Kate Chaney (Curtin, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is for the Treasurer. My constituents are deeply concerned about how artificial intelligence is reshaping our economy and society. Our National AI Plan adopts a largely hands-off posture and leaves all risks up to an AI safety institute with one-sixteenth of the annual funding of its UK counterpart. Comparable nations are moving faster to set clear standards, support innovation and manage risks. Will the upcoming budget include further investment in AI opportunities and safety to ensure Australians, rather than overseas tech companies, shape our future?

Jim Chalmers (Rankin, Australian Labor Party, Treasurer) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thank you to the honourable member for her question, which builds a bit on the question that the member for Wentworth asked me last week as well. Obviously, AI is a transformational technology, but we have a responsibility, which we embrace, not just to maximise the economic upside of AI but also to minimise the risks. Some of those risks and concerns I think are accurately captured in the question that the member has asked. While I agree that there is a level of concern in the community about AI and about our ability to manage and minimise those risks, I don't accept that the government's AI plan has been silent or unnecessarily focused on the challenges that the honourable member raises.

We have made a commitment to robust legal, regulatory and ethical frameworks. We are engaging internationally to protect rights and build trust so that we can deal with some of the issues that the member has raised. Last week I made special mention of Minister Ayres and Assistant Minister Charlton, but I also want to shout out the Attorney-General, who also does a heap of work in this space, particularly when it comes to the copyright issues. This cabinet, this government and this side of the House are very focused on the risks of AI.

When it comes to budget commitments, we haven't finalised the budget yet. You wouldn't have expected us to in the middle of March or early in March. We finalise the budget in the first half of May. But what the honourable member can always expect from this government is for us to be very attentive to the concerns that people raise with us so that we can do whatever we can to capture the opportunities and spread the benefits but also keep Australians safe.