Federal government unveils AI safety priorities

The news: The federal government has outlined a series of AI safety priorities, which will be used to increase accountability and ensure safe adoption of the technology.

The context: The government outlined five priority areas. These included:

• Duty of Care: The government will legislate a Digital Duty of Care, requiring AI companies to “build in safety by design and proactively address potential harm”. This will be led by Communications Minister Anika Wells.
• Privacy: There will be consultation about a second tranche of privacy reform, led by Attorney-General Michelle Rowland.
• AI Safety in the Workplace: Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth will lead a program of work to ensure AI safety in the workplace.
• Consumer Protections: Minister for Productivity, Competition, Charities and Treasury Andrew Leigh will lead an examination of Australian consumer law and how it can be used to address risks.
• Framework for automated decision-making: Rowland will also lead the development of a framework to better regulate automated decision-making within government agencies.

These priorities are in addition to the government’s existing AI Safety Institute establishment.

What they said: “The government views safety and innovation not as competing priorities, but as complementary goals. Strong safeguards help build trust, enabling innovation to deliver lasting benefits,” the statement from the government said.