JAKARTA - Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese launched a framework for his country's approach to artificial intelligence (AI). Albanese said AI will be central to Australia's productivity, economic resilience and sovereign capabilities.
In a speech at the University of Sydney, Albanese outlined a new set of standards for AI that would provide rules for data centres, forcing them to minimise water use and bear or supply their own power.
Albanese, as quoted by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, said AI companies would not be able to use Australian books, music, art or news to train AI "without the control of the artist."
The prime minister will seek approval from state ministers and regional ministers of the new set of standards at a Cabinet meeting next month.
Warning Australia has a narrow window to establish an AI "social licence", Albanese acknowledged gaps and risks in the current fragmented approach to the technology.
"Australia has an opportunity to establish AI social licenses before large investments become established, by recognizing that governments cannot wait until these companies have built data centers before negotiating terms," he continued, as quoted by ANTARA from Anadolu, Wednesday, July 15.
Albanese assured Australian musicians, writers and artists they would retain control over their work and be able to set prices in any copyright deal with the AI company.
However, his speech did not include any reassuring announcements regarding specific AI laws, funding, tax incentives, copyright, consumer regulations, or workplace rights, with specific measures expected to follow after consultations.
But Albanese insisted he would seek state and territory agreement for the "clear, consistent and mandatory" data centres at next month's Cabinet meeting on a suite of new standards.
The law for the standard will then be submitted to parliament early next year.
Currently, South Australia is the only state with a dedicated data center framework.
The prime minister warned tech companies that although the government would work together to share factual information, "not everything produced in Australia can be taken for granted."
"No company should be able to use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the control of the artist, and that includes the artist's control over the price and value of their work," he said.
"The new 'AI Office' which will be under the Prime Minister's Department and the Cabinet is being formed to coordinate the work that is already underway in various fields such as education, employment, climate and energy, copyright, and defense," he continued.
"We must not treat AI as a threat to good jobs. We must use it as an instrument to help create those jobs," he said.
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