Labor holds briefings with tech companies, unions on national AI plan
The late-stage briefings invited tech executives and industry bodies to give feedback on an expansive national AI plan set to be released by the end of the year.
Labor invited local tech companies and senior figures from the union movement to a series of briefings last month as the government works to finalise a national framework aimed at driving local investment in AI.
The briefings, held over several weeks and overseen by Industry and Innovation Minister Tim Ayres, brought together stakeholders to discuss Australia’s approach to AI, according to people familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss non-public information.
The snap consultation canvassed a range of issues, including whether the government should support local efforts to build capital-intensive large language models and the implications of its plans for the labour market.
Tech executives, industry bodies, unions and civil society groups participated in the meetings, which will feed into the government’s National AI Capability Plan that Ayres aims to deliver by the end of the year.
