South Australia will hold a royal commission into artificial intelligence.It will be the first inquiry into AI at such a high level in Australia and is expected to run for nine months.But with SA's inquiry into social media leading to a ban for under 16s, could this inquiry also lead to national policy?CreditsMichael Black, AuthorProgram:More from ABC News Top StoriesTranscriptMichael Black: South Australia will hold a royal commission into artificial intelligence. It will be the first inquiry into AI at such a high level in Australia and it's expected to run for nine months. When you hear the words royal commission, you might think of investigations into scandals, wrongdoing or corruption. But Premier Peter Malinauskus says this inquiry will look to the problems ahead as well as the benefits of the technology.Peter Malinauskus: Unchecked, artificial intelligence does represent a material risk to the way our society operates and a risk to the future of work if not thought through carefully.Michael Black: So what's prompted the move? The premier recently travelled to the United States where he met with tech companies including Apple and Anthropic and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OpenAI, the developer of ChatGPT. The visit came at a time when AI is becoming increasingly influential and controversial. In some parts of the United States, concerns have been raised about the energy demands of large data centres and the impact they can have on local communities. There's also been growing debate about generative AI and what it could mean for jobs, artists and creative industries. Malinauskus says governments need to act now to ensure the technology develops in the public interest rather than trying to catch up later.Peter Malinauskus: I think in the United States you are witnessing a pretty assertive political movement on the left and the right against AI out of fear that this is just moving at warp speed and no one's doing anything to keep control on it.Michael Black: The Royal Commission will be led by three commissioners and hear evidence from businesses, unions and experts. It will then deliver a final report containing recommendations for the South Australian government. Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at University of New South Wales AI Institute, says the inquiry could help establish safeguards and a clearer framework for the use of AI across Australia.Toby Walsh: It is moving at breakneck speed and that is the real challenge. Even this royal commission is not going to be reporting to the middle of next year. I dread to think what's going to happen between now and then in the AI world.Michael Black: The move also follows South Australia's earlier work on social media regulation, which led to a national ban for under-16s. So could the findings have an impact beyond South Australia? Toby Walsh says he wouldn't be surprised if recommendations from the inquiry were eventually adopted by other states or even considered by the federal government.Peter Malinauskus: So if this is a way of getting the government to move faster, I welcome the idea that South Australia can again help us to get to a good place.Michael Black: And there's some work already happening at a national level. The federal government has announced an office for AI within the Prime Minister's Department and has developed a national plan. But the Shadow Minister for Industry and Sovereign Capability, Andrew Hastie, is arguing for a parliamentary inquiry, saying all political parties should have the opportunity to contribute.Andrew Hastie: I applaud the Premier of South Australia's move, but I think this is something that we need to do at a national level.Michael Black: The South Australian Royal Commission is expected to begin in October with its final report due next year.