Regulate AI with trade partner’s interest in mind, tech association says
The federal government will be asked to keep trade partners in mind as it looks to regulate AI as well immediately put a stop to the technology being used against national interst.
Technology associations and major companies have welcomed the Albanese government’s call for submissions on the regulation of AI, with some calling for new rules to be formed in line with the interest of G7 nations and the AUKUS alliance.
Others have forecast that AI would have a significant impact on trade in Australia and abroad and that any regulations passed down should keep the interest of partners in mind. Several major companies, including the big four and US technology conglomerates as well as industry associations, have come forward announcing they would put in submissions to the government, with some sharing an early glimpse of their proposals.
On Thursday, the federal government released two papers and an open call for submissions on the regulation of AI, which it said was “almost impossible to accurately forecast opportunities (in) over the next decade”.
The government has questioned whether the nation has sufficient compute power to back the progression of rapid AI development, whether local workers have the necessary skills to support this boom and what kind of policy, governance and regulation is necessary.
The call for submissions arrives as many Australian companies have sought to ban staff from using ChatGPT among other generative AI in the workplace while progressive companies have developed guidelines for safe staff use. The Australian Information Industry Association said a “principle by design approach” to regulation would prevent technology companies from developing “inappropriate” AI engines. “It is vital for Australia to work with other countries where these technologies are being developed, including the G7 nations, as well as through key alliances such as the AUKUS and the Quad arrangement,” AIIA chief executive Simon Bush said.
“Collaborating to find the common principles can help guide consistent global regulation, essential for trade and the sharing of technology.”
Tech Council of Australia chief executive Kate Pounder said the nation needed to look beyond the development of ethical AI frameworks and whether strong governance was necessary. “It’s a common misconception that AI in Australia is unregulated,” she said.
“While we don’t have AI specific laws, there are a range of existing laws that apply in areas such as privacy, anti-discrimination, consumer protection, intellectual property and work, health and safety.”
TCA is a partner at the National AI Centre’s Responsible AI Network and is involved in the UTS Human Technology Institute’s research project on the Future of AI Regulation in Australia. Ms Pounder said: “AI technologies can help address some of the most significant economic, social and environmental challenges facing Australia, from boosting sluggish productivity growth, to driving breakthroughs in medical treatments and strengthening our cyber security.”
Gartner Asia Pacific team manager and vice-president Brian Ferreira said the government should quickly regulate the use of AI regarding national security. The government should look to regulate high-risk areas associated with the development of AI early before broader regulation of the technology, he said.
“We also shouldn’t be catastrophising about high-risk areas in media, but at the same time, we need to be wary of vendors over-hyping AI’s capabilities,” he said. Mr Ferreira said one approach for fast adoption might be to incorporate AI considerations into existing compliance standards. A number of companies have indicated they would put forward a submission to the government, including big-four firms CBA, ANZ, Deloitte, PwC and Macquarie Government.
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