Industry leaders on what businesses, policymakers and technologists should be reflecting on this AI Month

With AI Month officially starting this week, businesses, policymakers and technologists have the opportunity to reflect on Australia's strides in leveraging AI across sectors and identify the immense potential the technology can bring.

While the benefits AI technology can bring are boundless, proper governance and expertise is required at all stages, from development to implementation to application, to ensure the responsible use of this rapidly evolving technology.

In light of the occasion, we engaged industry leaders from different fields to offer their unique insights on the current state of AI and their visions for the future, covering the cultural, ethical, regulatory and security dimensions that must be prioritised when exploring AI's potential and capabilities.

Lisa Sarago, CEO and Co-Founder of Land on Heart and Land on Heart Foundation, Director of AI Indigenous Innovations, and Founder of Tiddas in Tech
 
AI has the potential to be an unbiased, always-on, and effective bridge that could close the digital divide, particularly for Indigenous communities and those living in rural and remote Australia. But if there is not a proactive approach to designing AI with these goals in mind, it could create more harm than good and could end up further widening the gap. This is one of the many reasons why Indigenous communities are sceptical about AI and its capabilities.

The solution is having diverse voices and thinkers at every stage of AI development, policymaking, implementation, and adoption. It starts with having diverse people, including Indigenous people, at the table when AI-based innovations are designed and created.

We need a cultural lens applied when developing and adopting AI, but currently, no one is thinking about how AI could affect Indigenous communities, let alone considering the enormous value Indigenous innovators - the original inventors - could bring to discussions around the capabilities and potential of AI. Imagine the innovative AI solutions if we included the culture of our First Peoples. This AI month, let's all take a proactive stance on inviting and including diversity in our teams so society as a whole can truly make the most of what AI has to offer.  How can you ensure Indigenous representation in AI in your workplace?

Paul Berkovic, Co-Founder and CCO at Rayven

It's exciting to think about the capabilities and potential of AI, but it's a pipe dream if we don't address the hurdles most businesses are facing today. The reality is that a great deal of what is purported to be AI is really machine learning, and very few businesses even know where to start with that, with even fewer understanding what's holistically possible.

Meanwhile, real-time data is very doable today, though many businesses are yet to embrace its full capabilities outside of cybersecurity and ecommerce spaces. Establishing, collating and analysing complete, real-time data sets can deliver a business with a multitude of benefits; from streamlining data flows and delivering automations, improving employees' decision-making via live analytics, increasing operational output using predictive analytics, improving energy and other resource efficiency via all-new insights; the bottom-line and productivity opportunities are vast.

To ensure businesses are making the most of AI, start with capitalising on the capabilities and benefits of real-time data. Only once reliable and free-flowing real-time data is made accessible within a business can AI's full potential truly be explored.

James Greenwood, Regional Vice President, Technical Account Management at Tanium

The most recent OAIC data shows the notified breaches were at their highest in three and a half years in the first half of 2024. Organisations are drowning in vulnerability debt, which means they can't remediate known vulnerabilities fast enough. This issue stems from a mix of outdated tooling and a lack of resources. Reducing security flaws in Australian companies is one area of the economy in which leveraging AI is a no-brainer. However, AI built on good data is the key to success.  

"Automation will change the IT workforce for the better. Not only can it reduce human error by removing manual processes, but automating tasks that are tedious and often have to be conducted outside of business hours can lower burnout rates and improve work-life balance across the IT industry. Not to mention, most importantly, automating vulnerability management and remediation will improve the security posture of our organisations, ultimately reducing risk for everyday Australians and creating a competitive advantage on the world stage.

Alyssa Blackburn, Program Manager - Information Management, AvePoint

There is no doubt that AI is having a transformative impact across industries. AI is revolutionising how organisations handle data, offering tools that simplify data discovery, governance, and compliance. At AvePoint, we focus on how AI can help businesses overcome the challenges of modern information management, empowering them to securely manage, store, and leverage their data for strategic decision-making.

However, with these advancements come new responsibilities. As AI integrates more deeply into our systems, organisations must strike the right balance between innovation and accountability. AI's ability to automate complex data processes brings efficiency, but it also highlights the importance of trust, transparency, and ethical use. Without responsible AI implementation, there's a risk of overlooking data privacy concerns and regulatory compliance.

Consideration also needs to be given to generative AI and how information stores either hinder or enhance. Gen AI outputs can only be as good as the information it has access to, and if that information is stale, out of date or redundant, the generated AI output will never reach expected standards. This, in turn, will hamper decision-making and open organisations up to more risk. 

By using AI responsibly, organisations can create smarter data governance strategies that not only optimise performance but also protect sensitive information. This empowers organisations to manage their information lifecycle efficiently, ensuring compliance and enhancing operational productivity.

As AI continues to evolve, it's vital that organisations don't just adopt the latest technology but that they do so with a commitment to safeguarding their most valuable asset—information.

James Ramsay, Principal Product Manager, Remote

AI is expected to significantly impact workplaces, particularly in streamlining payroll processes. This is essential as remote work grows and businesses expand globally, necessitating efficient payroll systems that comply with local regulations in all the places that they hire.

AI can enhance payroll by quickly identifying errors and adapting to legislative changes, reducing risks of human error and fraud. However, businesses must prioritise data privacy and security as they integrate AI into payroll systems to protect sensitive employee information.

However, as businesses integrate AI, they must remain vigilant about data privacy and security, ensuring protections are in place to safeguard sensitive employee information from unauthorised access and leaks. Given the Australian Taxation Office's move to conduct more random audits for tax discrepancies, leveraging AI for payroll compliance has never been more crucial. 

By adopting AI responsibly, businesses can enhance operational efficiency while ensuring they meet regulatory requirements, ultimately leading to a more agile and competitive workforce.