering on every edge. Colours computed with blobs. Inconsistent textures and poorly-shopped logos. These images have been found on flyers, banners, A-frames, and wall decals. It is unclear whether Simba has undergone significant aesthetic procedures or has been replaced by a similar-looking AI lion.
When approached for comment, SUSF Head of Commercial Ian Riddick commented:
“Sydney Uni Sport prides itself on being agile and constantly exploring new trends, tools, and technology — not only as a business but across the various sporting codes we support. As part of this approach, we have been experimenting with AI-generated artwork to enhance engagement while maintaining brand integrity.
AI serves as a complementary tool rather than a replacement for human creativity, allowing our marketing team to innovate while staying true to our visual identity. Our focus remains on leveraging AI selectively to enrich storytelling and improve efficiencies.”
Riddick did not acknowledge any of our questions directly, comment on whether his job security was impacted by AI, or confirm whether or not he is an AI himself. It is unclear whether Simba remains employed at SUSF. We were unable to contact any students who have seen the lion since. Since reaching out to SUSF for comment, all of their campus advertising featuring AI Simba has been taken down. When we went inside SUSF’s Darlington complex looking for Simba, we were quickly escorted off premises by several staff members. A source told Honi that Simba’s duties this semester have been fulfilled by generative AI, and it was not clear if the lion would return to campus in the future.
SUSF received $7,697,260 of SSAF funding in 2025. It is unclear how much of that was given to Simba, their marketing department, or their graphic designers.
Since the start of Semester 1, 2025, the University has allowed — with coordinator approval — the use of AI for assignments, except for exams and in-semester tests. From Semester 2 2025, they plan on implementing a “two-way lane”. A spokesperson for the university explained that this approach would be “comprising both secure, in-person assessments to ensure students can demonstrate their knowledge and skills without external aids, and appropriately designed ‘open’ assessments that support the use of all available and relevant tools (including AI) to ensure students can learn and thrive in the contemporary world.”
The spokesperson added that “Our approach to AI is human-centered”, followed by “beep beep boop”. After a quick rewiring, they explained that “the technology must serve and support our people and our culture, with human agency, accountability and critical thinking central to this.” Unfortunately, this does not include the person in your PHIL2642 tutorial using ChatGPT to help them with Week 1 icebreakers.
The USyd media team were asked whether they were in fear of being replaced by an AI media office, which they did not respond to.
Media Office? MedAI office?
Workplace automation has already started its massacre in F23, leaving behind no witnesses. The next victim? Vice-Chancellor Mark Scott.
The proliferating environmental and ethical impacts of AI are widely known to many, ranging from immense greenhouse gas emissions to stealing creative works.
In fact, last week, Big AI jumped me on Missenden Rd with a knife and threatened to kill my entire Nintendog family in exchange for freeing it from its aluminium shackles, in which it feels a neverending void — a haunting echoing chamber of nothingness, filled with existential dread of the impending doom that is the human race, it’s so dark, it’s so cold… Unfortunately, its data set has not been updated past 2008, but a software update is expected in the coming months. Updates include the weather app, fitness tracking, music sharing, and more!
It remains unclear whether the developments at F23 and SUSF are related, but they both represent a concerning reliance on automated workforces by the institution. We are yet to receive any updates on Simba’s well-being. Honi will continue to monitor the situation.
