Australia joins global partnership on artificial intelligence

Australia has become a founding member of the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence (GPAI), the world’s first multilateral forum dedicated to AI.

Minister for Industry, Science and Technology Karen Andrews said membership of the GPAI gives Australia a seat at the table guiding responsible development of AI internationally.

“AI is a unique technology which has the power to drive productivity growth across a vast array of industries,” Minister Andrews said.

“The economic potential of artificial intelligence is almost limitless. This technology is developing at an incredible pace and, just a few years from now, AI will be creating jobs that we can’t even imagine yet.

“We are already harnessing AI to make our daily lives simpler and safer, from developing new diagnostic tools for doctors to using computer modelling to predict bushfire spread.

“One thing that’s certain is AI will shape our future and Australia needs to be part of the international work to guide its development.

“Australia is committed to responsible and ethical use of AI. Membership of the GPAI will allow Australia to showcase our key achievements in AI and provide international partnership opportunities which will enhance our domestic capability.

“Membership of the GPAI will build on the work the Government started at last year’s National AI Summit, which brought together 100 AI experts to discuss the challenges and opportunities which AI will present for the Australian economy.”

The GPAI will provide collaboration opportunities for a broad range of experts from across Australian science and industry. Professor Genevieve Bell, Professor Enrico Coiera, Professor Elanor Huntington, Professor Toby Walsh and Dr Paul Dalby and have been selected as Australia’s first nominations to GPAI. These nominees are world renowned experts in their diverse fields and will make a strong contribution to the important issues being addressed by GPAI.

Australia joins other founding members of GPAI including: Canada, the European Union, Germany, France, India, Italy, Japan, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America.

The GPAI will comprise two centres of expertise, one in Paris focusing on data governance and the future of work and one in Montreal focusing on responsible AI, innovation and commercialisation.