On Thursday, Australia announced plans to regulate artificial intelligence (AI) and ban deep fakes and other deceptive content.
Top AI executives earlier this week warned of the “risk of extinction from AI” and asked politicians to compare it to pandemics and nuclear weapons.
“There is clearly, in the community, a concern about whether or not the technology is getting ahead of itself,” Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic told ABC TV.
On Thursday, Australia’s National Science and Technology Council reported that AI-generated content might flood parliamentary consultations to mislead public opinion.
“Governments have got a clear role to play in recognising the risk and… putting curbs in place,” Husic added.
In 2018, Australia introduced a voluntary AI ethical framework.
Husic acknowledged weaknesses in copyright, privacy, and consumer protection rules and said the government wants to make its legal frameworks “fit for purpose” given the rapid rise of the AI sector.
Last month, European lawmakers moved closer to passing the world’s first comprehensive AI law, which could set a precedent for mature countries. However, Husic said Australia would consider prohibiting high-risk AI aspects if there was strong demand during public consultations to draft new regulations.