AI given priority on government’s critical technologies agenda
Artificial Intelligence has made the list of critical technologies and is set to benefit from $1bn worth of investment from the National Reconstruction Fund.
Business
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The federal government has made artificial intelligence along with robotics, quantum technologies and clean energy generation priorities in its national critical technologies list.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic on Friday said AI would revolutionise the Australian economy while providing well paid jobs in the industry.
The government wants to promote critical technologies that underpin the daily lives of Australians, boost efficiency and productivity, and advance the national interest.
About 70 different technologies are on the list, under several broad categories: advanced manufacturing and materials technologies; AI; advanced information and communication technologies; quantum technologies; autonomous systems, robotics, positioning, timing and sensing; biotechnologies; and clean energy generation and storage technologies.
Under the AI category there are three main areas of interest flagged for investment from the government: AI algorithm and hardware accelerators; natural language processing including speech and text recognition and analysis; and machine learning, including neural networks and deep learning.
“This list of critical technologies builds on the government’s commitment to expand the number of next-generation businesses working at the forefront of our changing economy,” Mr Husic said.
“The list includes a new priority on clean energy generation and storage technologies. Breakthroughs in this area will be crucial in our efforts to improve energy security and achieve net zero emissions.”
Critical technologies will benefit from about $1bn in investment through the National Reconstruction Fund and a $15bn commitment from the government to support innovation and manufacturing.
Mr Husic said investment in quantum technologies would bring years of benefits.
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