From streaming recommendations to wildfire prediction, AI is already part of our lives. These technologies are getting stronger and more popular all the time, as the impact of ChatGPT over the past six months shows.
New AI technologies can grow economies and improve lives, but they can also come with risks. Australians need to trust AI to be used ethically, safely and responsibly.
We have a strong foundation for Australia to become a leader in responsible AI. In 2019, our country was one of the earliest countries to adopt the Artificial Intelligence Ethics Framework. The framework includes voluntary ethical principles to ensure the safety, security, and trustworthiness of AI applications. We have tested these principles with some of Australia’s largest companies such as Commonwealth Bank, NAB, Microsoft and Telstra.
But as AI innovation accelerates, we need to ensure that we can continue to harness AI while protecting Australians.
Many other countries are already considering new governance arrangements to ensure AI is used responsibly.
That’s why we’re asking for your input on what else the Australian government can do to support the safe and responsible use of AI. It could be through either or both of the following:
- Voluntary approach including tools, frameworks and principles
- Enforceable regulatory approaches such as laws and mandatory standards.
We will use your feedback to discuss appropriate regulatory and policy responses across government. These will build on the government’s existing multi-million dollar investment in responsible AI through the 2023-2024 budget.
Appropriate governance measures will ensure public trust in AI and allow Australia to realize the benefits of these technologies.
Let us know what you think in our consultation hub. Submissions close on July 26, 2023.
