AI is not a toy that you can just set and forget, nor does it replace jobs. There have been many failures of AI in government, industries, and universities. Obviously, I will not disclose them but remember that most are innovative pilot programs requiring careful trial-and-error planning. So, what is currently happening around the world when it comes to AI, especially in Australia? In Australia, especially in the Australian Government, there is much discussion about how people can best use Artificial Intelligence (AI) in their lives, including automation of repetitive tasks and generating ideas and images. Apart from the resistance to AI, including the typical concerns about the reliability of the appropriate education of AI, the reliability of the information being provided, the privacy of information being collected, and the ethics of using AI in everyday life and work.
There is currently no federal legislation (overarching legal instrument) for AI in Australia, and there is a mixture of desktop analysis in government to provide some solutions to AI safeguards.
What are the current initiatives from the Australian Government?
Here is what some Australian Government agencies have done to address these AI issues (mentioned above) and ensure that humans (especially in the Australian Public Service) understand and use AI.
*The Department of Finance have developed the Data and Digital Government Strategy 2030, a policy document for the Australian Government to deliver simple, secure, and connected public services for all people and businesses through world-class data and digital capabilities. They have also developed GovAI, which will link APS Government Agencies together to establish cornerstones and practices of AI assurance, an essential part of the broader governance of how governments use AI.
*The Australian Public Sector Commission (APSC) offers an ‘AI in government fundamentals’ course for government staff to learn about the fundamentals of AI clearly and consistently for free at any time. They have also provided in the State of the Service Report 2023-24 on the responsible use of AI.
*The Department of Industry, Science and Resources have developed Australia’s AI Ethics Principles, which are designed to prompt organisations to consider the impact of using AI-enabled systems.
*The Office of the Australian Information Commissioner have the ‘Guidance on privacy and the use of commercially available AI products’, which provides the privacy obligations for AI products.
*The Digital Transformation Agency released a new policy for using AI in the Australian Government for a coordinated approach to embrace the opportunities of AI in government while maintaining trust.
Here is what some Australian universities and the private sector are currently doing to address these AI issues, ensuring that humans (especially in government) understand and use AI better.
*The University of Sydney have developed AI fluency sprint to help build an understanding of AI’s opportunities, capabilities and challenges and confidently engage with key stakeholders.
*Microsoft Australia (in collaboration with the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet) is exploring the safe and responsible use of generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the public service through the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) in partnership with Microsoft. This is a good example of a public-private partnership in play to deploy generative AI Services.
*SAP (which is responsible for the Australian Government’s Enterprise Resource Planning) is being utilised across the 16 major/parent APS agencies, and the Service Delivery Office within the Department of Finance is working on APS ERP to redesign ERP with AI capabilities. This initiative is in pilot stage to provide autonomy and choice to modernise solutions within needs and budgets.
Overall, the Australian Government, businesses, and universities are taking different approaches to the safe and responsible use of AI and developing risk and assurance models to ensure great public trust.
What are some international resources to help improve the practical implementation of AI in Government?
However, despite the initiatives in Australia, there are still gaps in AI integration in public administration and digital transformation practices in government. Perfectly fine, it is a learning journey with AI. So, here are some lessons I learnt from some international resources on the topic:
*In the South Korean article “AI as ‘Another I’: Journey map of working with artificial intelligence from AI-phobia to AI-preparedness”, written by Professor Junesoo Lee and Jaehyuk Park, it provided a good holistic overview framework of AI in terms of the designs and mechanisms. This is a good depiction of the practical side of “safe and responsible use of AI and to have risk and assurance models to ensure public trust” (as mentioned above), because most of what is happening in Australia is a lot of documents and theories and websites, but nothing of an implementation model.
Image provided by Junesoo Lee. Similar to Table 3: Working with AI: a complement to humans.
*Harvard Business Review article on ‘Collaborative Intelligence: Humans and AI are joining forces’, H. James Wilson and Paul R. Daugherty, mentions that both humans and machines can enhance each other’s strengths, instead of humans treating machines like slaves. While AI will radically alter how work gets done and who does it, the technology’s larger impact will be in complementing and augmenting human capabilities like efficiency, not replacing humans.
What can the Australian Government, universities and the private sector do with these resources?
From the lessons learnt from the AI Integration in Public Administration and Digital Transformation Practices, I want to propose the following as a policy direction for Australia.
1) Planning a Document for Designing an AI Framework in Australia for Effective AI Deployment
It would be good to have all of the relevant APS agencies, ICT vendors, AI academics, and various high-profile businesses (as major stakeholders) come together to review current policies. This will encompass the practical design and implementation phases of AI projects to capture a wide range of human needs and perspectives (i.e. human capability and AI applicability with the various loci of challenges – as depicted in Slide 3 of Dr Junesso Lee’s PPT. From here, to implement an agile approach (i.e. gradual release of project management rather than a waterfall approach) where AI systems are continuously improved based on feedback and data analysis, while following protocols.
2) Planning for effective deployment to APS agencies with a Human-Centric AI Design:
Designing an AI solution primarily focused on enhancing the user experience (UX) would help government agencies know what they need. Each of the 16 Australian parent APS agencies would benefit from incorporating human-centred design principles to ensure the technology serves the needs of those government agencies. This is due to continuous feedback from end-users, which would enhance the usability and effectiveness of AI applications in service delivery for autonomy.
3) Visualisation of the change needed for the AI Transformation:
Considering both opportunities and challenges, it is essential to consider scenario planning for the potential future state of public administration with AI integration. This would be done with visual tools, like Power BI, to show impacts and desired outcomes.
4) Summary of the benefits of this policy direction:
By following these policy directions, Australia can strategically integrate AI into public administration, by ensuring that the transformation is aligned with human needs and ethical standards, which was the stance mentioned above. This comprehensive approach will enhance efficiency and build a more inclusive, responsive, and transparent public sector, which applies the lessons learnt from Collaborative Accountability of Human and AI.
About Luka:
From AIM’s data visualisation and insight course (non-promoted), I learnt that you go from data to information, knowledge, insights, and wisdom. With data, you gather information to tell a story, which is the end product to your audience.
From my inclusiveness experience, I always say, ‘You are Unique; what matters most is how you see yourself’. From my professional life, ‘Data is unique; like everyone, we are all part of intersectionalities that define us, and it is meant to be shared’.
See Luka’s profile here.
Collaborative Accountability of Human and AI within Australia
