This article was first published in iTWire.

In 2024, artificial intelligence (AI) will continue to take centre stage. Many Australian businesses have already begun exploring generative AI use cases to streamline workloads and operations, with a recent study revealing that Australia is leading the global adoption of AI with 76% of businesses using AI daily, compared to just 57% globally.

This shift is underlined by the prediction of a significant surge in AI system spending in Australia – a testament to its growing prominence as the next wave of computing. Recent Microsoft research indicates that generative AI could add up to $115 billion annually in economic value to Australia by 2030.

With the permanence of AI in our lives now becoming a reality, the ethical and responsible use of AI remains a critical concern. The potential for biased, discriminatory, or inequitable outcomes is a genuine risk, particularly when AI models are trained on biased datasets or by homogenous teams. AI's future lies in a harmonious partnership between innovation and ethics.

The symbiotic harmony between humans and AI
Organisations are weaving AI into the fabric of their operations – from daily interactions powered by chatbots to comprehensive supply chain management strategies. Industries such as healthcare and financial services stand ripe for transformation – with AI poised to expedite drug discovery and reshape financial consultation dynamics. However, effective AI integration mandates more than optimism; it requires a paradigm shift towards an 'AI-first is people-first' mindset.

Guaranteeing the ethical deployment of AI – characterised by fairness, transparency, and accountability – is non-negotiable. Organisations must engrain trust as a core tenet – fostering clear communication about AI utilisation, ensuring unbiased algorithms, and nurturing employee competencies for effective AI collaboration.

Human involvement takes centre stage, with people assuming a 'copilot' role alongside AI. By fostering a symbiotic relationship between humans and AI, where humans guide the ethical course and AI augments their capabilities, it acknowledges that the technology – while immensely powerful – lacks the nuanced understanding of context, ethics, and values that humans inherently possess.

By placing humans at the helm as ethical copilots, it underscores the need for diverse voices in the design, development, and training of AI systems. A diverse team can provide a broader perspective and help counteract biases that could otherwise be embedded in AI's core.

Transparency is another cornerstone of the ethical use of AI. The imperative to illuminate AI's decision-making processes, the logic behind recommendations, and the potential source of bias is paramount. This transparency not only engenders trust but empowers human stakeholders to understand and challenge AI-generated insights. Clear communication between AI and its human copilots will help ensure that technology remains a tool rather than a decision-maker.

What would prove to be critical as well is AI literacy and ethics among professionals and the workforce at large. It will take an industry-wide effort to nurture a national understanding of AI's potential, risks, and ethical implications. It underscores the need for a collaborative effort spanning governments, industry, academia, and individuals to ensure AI's trajectory remains responsible and equitable.

Encouragingly, when it comes to having the highest confidence rating in their leaders for understanding AI and governance, our research has found that Australia is leading globally at 67%, followed by the United States at 58%. In addition, 87% of organisations surveyed in Australia have implemented some or a complete set of guidelines/policies for responsible AI.

AI isn't a universal panacea; it is an enabler of productivity and innovation. AI amplifies human potential, and we need to be able to harness AI’s transformational prowess. This necessitates investing not only in technology but also in skill cultivation, entwined with an unwavering commitment to ethical and responsible AI practices.

To guide the way forward in the AI revolution, we will need to shape the harmonious interplay of innovation and ethics.