Policy aim
This policy aims to ensure that government plays a leadership role in embracing AI for the benefit of Australians while ensuring its safe, ethical and responsible use, in line with community expectations.
Embrace the benefits
This policy provides a unified approach for government to engage with AI confidently, safely and responsibly, and realise its benefits.
The adoption of AI technology and capability varies across the APS. This policy is designed to unify government’s approach by providing baseline requirements on governance, assurance and transparency of AI.
This will remove barriers to government adoption by giving agencies confidence in their approach to AI and incentivising safe and responsible use for public benefit.
Strengthen public trust
This policy aims to strengthen public trust in government’s use of AI by providing enhanced transparency, governance and risk assurance.
One of the biggest challenges to the successful adoption of AI is a lack of public trust around government’s adoption and use. Lack of public trust acts as a handbrake on adoption. The public is concerned about how their data is used, a lack of transparency and accountability in how AI is deployed and the way decision-making assisted by these technologies affects them.
This policy addresses these concerns by implementing mandatory and optional measures for agencies, such as monitoring and evaluation of performance, be more transparent about their AI use and adopt standardised governance.
Adapt over time
This policy aims to embed a forward leaning, adaptive approach for government’s use of AI that is designed to evolve and develop over time.
AI is a rapidly changing technology and the scale and nature of change is uncertain. This policy has been designed to ensure a flexible approach to the rapidly changing nature of AI and requires agencies to pivot and adapt to changes in the technological and policy environment.