Is the Australian federal government adequately addressing concerns about AI risks?

The Australian government has released an interim response to address concerns about the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI). Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic announced the government’s plan, which includes working with industry to develop voluntary AI Safety Standards, options for voluntary labelling and watermarking of AI-generated materials, and the establishment of an expert advisory body to develop options for mandatory AI guardrails. However, critics argue that the response is late and insufficient, especially considering the potential risks associated with AI, such as deepfakes in elections and biases in facial recognition technologies. The report also fails to address the risk of missing out on the opportunities presented by AI. The Australian government’s investment in AI is significantly smaller compared to other countries like the UK, potentially hindering the country’s progress in this field.