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The CSIRO has botched its response to artificial intelligence so badly it risks losing its social license and should no longer lead Australia’s science agenda, former Data61 CEO Adrian Turner says. In an editorial published Friday, Mr Turner blasted the national science agency for its decision to close its digital and data science arm, accusing it of “[misreading] the central technological shift of its time” and “blind intellectual arrogance”.

Summary

Former Data61 CEO Adrian Turner argues that CSIRO's decision to dismantle its dedicated digital and data science arm represents a fundamental failure to prioritize AI policy and expertise. This strategic withdrawal risks undermining Australia's national capacity to govern frontier AI technologies and maintain the social license necessary for safe deployment. By weakening its sovereign AI research capabilities, the agency may be hindering the country's ability to mitigate systemic risks and engage in global safety governance. These critiques highlight a significant governance crisis within Australia's primary science body regarding the oversight of transformative technological shifts.

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