Australia Plans to Introduce AI Rules — Human Intervention and Transparency Included

Australia's center-left government has voiced its plans to introduce targeted artificial intelligence rules. These would include human intervention and transparency amid the increased rollout of AI tools by businesses and in everyday life.

Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic unveiled 10 new voluntary guidelines on AI systems. He further stated that the government is open to a month-long consultation over whether to make them mandatory in the future in high-risk settings.

"Australians know AI can do great things, but people want to know there are protections in place if things go off the rails," Husic said in a statement. "Australians want stronger protections on AI; we've heard that, we've listened."

The report containing the guidelines said it was crucial to enable human control as required across an AI system's lifecycle.

"Meaningful human oversight will let you intervene if you need to and reduce the potential for unintended consequences and harms," the report said. Companies must be transparent to disclose AI's role when generating content, the report added.

In addition, Husic affirmed that only one-third of businesses using AI have been implementing it responsibly on metrics of safety, fairness, accountability, and transparency.

"Artificial intelligence is expected to create up to 200,000 jobs in Australia by 2030... so it's crucial that Australian businesses are equipped to properly develop and use the technology," he said.