Description

Almost 40 per cent of federal government agencies using artificial intelligence were still without internal policies governing its use mid-last year, and even fewer had assurance arrangements in place, an audit has revealed. The audit, published on Thursday, also shows that the number of agencies using AI in their operations more than doubled in the 12 months to July 2024, climbing from 27 to 56.The more than two-fold increase in use comes as the national auditor steps up its checks of AI governance, with the first-ever audit into the use of AI at one of Canberra’s biggest agencies due in the coming weeks.

Summary

An audit highlights a significant gap in AI policy development among Australian federal agencies, with almost 40% lacking internal governance policies for AI usage, despite more than doubling their use of AI technologies between 2023 and 2024. This development raises concerns about the oversight and assurance mechanisms required to manage AI's implications effectively. The audit reflects an increasing focus by national authorities on enhancing AI governance structures, pointing to a need for more robust policies to mitigate risks associated with AI deployment in government operations. This oversight is particularly relevant to ensuring the safe and responsible use of AI technologies in public sector environments.

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