Politics with Michelle Grattan: Industry minister Ed Husic on the factitious intelligence revolution

Artificial intelligence is a difficult policy area that’s moving towards the centre stage of public and government attention. Some experts emphasise the immense potential of AI, while others are deeply troubled in regards to the ramifications the technology can have on humans.

AI has the potential to open up employment opportunities, but additionally to exchange many roles.

The Albanese government has recently begun consultations because it formulates a policy for searching for to make sure AI technology is each protected and responsible.

In this podcast, Ed Husic, the minister for industry and science, who’s overseeing the AI policy development process, joins us to speak about this recent frontier.

Husic is an enthusiast for what AI can deliver. “It’s been estimated […] it could potentially add as much as $4 trillion to our economy by the early 2030s. But I have a look at it as the way in which wherein it could change, particularly when it comes to health.” He highlights how AI saved time within the pursuit of a COVID vaccine.

But, he says, “This is just not about just plugging in a little bit of technology, flicking the activate and considering that every part will probably be sorted out. It does require the pairing of human capability to the capability of individuals and their skills with the technology to get the outcomes we wish and to take into consideration how the technology will probably be used.

“We have a challenge inside layers of management to know, to have awareness about what technology is able to, to then use that awareness to make investment decisions. And then once they’ve made those decisions, tips on how to integrate technology in a way that is just not hugely or unnecessarily disruptive.

“If we get it right, there’s a possible for huge profit.”

AI has experienced a boom of interest because the pandemic. Generative AI chatbots like ChatGPT have gotten smarter and more widespread. Students are using ChatGPT, which has apprehensive some educators. The minister for education, Jason Clare, has commissioned work on a draft framework for using AI in schools.

Husic argues that AI may be incorporated into the education system and the workforce in a way that advantages everyone.

“AI may be used […] in personalising the way in which wherein we’re taught to consider what our skills and capabilities are after which work out tips on how to construct and develop and improve those capabilities, not only for young people, but additionally I see a profession transition benefiting from that re-training and having personalised training that suits individuals.”

A serious concern about AI is the potential to create and spread misinformation and disinformation.

“I believe that’s a real concern,” Husic says, highlighting the danger of “deepfakes”. “You’ll see something on a pc screen, on a phone or a TV and think it is a individual that’s chatting with you doing something or saying something horrible or out of line. And it seems it’s not. It’s been a manipulation of a picture to make it seem like that person.”

“It may influence people’s considering or it might trigger a response out of presidency or authorities or create a climate that’s forcing decisions to be made by governments that clearly it’s just flawed.

“We can’t afford to see that occur […] we are going to have to take into consideration how we modernise or shape up our regulatory frameworks to avoid that, to tackle that and to present people confidence and luxury that what they’re saying is legitimate and that it’s not scary decisions made from false or erroneous way.”