Artificial Intelligence (AI) often reminds us of Hollywood with films such as The Terminator and The Matrix presenting dystopic futures where humans and robots face off in epic battles. However, AI and automated decision-making (ADM) are increasingly being adopted in organisations across Australia. It is estimated digital technologies, including AI, will be worth $A315b to the Australian economy by 2028. The Federal Government recently completed consultations regarding potentially regulating AI and ADM, with Governance Institute of Australia lodging a submission in response to the issues paper. This article discusses the technologies, the potential they offer and the challenges they pose.

The resolution addresses several challenges arising from the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) technologies, with a special focus on consumer protection. Parliament welcomes the potential of ADM to deliver innovative and improved services to consumers, including new digital services such as virtual assistants and chatbots. However, when interacting with a system that automates decision-making, one should be "properly informed about how it functions, about how to reach a human with decision-making powers, and about how the system's decisions can be checked and corrected", it adds. Those systems should only use high-quality and unbiased data sets and "explainable and unbiased algorithms", states the resolution. Review structures should be set up to remedy possible mistakes in automated decisions.

Parliament's Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee approved on Thursday a resolution addressing several challenges arising from the rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) and automated decision-making (ADM) technologies. When consumers interact with an ADM system, they should be "properly informed about how it functions, about how to reach a human with decision-making powers, and about how the system's decisions can be checked and corrected", says the committee. Those systems should only use high-quality and unbiased data sets and "explainable and unbiased algorithms" in order to boost consumer trust and acceptance, states the resolution. Review structures should be set up to remedy possible mistakes in automated decisions. It should also be possible for consumers to seek human review of, and redress for, automated decisions that are final and permanent.