Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Tim Ayres says the upcoming MYEFO will fund a new AI Safety Institute. Photo: Facebook.
The Federal Government will establish an AI Safety Institute, to be up and running early in the new year, evaluating the new technology’s challenges and opportunities.
The operation will be fully funded in December’s Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO), but the costs will not be revealed until then.
It will share information and support timely actions to address potential risks posed by artificial intelligence in public-sector work and advise the private and non-governmental sectors.
Industry, Innovation and Science Minister Tim Ayres said there are significant opportunities for Australia in adopting AI.
These include attracting investment and harnessing AI’s capabilities to improve work for Australians.
But there must be a sharp awareness of potential pitfalls that could come with the technology.
He said the government was carefully calibrating Australia’s approach to AI to maximise AI’s value while mitigating risks.
“AI is already transforming the way we live and work,” the minister said.
“Adopted properly and safely, AI can revitalise industry, boost productivity and lift the living standards of all Australians.
“But there are two sides to this coin. While the opportunities are immense, we need to make sure we are keeping Australians safe from any malign uses of AI.”
The institute will serve as the government’s hub for AI safety expertise.
The minister said it will operate with transparency, responsiveness and technical rigour to make sure Australians are “confident to use this game-changing technology” safely.
He wants to see a “pragmatic approach” to AI adoption.
The institute will test and monitor AI models and platforms and work with the research community.
“It will do all of the work that is required, as artificial intelligence evolves, as the opportunities and the challenges evolve in advising government on focusing on regulatory reform or capability gaps that may emerge,” Senator Ayres said.
AI is quickly touching every part of government, the economy, and people’s lives.
The institute will aim to provide a dynamic, fit-for-purpose capability that is responsive to AI’s pervasiveness and rapid evolution.
As technology evolves, the institute will work across government to support best-practice regulation, advise on where legislative updates might be needed, and coordinate timely, consistent action to protect Australians.
Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton, said the government will ensure the institute has the ability to enforce compliance with Australian law, and uphold legal standards around fairness and transparency.
“From social enterprise right through to government, AI is already helping organisations across the country lift productivity and deliver better services to Australians,” Dr Charlton said.
“That’s why we are working closely with industry, business, unions and civil society to increase the uptake of AI in a way that is safe and responsible.
“The Australian AI Safety Institute will be an important capability in government, working directly with regulators to make sure we’re ready to safely capture the benefits of AI with confidence.
“The Institute will help identify future risks, enabling the government to respond to ensure fit-for-purpose protections for Australians.”
Collaborating with domestic and international partners, including the National AI Centre and the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, the new Australian institute will also support global efforts to address AI risks and harms.
This includes delivering technical assessments, fostering bilateral and multilateral engagement on AI safety, and publishing research to inform industry, academia and the Australian people.
Initial industry responses to the announcement have been positive.
Tech giant Microsoft welcomed the news, saying it will keep working with the government to encourage and deliver AI safety.
“As a longtime advocate for the responsible and safe use of AI technologies, Microsoft welcomes the establishment of the Australian AI Safety Institute,” Microsoft’s national security officer Mark Anderson said.
“Independent, expert advisory is an important measure that will protect against potential harms while helping Australia unlock the economic and social benefits of AI.
“We will continue to work alongside government and industry to build safe, transparent and trustworthy AI that will serve the national interest.”
