Digital Capability
The Future of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Australia
The Committee for Melbourne’s (the Committee) report entitled The future of Artificial Intelligence in Australia, details the extensive economic and social benefit that could be achieved from developing AI, but also highlights the safeguards and regulatory controls that are needed for an equitable, fair and safe ongoing use of AI.
The report released in December 2020 and commenced prior to the COVID-19 crisis, highlights trends in AI and makes recommendations for action, by government, business and community. The report presents significant opportunities for the Victorian Government to take a lead on AI initiatives and use this to foster innovation, private investment and to attract and retain talented people into the State. The report provides many high-level recommendations that could be focused on including for the Victorian Government to develop skills, curriculum and general AI literacy and to conduct a feasibility study into an AI Precinct. The recommendations directed at the Commonwealth Government include to set up a National Centre of AI Ethics and Innovation; an AI Ombudsman and an AI Fund.
The production of this report has been led by a group of influential member organisations Allens, Commonwealth Bank, CSIRO’s Data61, EY, Deloitte, Jacobs, Monash University, Nous Group PwC and Telstra.
The importance of AI for Melbourne’s economic recovery and growth is as important as ever. Greater collaboration across government, the private sector and the community is required to ensure that the benefits of AI can be achieved whilst balancing the safeguards necessary to protect the community.
Stay tuned in 2021 for upcoming events on AI.
What is Artificial Intelligence?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) refers to simulated human intelligence performed by computers and machines.
Why is it important?
The capacity to benefit from, and adapt to, the challenges and opportunities presented by this cognitive revolution is arguably one of the greatest strategic issues facing Victoria and Australia at large. In addition to the threat of jobs losses, the issues of mass data collection and privacy are also of concern!
The biggest strategic need facing our city and society
On Wednesday 8 August 2018, in a first for Australia, Victorian MPs from all sides of politics met at Parliament House to discuss what is arguably the greatest strategic issue facing our society, Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Co-convened by the Victorian Minister for Innovation and the Digital Economy, The Hon. Philip Dalidakis MP, and Shadow Minister for Innovation, David Southwick MP, the inaugural Victorian All-Party Parliamentary Group on Artificial Intelligence (VAPPGAI) meeting featured Matt Kuperholz, Partner and Chief Data Scientist at PwC Australia.
Voted by his peers as Australia’s number one Analytics Leader, Matt Kuperholz briefed representatives on the nature and complexities of AI, including its various uses, opportunities, impacts and implications for Victoria, and Australia.
During the meeting both Dalidakis and Southwick acknowledged that how Government will respond to AI will impact all aspects of the Victorian community, hence the importance of discussing the challenges and opportunities that will arise as this technology develops.
Recognised as a Strategic Need in our Melbourne 4.0 report, the Committee recently formed an AI Taskforce to create a set of recommendations for State and Federal governments to adapt to, and benefit from, the challenges and opportunities presented by AI.