It sounds like a quiz game to play with friends at the pub or at dinner.
What is humanity’s most important achievement?
Use of fire? metallurgy? What about the wheels? electricity? Steam engine? Internal combustion engine? What about vaccinations and antibiotics? Silicon chip? Satellite technology? internet? There are many others.
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And please wait. The greatest change-makers of our time are already here.
artificial intelligence. More generally speaking, it is AI. It’s only two letters, but its reach and impact can be felt from A to Z.
We are in a fascinating, very exciting and pivotal moment.
The AI revolution will impact every industry and current and future generations.
Change is happening at breakneck speed.
If used properly, AI can give us superpowers. However, it is not without its challenges.
All of this makes it important that governments provide the leadership and legislation needed to make the most of the opportunities ahead.
With that in mind, it is encouraging that Prime Minister Antony Albanese has indicated he will play a key role.
In a major speech Wednesday, Albanese outlined his focus on AI.
He said AI is already a part of our daily lives, saying, “AI is changing the way universities teach and the way students learn.
“It helps small business owners reduce the time they spend on paperwork, which increases productivity and accelerates discovery. It builds new screening tools for cancer and disease.
“This is a transformative and urgent priority for our defense forces and security agencies,” he said.
The government plans to establish a set of Australian standards for AI, with the aim of introducing legislation into Parliament early next year.
There will be rules about where the necessary data centers will be built and what power and water they will use.
Creative industries and news media are a key part of the strength of AI, so governments need to play their part to ensure models are as effective as possible and we all get the maximum benefit.
Importantly, Albanese acknowledged the need to protect these industries.
“Australian writers, musicians, artists and journalists must retain ownership and control of their work,” Mr Albanese said.
“The creative efforts of artists are their work and their property.
“No company should use Australian books, music, art and news to build or train AI without the control of the artist.
“That includes artists controlling the price and value of their work. Anything else is theft,” Albanese said.
Fundamental to protecting our democracy is ensuring that our people have an open and informed exchange of ideas about the topics that shape their lives.
Australian journalists and news outlets have long provided news and views related to this.
The government must provide a legal framework that allows big tech companies to use AI safely, paying them for what they use, and ensuring Australian content and jobs are protected and maximized.
