The industry and science minister, Ed Husic, has warned that the growing use of AI could impact white-collar workers in the same way automation has affected manufacturing and agricultural sectors. He also highlighted the need for businesses to consider the impact of technology on their workforce. The government plans to continue working with the tech industry in 2024, with initiatives such as voluntary codes for transparency and accountability, and requirements to watermark AI-generated images to curb disinformation.
Key takeaways:
- The Australian government, represented by industry and science minister Ed Husic, is considering copyright implications of AI services like ChatGPT and Dall-E, and may allow creatives or publishers to receive payments if their work is used to train AI platforms.
- Husic warned that the increasing use of AI could impact white-collar jobs in the same way automation has affected manufacturing and agricultural sectors, and emphasized the responsibility of businesses to consider the impact of technology on their workforce.
- Initiatives such as voluntary codes for transparency and accountability, and requirements to watermark AI-generated images to curb disinformation, will be further investigated in 2024.
- The government is also considering reforms in areas of law including data privacy and consumer protections to keep pace with accelerating AI development, with attorney-general Mark Dreyfus leading a reference group on copyright reforms related to AI.