New artificial intelligence expert group (AU)

From the Minister for Industry and Science’s media release about a new twelve member advisory group.

Following the Government’s interim response to the Safe and Responsible AI in Australia consultation, Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic has today announced the establishment of a new Artificial Intelligence Expert Group.

The Group will provide advice to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources on immediate work on transparency, testing and accountability, including options for AI guardrails in high-risk settings, to help ensure AI systems are safe.

The group is a temporary one, in place until the end of June this year. The majority of members are academics with expertise in AI, law, ethics, and the governance of technological systems.

In a radio interview about the announcement, Minister Husic said:

…We want to give people confidence that the risks have been identified and can be tackled. And so, we're keeping an open mind about how that response can be shaped. This is a group of people that will give government the recommendations about should it be a legal change? Should it be regulatory?

… what we're trying to do is get the balance right. We've heard loud and clear from people that they want us to be able to respond rapidly. They recognise that technology is moving rapidly as well and evolving quickly. We want to make sure that our laws are fit for purpose. And so, we have said, come back to us by the end of June. If they also say they need more time, we're open to that. But we are sending a very clear signal that the community is expecting action and we need to get moving on it.

Update: according to a February 18 article in InnovationAus, three industry groups ‘the Business Council of Australia, the Technology Council of Australia, and the Australian Information Industry Association have been asked to participate in the AI Expert Group as observers.’