The University of Adelaide’s Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) in partnership with the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) has launched its Responsible AI Research Centre (RAIR). The new centre will be based at the Lot Fourteen business and technology precinct in Adelaide.
RAIR will bring AIML’s world-class researchers in artificial intelligence and machine learning together with scientific experts from CSIRO with support from the South Australian Government.
Research conducted at RAIR will explore four key themes:
- Tackling misinformation: developing methods that enable attribution of trusted data sources to AI-generated content in order to avoid misinformation and misuse;
- Safe AI in the real world: exploring the foundational science questions that underpin how AI interacts with the physical world, linking to areas including robotics;
- Diverse AI: developing AI systems that can accurately assess their own knowledge limitations and reliably express uncertainty, helping to reduce AI hallucinations; and
- AI that can explain its actions: developing AI that understands cause-and-effect relationships, beyond correlations, particularly in complex and dynamic environments.
Responsible AI is the practice of developing and using AI systems in a way that provides benefits to individuals, groups, and the wider society while minimising the risk of negative consequences. Given their increasing importance in our society and economy, AI systems must be trusted to behave and make decisions in a responsible manner.
RAIR represents AIML’s third significant AI initiative this year alone. In September, the Institute announced the establishment of the CommBank Centre for Foundational AI Research, in partnership with Commonwealth Bank, and AIML’s Industrial AI program, which supports the development of core industrial AI capability in South Australia and across the nation in a range of sectors. In total, the three initiatives represent more than $33 million in investment in AI research at AIML.
“The Responsible AI Research Centre will have national and international impact and reinforces South Australia’s reputation as a recognised leader in artificial intelligence research,” said SA Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science Susan Close.
“Our investment of AUD5 million to establish the RAIR Centre is in addition to AUD6 million in State Government funding already committed to AIML earlier this year, which builds on its considerable success supporting businesses to develop AI-enabled products and services, automate processes and improve productivity,” she added.
“This centre will bring together expertise from two of the country’s leading responsible AI research institutions to collaboratively tackle some of the most pressing grand challenges of our time,” said the CSIRO’s Professor Elanor Huntington. “Responsible AI is an emerging field; this centre shows Australia’s very real commitment to strong global leadership in the development of innovative technologies for deploying AI.”
