Newly appointed Industry and Innovation minister Tim Ayres has outlined government’s three priorities for artificial intelligence, including strategies to ensure Australia has a stake in the global AI technology system.
Senator Ayres, who is also the federal Minister for Science, says the adoption of productivity enhancing tools is one objective, but securing access to powerful AI data centres to build Australian AI capability is also a key.
In a broad-ranging interview on the Commercial Disco podcast, Minister Ayres also detailed how he intends to divide the portfolio workload with the new Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Andrew Charlton.
Senator Ayres called Dr Charlton “one of Australia’s sharpest policy thinkers in industrial policy and technology policy, and deep experience across Australian business, as well as in government. I want to harness that capacity to deliver reform and to implement our agenda.”
The industry can expect to see Andrew Charlton “engaged with all of the issues that come across my desk,” with the two ministers working as a team.
But it was on the approach to artificial intelligence where Senator Ayres was most expansive about the work ahead – from attracting foreign investment in infrastructure to building local capability.
“There really are three component bits to how I see Australia’s engagement with artificial intelligence, and with digital technology more broadly,” he said.
“The first is in ensuring that we attract investment in digital technology infrastructure data centres, partly because of its own value, but also because I want to make sure that Australia has a stake in the global technology system and in artificial intelligence advances.
“The second is to make sure that in terms of technology and software development, that Australia, in the core areas of capability, [is] leading the way,
“And thirdly, of course, is to make sure that artificial intelligence diffusion into all sectors of the Australian economy assists with our agenda of improving productivity performance,” Senator Ayres said.
The ambition for building local AI capability would be to make sure that Australia is not stuck at the bottom of technology supply chains, but that local sector is substantial enough to have a stake in shaping the technology’s development in the region, and in the world.
Pointing to government’s investment in the California company PsiQuantum, he said part of the rational for the investment – beyond national security and economic considerations – was to secure access and advantages for companies in the local ecosystem, and use that “investment to build Australian capability”.
“For artificial intelligence and data centre investments, I bring the same mindset,” the minister said.
“My objective is to secure investment to make sure that we build our local capacity, but also so that Australia has a strong say in the future structure of the global artificial intelligence and data system.”
This interview also covered the importance of building an AI regulatory system that would give the Australian public the confidence to embrace the technology.
Senator Ayres said he expected artificial intelligence would be a key topic for discussion at Treasurer Jim Chalmers’ Productivity Roundtable, which has been scheduled for August.
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