Australia is considering mandatory regulation for use of AI
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The news: The federal government is considering laws that could put mandatory safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence in high-risk industries.
The numbers: The government on Wednesday released its interim response to industry consultation on the responsible use of AI. More than 500 groups, including tech giants and industry experts, responded to the discussion paper. A recent report from the Australian Information Industry Association found 34% of Australians were willing to trust AI technology, with 71% believing guardrails needed to be put in place by the government.
The context: Measures being considered include safeguards for using AI in potential high-risk industries such as critical infrastructure like water and electricity, health and law enforcement.
The government is considering mandatory guardrails for AI development and deployment either through new laws or through changes to existing laws. This would include testing AI models before they were released or during their operation, and making the sector transparent.
Industry Minister Ed Husic said immediate actions being taken include talks with the industry on developing a voluntary safety standard for AI, developing options for voluntary labelling and watermarking of AI-generated materials and establishing an expert advisory group.
The sources: AAP, Ministry for Industry and Finance
