Standards Australia

Australians are concerned about AI. Is the federal government doing enough to mitigate risks?

Retrieved on:

星期三, 一月 17, 2024

Today, the federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic revealed an interim response from the Australian government on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).

Key Points:

Today, the federal Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic revealed an interim response from the Australian government on the safe and responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI).
The public, especially the Australian public, have real concerns about AI.
By 2030, it may increase the Australian economy by 40%, adding A$600 billion to our annual gross domestic product.
Some 69% of Australians, compared to just 23% of Japanese, were worried about the use of AI.

What are the main points in the government’s response on AI?

First, there’s a plan to work with industry to develop voluntary AI Safety Standards.
Second, there’s also a plan to work with industry to develop options for voluntary labelling and watermarking of AI-generated materials.
And finally, the government will set up an expert advisory body to “support the development of options for mandatory AI guardrails”.

A little late?

It’s hard not to conclude then that the federal government’s most recent response is a little light and a little late.
Read more:
How AI could take over elections – and undermine democracy
We’ve already seen deepfakes used in recent elections in Argentina and Slovakia.
The European Union has led the way in the regulation of AI – it started drafting regulation back in 2020.

A risk-based approach

Like the EU, the Australian government’s interim response proposes a risk-based approach.
For example, you likely get a lot less spam email thanks to AI filters.
But there are other areas, such as the judiciary and policing, where the impact of AI could be more problematic.

However, the biggest risk the report fails to address is the risk of missing out.
AI is a great opportunity, as great or greater than the internet.
Read more:
AI: the real threat may be the way that governments choose to use it

Toby Walsh receives funding from the Australian Research Council and Google.org on grants to build trustworthy AI.

Where did the cars go? How heavier, costlier SUVs and utes took over Australia's roads

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星期二, 十月 17, 2023

SUVs (so-called sport utility vehicles) use more fuel per kilometre than standard cars – according to the International Energy Agency, up to 25% more.

Key Points:

SUVs (so-called sport utility vehicles) use more fuel per kilometre than standard cars – according to the International Energy Agency, up to 25% more.
They weigh more than standard cars – about 100 kilograms more.
In Australia, medium-size SUVs emit 14% more carbon per kilometre travelled than medium-size cars.

SUVs outsell passenger cars 3 to 1

Back further, in the early 1990s, three-quarters of the new vehicles we bought were passenger cars, and only 8% SUVs.
Passenger cars accounted for just 17%.
This means SUVs outsell passenger cars three to one.
Now they are one in four, outselling passenger cars.

Tax only explains so much

If an employer provides them and their private use is “minor, infrequent and irregular”, or if they are utes “not designed for the principal purpose of carrying passengers”, they can can escape the fringe benefits tax.
And from time to time small businesses get offered instant asset writeoffs, which means that all or part of the cost of the car can be written off against tax.

Danger is a perverse selling point

Australia’s Bureau of Infrastructure and Transport Research Economics refers to this as the “other side of the coin”.
That is, I think it might be becoming a perverse and macabre argument for buying SUVs.
I am not suggesting that danger from SUVs is the only reason for the flood of buyers switching to SUVs.

Tighter standards would help

The federal government is about to roll out long-overdue fuel efficiency standards, of the kind already common in the rest of the world.
Ideally, those standards would require the entire fleet of vehicles sold by each manufacturer to meet a gradually-tightening average efficiency standard.
Putting more electric vehicles into each fleet would help.

EBR Systems Appoints Dr Bronwyn Evans, Dr David Steinhaus and Ms Karen Drexler to the Board of Directors

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星期一, 十一月 8, 2021

EBR Systems, Inc., developer of the worlds only wireless cardiac pacing system for heart failure, today announced the appointment of Dr Bronwyn Evans, Dr David Steinhaus and Ms Karen Drexler to the Board as Independent Non-Executive Directors.

Key Points:

EBR Systems, Inc., developer of the worlds only wireless cardiac pacing system for heart failure, today announced the appointment of Dr Bronwyn Evans, Dr David Steinhaus and Ms Karen Drexler to the Board as Independent Non-Executive Directors.
Ms Drexler brings an array of operational and entrepreneurial experience to EBR Systems Board.
I am very excited to welcome Dr Evans, Dr Steinhaus and Ms Drexler to our Board of Directors, who together bring a wealth of clinical and commercial experience across the healthcare industry, which will be of significant value to EBR Systems.
Dr Steinhaus and Ms Drexler join Mr Allan Will, Mr John McCutcheon, Dr Christopher Nave and Mr Trevor Moody on the EBR Systems Board.