On
Mar 7, the Victorian All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (VAPPGAI) has been launched
in Australia, at the Parliament House.
The
group was officially launched by its co-convenors, Minister for Innovation
Philip Dalidakis and Shadow Minister David Southwick.
Victorian
Parliamentarians are now taking the lead through the establishment of a
Victorian All-Party Parliamentary Group on AI to learn more about artificial intelligence (AI) and help
prepare Victorians for the future.
“AI
will play a huge part in how we do business and conduct our lives in the
future, so it’s important that politicians are discussing the challenges and
opportunities that will arise as this technology develops,” Minister Dalidakis
said.
Bringing
together parliamentarians from across the political spectrum, the AI
parliamentary group will be a focal point in the Victorian Parliament for
discussion of the critical and transformative nature of AI.
“AI
is something to be embraced and encouraged, rather than feared. The more we
learn about AI through the VAPPGAI, the more opportunity we have to shape
policy that embraces its benefits for all Victorians,” Shadow Minister
Southwick said.
The
Committee for Melbourne has been active in promoting the establishment of the
parliamentary group, working in partnership with the Victorian Parliamentary
Library and Information Service as well as the Australian Academy of Technology
and Engineering.
“Simulated human intelligence performed by
computers and machines, also known as AI, is one of the key drivers of the
Fourth Industrial Revolution; it is hard to overstate its importance, its
impact and the implications for our economy and our community,” said the Committee
for Melbourne CEO, Ms Martine Letts, who also attended the launch.
During
the launch, robots from RMIT University handed over to the parliamentary
group’s co‑convenors a primer
providing an overview of some of the issues surrounding AI.
Following the launch, Professor Genevieve Bell
was guest presenter at a Parliamentary Library seminar on AI. Professor Bell is
the Director of the 3A Institute and a Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University.