The Artificial Intelligence (AI) Ethics Principles guide businesses and governments to responsibly design, develop and implement AI.
It’s part of the Australian Government’s commitment to make Australia a global leader in responsible and inclusive AI. For Australia to realise the immense potential of AI we need to be able to trust it is safe, secure and reliable.
On 5 September 2024 we published the Voluntary AI Safety Standard. The standard helps organisations develop and deploy AI systems in Australia through 10 voluntary AI guardrails. The guardrails build on the work and research of the 8 AI Ethics Principles found here.
We updated this publication on 11 October 2024 following the release of the standard.
We have provided a standard transcript and descriptive transcript for this animated video.
Artificial Intelligence is already part of our day-to-day lives. We’re organising our daily schedules using voice assistants. We’re taking recommendations on the movies we should watch. AI helps our manufacturers create new and better products. It can also predict and prevent the spread of bushfires.
In a world where AI is central, it is important that Artificial Intelligence systems are designed and applied:
These statements capture the eight Australian AI Ethics Principles. Some of Australia's largest businesses have trialled these principles and found ways to improve their governance processes.
Businesses can benefit considerably when they commit to ethical AI. Such a commitment can enhance trust in your product or brand, drive consumer loyalty and avoid negative experiences of your AI-enabled services.
Thousands of companies around the world are paying more attention to their AI footprint. You have the power to influence the outcomes produced through AI and ensure everyone benefits from the transformative benefits this technology offers. We encourage you to apply the Australian AI Ethics Principles.
In a 3D computer animation, a woman has long brown hair and wears a red dress. She walks through a lounge room as she looks at a smartphone in her hands. The lounge has dark grey couches and yellow armchairs, spiky green plants and a tall green standard in pale grey pots.
She scrolls through her smartphone with a finger. There are gold star ratings and small images on her smartphone screen.
Artificial intelligence is already a part of our day to day lives. We're organising our daily schedules using voice assistance, we're taking recommendations on the movies we should watch. AI helps our manufacturers create new and better products. It can also predict and prevent the spread of bushfires.
Later, inside an office, she sits at a desk and uses a computer. A small white and blue robot crouches on the desk beside her computer. It has a helmet-like head with a rectangular screen for a face.
The small robot stands upright. The face of the robot mirrors what’s on the nearby computer screen.
In a world where AI is central, it is important that artificial intelligence systems are designed and applied to benefit individuals, society and the environment…
Various colour vector-style images inside squares scroll across the screen. Smaller coloured squares move around them.
Some have images of waving hands and people standing together; a man uses a walking stick and has a guide dog, a woman in a wheelchair and a woman with a prosthetic leg.
Further images include a golden key inside an aqua rectangle, a computer screen with an open padlock icon that closes as data is transmitted.
..to respect human rights, diversity and the autonomy of individuals, to be inclusive and accessible and not result in unfair discrimination. To uphold privacy and data protection and ensure data is secure.
Further vector images show a red car at some traffic lights; a hand holds a smartphone that signals a nearby fighter jet; a robot arm moves a box on a conveyor belt; hands hold a tablet with medical information on the screen.
To operate safely and reliably in accordance with their intended purpose, with transparency and responsible disclosure, so people know when AI is significantly impacting them and can find out when they are engaging with an AI system.
Further vector images show a smartphone with data lines surrounding it, a two person chat with speech bubbles, a human hand points to a chessboard across from a robot hand.
Further images show a grey haired man falling over; icons of a smartphone, a car and a house all linked to a server icon and then on to a cloud above; hands hold a tablet in front of a row of green crops.
With avenues for people to challenge the use or outputs of AI systems that significantly impact them.
The brunette woman from earlier types on her computer. The small robot stands beside her screen, it’s face mirrors what’s on the display.
With clarity on who is accountable for the impacts of an AI system, and enable humans to oversee AI systems where needed. These statements capture the eight Australian AI ethics principles.
In a vector-like animation, cars drive and park on a city street between tall skyscrapers.
Some of Australia's largest businesses have trialled these principles and found ways to improve their governance processes.
Inside an office cubicle, a dark-haired man wears a green shirt and grey pants. He types on a computer.
Businesses can benefit considerably when they commit to ethical AI. Such a commitment can enhance trust in your product or brand, drive consumer loyalty and avoid negative experiences of your AI enabled services.
In a vector-style animation, the Earth as though seen from space. Australia is visible.
On a white background around the Earth are six small icons: a parliament-like building with data lines branching out from it; a round bottom boiling flask from a lab; a face on a screen; a robot dog; a side-on profile of the human head with data lines inside it; a van with a crane-like arm tending a plant.
The icons gradually change to a ‘thumbs-up’ by either a human hand or a robot hand.
Thousands of companies around the world are paying more attention to their AI footprint. You have the power to influence the outcomes produced through AI and ensure everyone benefits from the transformative benefits this technology offers. We encourage you to apply the Australian AI ethics principles.
Text: AUSTRALIA’S AI Ethics Framework – Visit industry.gov.au/ai-ethics-framework
The Australian Government coat of arms. White text below reads ‘Australian Government – Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources’.
