158 Lab

Founder David Masterton runs 158 Lab from Hobart as the AI consulting arm of his business. It serves organisations across Australia, with remote work available nationally and on-site visits in Tasmania. The firm sees AI as a way to extend what people can do, so staff education sits at the centre of its offer.

Engagements often begin with a readiness review. This looks at current tools, data, team skills and processes, then ranks where AI could help first. Hands-on workshops follow, covering how the main chatbot models work, how to write good prompts and how to link AI to software a team already uses. For repetitive tasks such as quoting, intake, reporting or data entry, the firm designs and deploys a tailored workflow and hands over documentation.

Larger clients can commission a broader integration that pairs an AI strategy with the systems and staff adoption needed to support it. Scope ranges from a short discovery and build sprint to integration work that runs over several months. Businesses that already run AI workflows can keep the firm on a monthly retainer, with the founder acting as a part-time AI director who reviews and improves those systems. Every engagement is scoped before work starts.