A Senate Select Committee investigation has criticized technology companies Amazon, Google, and Meta for their lack of transparency in using Australian data to train their artificial intelligence products.
Labor senator Tony Sheldon, the inquiry chair, expressed frustration at the companies’ avoidance of direct questions regarding Australian personal information and its utilization.
Sheldon likened the companies’ evasiveness during the hearings to a cheap magic trick, resulting in no substantial outcomes as per the investigation’s final report released on Tuesday.
He labeled these technology companies as “pirates” who exploit Australians for profit, leaving them deprived of their cultural and creative assets.
The report highlighted the high-risk classification of certain general-purpose AI models like OpenAI’s GPT, Meta’s Llama, and Google’s Gemini, requiring mandatory transparency and accountability measures.
Key themes identified in the study and report underscored the need for standalone AI legislation, especially to safeguard creative workers impacted by AI.
We need standalone AI methods
Sheldon emphasized the necessity for new independent AI laws in Australia to counter the dominance of big tech and uphold individual rights over corporate interests.
He criticized Amazon, Google, and Meta for concealing the specifics of how they use data from various sources to train their AI systems.
The report called for transparency on the part of AI developers regarding copyrighted material usage and mandated licensing and compensation for all declared works.
Among the report’s recommendations was the introduction of dedicated AI legislation for high-risk AI models, especially those impacting individuals’ rights in the workplace.
AI is ‘high risk’ for creative workers
Creative workers are identified as particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of AI, necessitating payment mechanisms to reward them for original creations adapted by AI.
The report’s recommendations were seen as crucial steps to mitigate risks associated with AI, especially for workers in the creative sector.
The Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance praised the report for its clear stance on enacting AI legislation to address the challenges posed by AI in various sectors.
Don’t suffocate AI with red tape
Coalition members of the committee, Senator Linda Reynolds, and Senator James McGrath, emphasized the need to address cybersecurity, national security, and democratic concerns posed by AI without stifling opportunities for job creation and productivity improvement.
They disagreed with the automatic high-risk classification of all AI use in the workplace, as suggested by the report.
The Green Party expressed discontent with the report, advocating for more robust AI regulations in line with international standards.
Amazon, Google, and Meta have been reached out to for comments by The Guardian.
Source: www.theguardian.com
