The Australian, state and territory governments have agreed to a joint approach to safe and responsible AI. The National framework for the assurance of AI in government was agreed to and released by the Data and Digital Ministers Meeting on 21 June 2024.
The framework, inter alia, builds on Australia’s AI Ethics Framework developed by CSIRO’s Data 61 and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the OECD principles for responsible stewardship of trustworthy AI and the NSW AI Assurance Framework published in 2022, which mandates the use of the assurance framework for the use of AI systems in NSW government agencies, and the Bletchley Declaration on AI safety.
The practices demonstrate how governments can practically apply Australia’s AI Ethics Principles to their assurance of AI enabling governments to:
- understand the expected benefits of AI
- identify risks and apply mitigations
- ensure lawful use
- understand if AI is operating as expected
- demonstrate, through evidence, that the use of AI is safe and responsible.
Good governance is the starting point, which requires a combination of technical, social, and legal capabilities and expertise. This requires updating decision-making and accountability structures to include AI governance. The framework recommends that ‘implementation of AI should therefore be driven by business or policy areas and be supported by technologists.’
Access the National Framework for the assurance of AI in government here.