The ABS wants to use AI to power economic data and the census
Artificial intelligence is increasingly being used within the public service. But one government agency chief expects to be “in the vanguard” of this new technology.
Australia’s five-yearly census costs taxpayers $565 million and involves 35,000 employees. It mightn’t always be this way. Soon, it might be artificial intelligence that analyses census papers.
This is one way Australia’s chief statistician David Gruen sees benefits in using the technology to improve efficiency and productivity at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. There are other opportunities too.
The ABS counts dwellings and estimates property values. Knowing if homes and areas have been materially changed is critical for an accurate read on how the market is changing. One of the ABS' first forays into AI was to use the technology to analyse aerial photographs of parts to identify whether properties have been demolished. Before this technology was available, staff had to look at each photo themselves to ensure they updated this information accurately. International statistical bodies, including in the US and Canada, take a similar approach.
Gruen is now considering a role for AI in more widespread data collection exercises.
