Australia and UK partner to strengthen AI safety and security

The Australian and UK Governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to increase cooperation on the responsible development, deployment, governance and use of safe and trustworthy AI.

The MoU was signed during the visit to Australia by UK Minister for AI and Online Safety, Kanishka Narayan and Australia’s Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Dr Andrew Charlton. The new arrangement aims to deepen cooperation between the Australian AI Safety Institute and the world-leading UK AI Security Institute.

Under the MoU, Australia and the UK will collaborate on AI safety and security by:

• sharing information and expertise on emerging AI capabilities and risks, and best-practices for testing AI systems
• conducting joint research, including novel approaches to measure, test and manage risks
• supporting the International Network for Advanced AI Measurement, Evaluation and Science, of which Australia and the UK are both founding members.
   

The MoU supports the National AI Plan’s goal of keeping Australians safe by strengthening international cooperation on AI risks and safety. Both Australia and the UK are committed to harnessing the opportunities of AI, by understanding and mitigating its risks.

As part of the National AI Plan the government will establish an AI Safety Institute. The AI Safety Institute will monitor, test and share information on emerging AI capabilities, risks and harms, and ensure Australia has the capability to keep up with developments in AI technologies.

“This MoU brings Australia’s AI Safety Institute and the UK AI Security Institute together to share expertise, identify risks early and support safeguards that help prevent harm,” said Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science Tim Ayres. “Collaboration with our closest partners is how we make sure AI is safe and secure while we continue to explore the opportunities it presents.”

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