Australia lacks national strategy to regulate AI spread in workplace, report states
A new report warns Australia risks repeating mistakes made with social media unless it regulates AI in the workplace, calling for a national AI task force and review of the Fair Work Act. The federal government is set to meet with employers and unions to examine AI adoption in workplaces.
Australia is at risk of repeating the mistakes it made with social media unless it quickly regulates the spread of artificial intelligence in the workplace, according to a new report by the John Curtin Research Centre. The report, backed by the SDA union, warns that unchecked AI could intensify worker surveillance, unsafe workloads, and job insecurity. The researchers have called on the federal government to establish a national AI task force and review the Fair Work Act to address AI-related workplace risks. They also recommend mandatory human oversight of AI at work and an AI expert advisory panel within the Fair Work Commission. The federal government has conducted a workforce 'gap analysis' into the effects of AI on jobs and is developing the capability to monitor AI's impacts by analyzing changes in the labour market since ChatGPT's launch in November 2022. Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth is set to meet with employers and unions to examine AI adoption in workplaces. The report's co-author, Dominic Meagher, stated that Australia 'does not have the luxury' of getting AI regulation wrong this time. Employers must consult with workers and unions before deploying AI, and there should be universal access to AI education and skills.
This content was automatically generated and/or translated by AI. It may contain inaccuracies. Please refer to the original sources for verification.