Senior public servants and government leaders in the Australia/Asia-Pacific region will learn about the ethical use of artificial intelligence through a new course at the University of Technology Sydney.
The course is part of the UTS partnership with the Federal Government’s International Cyber and Critical Technology Engagement Strategy, launched this week by Foreign Minister Senator Marise Payne.
Under the strategy, UTS has received funding to create a course, Ethical AI: Serving People, Supporting Communities, Learning from Diversity, as part of the new Cyber and Critical Tech Cooperation Program [opens external site].
Leading artificial intelligence experts at UTS, across Law, Communications, Business and Engineering and IT, have helped to develop the program of three modules.
UTS experts will teach the ethics in AI course: (clockwise from top left) Professor Fang Chen, UTS Data Science Institute; Associate Professor Heather Ford, Information Knowledge Management and Digital Studies program; Professor Bob Wood, UTS Futures Academy; and Nicole Vincent, Faculty of Transdisciplinary Innovation.
Participants will develop expertise in using AI technology ethically for public sector service delivery in Southeast Asia. The program complements the diplomatic mission of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade to grow regional support for a global ethical AI framework to enable responsible and human-centric use of AI consistent with human rights and fundamental freedoms.
Professor Mark Evans, Assistant DVC (Enterprise Learning) and Head, School of Communication, said: “UTS is proud to be collaborating with DFAT on this important initiative which advances UTS’s commitment to fostering the responsible use of technology.
Cyberspace and technology are pivotal to a safe, secure and prosperous Australia … Our regional and international relationships are fundamental to the strategy.
Senator Marise Payne
“Our unique transdisciplinary approach means participants will gain a range of skills and knowledge from leading academics across Law, Communications, Business and Engineering and IT.”
Launching the strategy, Senator Payne said the whole-of-government strategy comes as technology is changing the way we live and work, and affecting economic, strategic and foreign policy developments.
“Cyberspace and technology are pivotal to a safe, secure and prosperous Australia. Australia’s International Cyber and Critical Technology Engagement Strategy provides a framework to navigate the opportunities and risks we face across the world,” Senator Payne said.
“Our regional and international relationships are fundamental to the strategy. Australia will also partner with industry and the research community to support our Pacific and Southeast Asian neighbours’ cyber and critical technology resilience.”