One of Science and Industry Minister Ed Husic’s first ports of call after announcing the government’s plans to consult widely to create rules for safe and responsible artificial intelligence development in Australia, was the Sydney offices of pioneering local entrepreneur Liesl Yearsley, and her AI company Akin.

Casting his eye over some of the AI-powered robots being developed by the company to assist disabled Australians with tasks in their homes, gave the minister a chance to seek counsel from a woman who has successfully grappled with the AI conundrum for more than a decade.