Situation: Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools are widely available and are transforming how knowledge work is conducted globally, yet AI adoption in research across Australasia remains somewhat limited. Researchers face a landscape of challenges that limit the adoption of AI in the research lifecycle, including concerns around data privacy and sovereignty, ethical oversight, accuracy and reproducibility, bias, intellectual property management and copyright, infrastructure limitations, the environmental impact of large-scale AI models, and more. Task: In this BoF session, we will discuss these barriers through the lens of real-world experiences from our institutions. We will share case studies that demonstrate how some of these challenges have been addressed through innovative solutions, guidelines, and awareness. We will also highlight how emerging tools and ready-to-use infrastructure can lower the barrier to entry for researchers and provide a safe environment to use and experiment with AI. Action: Our goal is to coordinate a collaborative discussion on how cross-institutional initiatives may benefit wider AI adoption in research. Together, we will identify opportunities for cross-institutional initiatives to accelerate AI literacy, infrastructure readiness, and policy/guidelines alignment across the region. Result: Whether you are an AI enthusiast or a cautious sceptic, this session offers a space to share experiences, exchange ideas, and learn from one another, so we can better support researchers and collectively advance the adoption of AI in research.