Australia Provides $17 Million to ‘Artificial Intelligence Adopt’ Program

A Tesla robot is seen on display during the World Artificial Intelligence Conference (WAIC) in Shanghai on July 6, 2023. (Wang Zhao/AFP via Getty Images)

The Australian government is providing $17 million (US$11.1 million) to assist small and medium businesses in adopting artificial intelligence (AI).

This new taxpayer funding will establish five new “AI Adopt” centres around the nation.

Launched by Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic, the program is designed to help businesses adopt and integrate AI “safely” into their work practices.

Each of these centres will be worth between $3 million (US$2 million) and $5 million (US$3.3 million) and companies or research organisations can apply to develop them.

The centres are set to provide specialist training to small and business enterprises to assist them to “develop skills” to manage AI.

Once established, the centres will offer their services to businesses free of charge.

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Minister Husic said the network of centres would give businesses clear and direct advice on integrating AI into their work systems.

“AI has enormous potential to support Australian businesses to gain a competitive edge in global markets,” he said.

“Harnessing the power of AI will enhance productivity helping to crack one of the biggest challenges facing Australia.”

In October, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that Microsoft would invest $5 billion (US$3.3 billion) in Australia to help make the country a world-leading digital economy.

This announcement, made while Mr. Albanese was in the United States, included funding for cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

Microsoft vice-chair and president Brad Smith described this as the “largest investment in Microsoft’s 40-year history in Australia.

“We’re coupling this A$5 billion in computing capacity and capabilities with AI and engineering that will strengthen the nation’s cyber defence, including a deeper collaboration with the Australian Signals Directorate,” he said at the time. 

Following this announcement, Mr. Albanese met with Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella in San Francisco where he advised the government would explore the use of AI within the public service in a partnership with Microsoft.

“By strengthening our partnership with Microsoft, we are charting a course for the future of public service—one where generative AI is used responsibly to enhance the work of the APS in delivering for Australians without compromising on safety,” Mr. Albanese said.

EU Sets Global Precedent

Meanwhile, European Union (EU) parliament and council negotiators have reached a world-first provisional deal on an Artificial Intelligence Act.

The regulation aims to protect democracy, the rule of law, and environmental sustainability from high-risk AI while making Europe a leader in AI.

This includes safeguards on general-purpose artificial intelligence, biometric identification limits, and bans on social scoring.

Fines range between 35 million euros (US$38 million) or 7 percent of global turnover to 7.5 million euros (US$8 million) or 1.5 percent of global turnover.

The text of the proposed deal still needs to be adopted by the parliament and the council to become EU law.

“It was long and intense, but the effort was worth it,” co-rapporteur Brando Benifei from Italy said.

“Thanks to the European Parliament’s resilience, the world’s first horizontal legislation on artificial intelligence will keep the European promise—ensuring that rights and freedoms are at the centre of the development of this ground-breaking technology.”