South Australia is set to launch a nation-leading Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence, with the Malinauskas Government looking to get ahead of the rapidly evolving technology and ensure the state can reap its benefits while limiting its risks.
Premier Peter Malinauskas announced the Royal Commission following a recent trip to the United States, where he met with leading AI companies, government officials and experts to discuss the technology’s growing impact on the economy and society.
The Royal Commission is expected to begin on October 1st, with a final report to be handed to the State Government by July 1st, 2027.
Rather than looking retrospectively at legal or judicial issues, the inquiry will focus on developing practical policy solutions to help South Australia navigate the opportunities and challenges presented by AI.
The Government intends to appoint a panel of commissioners with relevant expertise, with the inquiry expected to hear from a broad cross-section of the community.
This will include businesses, industry bodies, unions, technology developers, academics, independent experts and representatives from the creative industries.
The terms of reference will focus on how AI could reshape some of the state’s biggest sectors, including education, healthcare, jobs and public services.
The inquiry will also examine the state’s policy and regulatory settings, including issues that may need to be addressed at a national level.
AI-related infrastructure will also be considered, including its relationship with South Australia’s energy transition, water use and the potential impact of growing electricity demands on the state’s grid.
“Artificial Intelligence is reshaping the world’s economy, and society more broadly,” shared Premier Malinauskas.
“While South Australia can’t stop the deployment of AI, we can play a role to shape how it is used.
“This disruption presents significant risks and opportunities for our state. I want South Australia to be a leader in the policy to respond to this technology in a way that puts people’s interests first.”
The Government will particularly look at the role of AI in schools, industry, public health, arts and culture, with the Premier warning that the rapid development of the technology needs a serious policy response.
“We are looking to embrace the opportunity of AI, but not in a way that leaves us with regrets.”
South Australia has already positioned itself as an early mover in AI policy, becoming the first Australian state to establish a Cabinet Minister for Artificial Intelligence and creating the Office for Artificial Intelligence.
The state has also developed a Data Centre Strategy and is home to the Australian Institute for Machine Learning at Lot Fourteen and the Responsible AI Research Centre.
For South Australia, the Royal Commission is intended to provide an independent roadmap for how the state can move quickly on AI while making sure its economic opportunities don’t come at the expense of the people and communities affected by the technology.
