AIIA calls for favourable AI policy climate

The Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA) is calling on the government to introduce a favourable regulatory and policy climate to foster the growth in Australia’s artificial intelligence ecosystem.

The industry body is calling on government, industry, educators and researchers to collaborate to maximise the opportunities presented by the emergence of AI products and services in Australia.

A top priority should be addressing the shortage of local skills within the Australian ICT industry.

The AIIA is advocating for the introduction of an integrated approach to ensuring the development of necessary skills in areas including ethics, policy, data analytics, change management and human-centred design.

Another factor hindering the development of Australia’s AI industry is the absence of an effective research and development tax incentive program that fosters an environment of innovation and commercialisation of Australian AI products and services.

AIIA CEO Ron Gauci said the creation of a favourable business environment that will allow Australian industries to develop and deploy AI solutions will be essential to Australia’s continued economic growth.

“AI has the potential to address a number of government service delivery challenges, especially in the social services sector, such as service provision to an ageing population and the implementation of the National Disability Insurance Scheme,” he said.

“In order to harness this potential, we need to focus on AI capability and skills development now and encourage innovation and commercialisation of AI products and services through an effective R&DTI program. Without this government support, Australia will struggle to develop globally competitive AI products and services.”

Gauci also urged the government to consider whether existing regulatory frameworks can be applied to AI products or services before new regulations are created that could hinder AI development activities.

In a submission to the Australian Human Rights Commission earlier this month, the AIIA asserted that the main goals of government regulation in AI should also include developing AI principles and standards that build on existing industry experiences to help guide future AI developments.

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/andranik123

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