It’s going to come down to specific departments to assess risks and need to give the public a heads-up on the latest AI developments.
The NSW government has refused to undertake a community education campaign informing the public of the risks of artificial intelligence, saying a more targeted approach would be of more benefit.
The government was responding to the recommendations of the Legislative Council’s final report from the Inquiry into Artificial Intelligence in NSW, delivered in July.
The report made 12 recommendations, four of which the government has supported in full, four in principle, two are noted for further consideration and one was not supported.
“At this stage there is no plan for the NSW Government to deliver a general community education campaign about AI (recommendation 6 of the committee),” said the government response.
“There may be benefit in undertaking more targeted campaigns about specific risks or to encourage safe and responsible use of AI in specific contexts, but any such campaigns would need to be carefully considered, including a scan of existing educational information and consultation with the Commonwealth to avoid duplication.”
What the government did agree to was:
- investigating how the Artificial Intelligence Assurance Framework could be effectively integrated into the Procurement Policy Framework;
- prioritising the provision of specific guidance and training for all teachers on the ethical and effective use of artificial intelligence within education;
- advocating to the federal government for greater protection of the copyright and intellectual property of those working in creative industries in light of the challenges presented by generative artificial intelligence; and
- liaising with their state and federal counterparts to ensure a consistent approach in the governance of artificial intelligence.
The government “noted for further consideration” the possibility of appointing a chief AI officer, supported by departmental chief AI officers “to maximise the responsible use of AI in a rapidly changing technology landscape”.
“The NSW Government will continue to consider how to expand and strengthen partnerships with industry leaders and experts to harness the opportunities presented by AI while upholding the highest ethical standards.”
The full government response can be read here.