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Australia sights AI regulation and digital innovation

Jomar Teves Aug 14, 2023

2 min read

As technology further develops to the next level, the use of AI is significant and is slowly creeping into public service. But concerns exist about AI being humanity’s doom or perhaps how AI is replacing the human workforce. The Australian government is taking further steps as concerns are growing based on a consultation paper. Said paper’s findings point out a growing problem that AI uses and the inability to regulate it.

Australia against tech innovations

Regarding digital innovations, Australia has become one of its global hotspots as the nation’s top contributors to GDP are specifically forward-thinking tech companies. In terms of regulations, though, Australia takes a more careful or perhaps even conservative approach to handling technological innovations. A recent example of such is how the country handled online casinos.

Recently, a consultation was held concerning the use of crypto from the process of its utilisation and even the implications of taxation. Currently, the Australian government is becoming the leader in developing a strong regulatory system in crypto while its local banks are taking an extreme anti-risk approach to the decentralised digital currency.

Now the government takes its turn in tackling AI as it closely scrutinises the new development for potential future limitations and regulations.

Australian concerns against AI

Ed Husic, the Minister for Industry and Science, published a well thought and processed consultation paper where concerns and reassurance have been made concerning AI technology and its potential risks. The paper’s objective was primarily to create modern laws for modern technology.

In the paper, Husic specifically refers to generative AI tools such as ChatGPT, which have recently increased in popularity and usage. He stated that the Australian government should consider banning the use of AI due to its so-called “high-risk uses”, such as algorithmic biases and the creation of deep fakes, even though such incidents have been primarily minimal. Additional concerns have also been raised concerning “hallucination”, which is the habit of AIs citing quotes and scientific sources that do not exist at all.

In conclusion, questions have been raised concerning the development of AI, whether its benefits outpace the concerns or whether it is still possible to regulate the development and use of AI effectively. It may be based on pre-existing ideas and concerns from the past but also due to predicted issues based on expert opinion. But nevertheless, the implementation of regulations is sensible and does not have any cons. The main concern now is whether said regulations are relevant to the current state of AI development and integration.

Know more about Australia’s latest data trends, strategies and emerging technologies by registering for the upcoming Annual Aus Government Data Summit.

Jomar Teves

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After four years in business school and working for multinational clients, Jomar believes he can improve the world through his writings via Public Spectrum, by informing the public on the latest news and updates happening around the government and society. Jomar has eight years experience as a writer and has a degree in Business Administration and Entrepreneurial Marketing.