10 Guardrails for AI Safety in Australia

The Government has released the Voluntary AI Safety Standard, outlining 10 guardrails for AI safety. This standard aligns with international regulations and provides detailed examples of its application.

At the same time, the Government has launched a public consultation on its proposal to introduce mandatory guardrails, which closes in October.

1. Transparency and Accountability

Ensure every AI system and process is transparent to stakeholders and holds parties accountable.

2. Lifecycle Management

From development to deployment, manage the AI lifecycle meticulously to meet ethical, legal, and organisational goals.

3. Stakeholder Engagement

Continuous interaction with users and stakeholders to align AI outcomes with societal values.

4. Risk Management

Proactively identify, assess, and mitigate AI-related risks to prevent adverse outcomes.

5. Human Oversight

Embed meaningful human oversight at crucial stages of the AI lifecycle to ensure ethical standards.

6. Impact Assessments

Regularly conduct AI impact assessments to understand and mitigate potential harms.

7. Supplier Compliance

Collaborate with suppliers to ensure they adhere to the same ethical and safety standards.

8. Training and Education

Equip your team with comprehensive training on AI safety and ethics.

9. Continuous Improvement

Establish a feedback loop to continually enhance AI systems’ safety and performance.

10. Legal and Ethical Compliance

Ensure all AI applications comply with existing laws and ethical guidelines.

The voluntary guardrails are in line with the proposed mandatory standard, so you can use them to future-proof your solutions ahead of the new AI laws.