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The Australian Government recognises AI as a crucial technology for national interests, acknowledging AI’s potential in developing the nation across almost all sectors and industries. Projections suggest that the adoption of AI and automation could contribute an additional AU$170 billion to AU$600 billion annually to Australia’s GDP by 2030.
AI offers prospects for economic growth, job creation, and enhanced quality of life, with specific applications such as assisting small businesses in customer understanding, revitalising local manufacturing competitiveness, and improving environmental resource management efficiency.
Despite AI’s potential benefits, there is currently a low level of public trust in the safe and responsible design, development, deployment, and use of AI systems, acting as a hindrance to widespread business adoption and public acceptance.
The government aims to ensure the safe and reliable application of AI in legitimate high-risk settings while allowing its continued use in low-risk settings with minimal hindrance. This will be achieved through:
- Implementing testing, transparency, and accountability measures to prevent harm in high-risk settings.
- Clarifying and strengthening laws to safeguard citizens in the context of AI.
- Collaborating internationally to support the safe development and deployment of AI.
- Maximising the benefits derived from AI technologies.
AI is enhancing various aspects of life, yet the rapid pace of innovation in this field raises new risks, causing uncertainty and public apprehension. The government aims to address potential AI risks and promote safe and responsible AI practices, as surveys indicate that only one-third of Australians believe the country has sufficient safeguards for the safe design, development, and deployment of AI.
The government gathered input from stakeholders, citizens, businesses, etc., and has released its interim response to the consultation on safe and responsible AI conducted in 2023.
The interim response provides insights into the perspectives of the Australian public, academia, and businesses regarding safe and responsible AI. Additionally, it outlines the immediate and future actions the government plans to undertake in response to the feedback received.
The consultation, which garnered over 500 submissions, reflected a significant public interest, with more than 20% of submissions coming from individuals, indicating a strong citizen concern for safe and responsible AI. The engagement included input from 345 virtual town hall attendees and over 200 roundtable participants.
While acknowledging the positive impact of AI on wellbeing, quality of life, and economic growth, the consultation highlighted the inadequacy of existing regulatory frameworks in addressing AI risks. Submissions highlighted the need for additional safeguards, especially for legitimate but high-risk AI applications and unforeseen risks associated with powerful ‘frontier’ models.
An initial analysis of submissions identified at least 10 legislative frameworks that may need adjustments to address various AI applications. The risks associated with AI, including inaccuracies, biased training data, model slippage, discriminatory outputs, and transparency issues, were highlighted in submissions and are not new but have gained significance with recent advancements in generative AI.
Governments globally are intensifying efforts to establish robust guardrails for AI development and deployment, especially in high-risk contexts, urging companies to proactively ensure the safety of their AI products.
The Australian Government launched its ambitious 2030 Data and Digital Government Strategy, outlining five key objectives to reshape digital governance. These objectives focus on inclusivity, streamlined services, future readiness, trust and security, and establishing robust foundations in data and digital realms.
This initiative aims to deliver user-centric, secure, and interconnected public services, reflecting a commitment to a transformative and forward-looking approach in the evolving landscape of digital transformation.