Australian Experts To Regulate AI To Create Safeguards For Safe Use.
Australian Experts To Regulate AI – An expert panel called the Artificial Intelligence Expert Group has been announced, which will consider mandatory regulation options for AI development and deployment in high-risk settings.
The 12-person group will include artificial intelligence expert Toby Walsh, the CSIRO’s chief scientist Bronwyn Fox, intellectual property barrister Angus Lang, and human rights and civil society experts. Its first task will be to define high-risk AI. The group will operate until June 30, which doesn’t seem very long, considering the importance of their brief.
The group was established last month when, after many years of urging, the government released its interim response to AI as pressure began to wick up for regulation of a technology sector that’s expressing hyper evolution certain to move it rapidly beyond the control of regulators.
Importantly for security applications, the government’s interim response confirmed that the lowest-risk AI uses will continue without regulation beyond that imposed by existing privacy and consumer laws.
The interim response committed to a new voluntary standard for less risky uses of AI technology alongside the introduction of labelling and watermarking for AI-generated materials – application of the latter would be standard fare for electronic security people.
At the same time, the response said new regulations could require independent testing of AI technology when it was to be deployed in high-risk settings, with users required to disclose the use of AI to end users, and – this is a big one – the responsibility of AI applied to individuals.
“It’s imperative sophisticated models underpinning high-risk AI systems are transparent and well tested,” said Ed Husic, Australia’s Minister for Industry and Science.
“This Artificial Intelligence Expert Group brings the right mix of skills to steer the formation of mandatory guardrails for high-risk AI settings. With expertise in law, ethics and technology, I’m confident this group will get the balance right.”
Independent experts welcomed a focus on regulation and safe and ethical use but questioned the slow pace of the government’s response, with UNSW AI expert Professor Toby Walsh calling the interim response “a little light and a little late”.
“One of the unique challenges AI throws up is the speed with which it is being developed and adopted,” Professor Walsh said. “We’ve never before had a technology that could so quickly reach into our lives – this makes setting the guardrails both difficult and critical.”
Fellow panel member and CSIRO chief scientist Professor Bronwyn Fox said AI is already creating enormous benefits and will create even more.
“Australia already has extensive AI capabilities, and our researchers are using AI to tackle everything from improving cybersecurity to delivering better healthcare outcomes, from bushfire management to boosting agricultural productivity,” Professor Fox said.
“Our challenge — and something this expert panel will be looking at closely — is to understand the many benefits AI will create for Australia but also to ensure that it is developed within responsible guardrails and on a strong foundation of ethical principles and governance structures.”
Further details about the Artificial Intelligence Group can be found here. Read more articles about AI on SEN News here.
“Australian Experts To Regulate AI To Create Safeguards For Safe Use.”
Australian Experts To Regulate AI Australian Experts To Regulate AI
