Navigating the legal landscape: AI in Australia
Law firm, Ashurst, released a paper Navigating the legal landscape: AI in Australia’, sponsored by Google. This in-depth analysis examines how Australia’s existing legal frameworks apply, or are likely to apply, to the rapidly evolving field of AI.
The paper uses hypothetical case studies involving AI-enabled products and services, such as chatbots, smart home devices, recruitment tools and more. It offers valuable insights for policymakers, AI developers and businesses using AI, and focuses specifically on the areas of consumer, privacy, employment, misinformation / disinformation and foreign interference law.
Key insights include:
- Globally, there is no consensus on the best approach for AI regulation
- Australia’s current and proposed technology-neutral laws are capable of addressing many AI-related risks and harms
- Businesses must ensure that they know and understand their existing legal obligations and how they apply to AI
- At this stage, there is no clear case for introducing new, AI-specific regulation in Australia, like the EU AI Act
- Actual or foreseeable risks and harms, not speculative ones, should inform AI policy development
- We need to uplift consumer and business education and awareness of AI, its benefits and inherent limitations, and provide businesses with guidance on their obligations and compliance.
Disclaimer: This does not purport to be comprehensive or to render legal advice. You should not act based on any information contained in this publication without first obtaining specific professional advice. Consult your legal advisor to determine if this applies to you.
