Microsoft, Macquarie Group and KPMG throw weight behind AI institute

Three new industry heavyweights have signed on to support the Australian National University's Autonomy, Agency and Assurance Institute (3Ai) and its mission to evolve new ways of thinking about and teaching artificial intelligence. KPMG, Macquarie Group and Microsoft will now join the CSIRO's Data61 in partnering with the institute, which is led by former Intel executive and recent high profile CBA board appointee professor Genevieve Bell. Bell said 3Ai was established in September last year to tackle complex problems emerging around artificial intelligence, big data, technology and their impacts on humanity. The announcement coincides with the Labor National Conference, where the party is expected to announce a greater focus on the ethical impacts of growth and development, especially in regards to technology. It also follows the Australian Human Rights Commission's release of an issues paper at its Human Rights and Technology conference in Sydney earlier this, at which Bell spoke.