Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Message from the Minister

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming how we work and the government services we provide for the people of NSW. It presents significant opportunities to enhance productivity, drive economic growth, and improve the way we live and work. While the NSW Government must be ready to embrace these opportunities, we must do so in a safe, ethical, and responsible way. Transparency about the information and approaches we use is also  critical to maintaining public trust in government.

The NSW Government is a leader in the safe and responsible use of AI. On 1 July 2024, we released an update to our pioneering AI Assessment Framework. This improvement addresses new and emerging risks and opportunities, continuing to set the standard for managing AI. By setting appropriate guardrails for the design, deployment and use of AI, we can ensure we meet the expectations of our community and uphold the highest ethical standards. 

Use of AI in the NSW Government is not new. We are already using AI to make our communities safer – for example, in bushfire intelligence, measuring the health of our environment via smart sensors, and enhancing the education of our youth through services like the NSW EduChat. The introduction of emerging technologies, such as generative AI, can enable us to deliver better, safer outcomes for the people of NSW. 

Our efforts to harness the opportunities of innovation through emerging technologies must be underpinned with measures to appropriately manage risk. The Department of Customer Service has updated the NSW Digital Assurance Framework and the NSW AI Assessment Framework to incorporate the development of generative AI. These updates enhance the way we manage risk and are mandatory for NSW Government agencies. We are also making sure we have the right expertise to help us review high-risk projects through our AI Review Committee. 

The NSW Government is committed to ensuring the safe, ethical, and responsible deployment of AI across NSW. As we continue to collaborate with industry, academia, and our Commonwealth, state and territory colleagues, I am confident that our approach will enable us to remain dedicated to deploying AI responsibly, and always with a view to delivering the best outcomes for our communities.