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The agency will evaluate emerging AI technologies and address their potential risks to keep Australians safe.
The Australian government has announced the creation of the AI Safety Institute, which will be operational by early 2026.
The AISA will work directly with industry regulators to make sure that AI uptake remains safe by monitoring emerging risks and harms in the technology space, while also offering guidance on AI opportunities and safety to both the public and private sectors.
“AI is already transforming the way we live and work,” Tim Ayres (pictured), Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science, said in a November 25 statement.
“Adopted properly and safely, AI can revitalise industry, boost productivity and lift the living standards of all Australians.
“But there are two sides to this coin. While the opportunities are immense, we need to make sure we are keeping Australians safe from any malign uses of AI.
“The Albanese Labor Government is establishing the AI Safety Institute to provide the capability to assess the risks of this technology dynamically over time.
“The Institute will be the government’s hub of AI safety expertise. It will operate with transparency, responsiveness and technical rigour to make sure Australians are confident to use this game-changing technology safely.”
The new institute will ensure that AI companies are compliant with Australian laws and legal standards, and will work with the National AI Centre, the International Network of AI Safety Institutes, and other international and domestic partners.
Dr Andrew Charlton, Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, said AI is already making a significant contribution to productivity.
“That’s why we are working closely with industry, business, unions and civil society to increase the uptake of AI in a way that is safe and responsible,” Dr Charlton said.
“The Australian AI Safety Institute (the Institute) will be an important capability in government, working directly with regulators to make sure we’re ready to safely capture the benefits of AI with confidence.
“The Institute will help identify future risks, enabling the government to respond to ensure fit-for-purpose protections for Australians.”
The government said that protecting people from the “potential harms of AI” would be a central plank of its upcoming National AI Plan, expected to be released by the end of the year.
The ACTU has welcomed the move, saying it was a "critical step" toward protecting Australian jobs while promoting growth.
“AI is a rapidly evolving technology with broadening applications and uses. Unions welcome the new AI Institute as a vital tool for all regulators to protect against bad-faith uses of the technology," Joseph Mitchell, ACTU Assistant Secretary, said.
“Unions welcome the commitment of the Albanese Labor Government to ensuring the AI Safety Institute has the capability to hold developers accountable to Australian law and community expectations. This is crucial for scrutinising and testing models, often developed overseas.
“Working people must share in the benefits of AI. Too many livelihoods have been stolen in the rapid development of these models. The first step in sharing the benefits is protecting against the potential harms.”
David Hollingworth has been writing about technology for over 20 years, and has worked for a range of print and online titles in his career. He is enjoying getting to grips with cyber security, especially when it lets him talk about Lego.
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