A new digital tool is being developed by the New South Wales Government’s Centre for Work Health and Safety (The Centre) to help identify the risks of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as businesses implement the technology.
The Artificial Intelligence Risk Management Tool is expected to help businesses manage workplace health and safety risks when introducing and using AI.
Centre Director, Skye Buatava, said around 70 per cent of Australian companies are expected to adopt at least one type of AI technology by 2030.
“While AI may provide efficient solutions to business operations, there are new potential work health and safety risks to workers,” Ms Buatava said.
“We are conducting further research to establish evidence-based actions businesses can take to help address identified risks, while developing a user-friendly AI WHS Risk Management Tool.
“The Centre has instigated two studies identifying over 50 risks to inform the tool’s development, in partnership with the University of Adelaide we have explored the ethical use of AI at work, while our work with Charles Sturt University is examining how businesses can trust new processes.”
Ms Buatava said WHS risks were found to be present throughout the planning, implementation and continued use of AI technology, and that it is crucial these risks are understood now to provide guidance to businesses before AI becomes mainstream.
“So far we have consulted with more than 80 experts from business, government and academia and the feedback and planning we are undertaking now will go a long way to ensuring workplace safety as the technology becomes available,” Ms Buatava said.
