Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to submit a response to the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces. Digital transformation comprises many aspects – from digital records and data analytics to robotics and artificial intelligence (AI) driven processes. This submission predominantly focuses on AI, which has been highlighted in the inquiry.
At this stage of its development, AI largely extends human capabilities, rather than replaces them. However, instances of worker substitution are growing1. Our members, Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, are increasingly adopting AI tools in research and teaching, as well as deepening their knowledge of the possibilities and risks arising from the uptake of AI technologies. Universities are also training much of the future workforce in these capabilities and are themselves large workplaces where professional staff are incorporating technology and AI into their daily activities.
Key points
- Universities are deeply involved in teaching and knowledge production. They play a key role in developing digital literacy. This includes improving staff and student understanding of technology/AI as well as related research. Uptake of such knowledge across disciplines is currently uneven.
- Universities use many forms of digital technology to support their own institutional processes. A recent national survey indicates that university staff believe it will increase productivity, but not necessarily reduce workloads.
- Universities generate large administrative data sets through their internal activities. These are amenable to AI-driven data analytics, the results of which could streamline processes and improve services. Such data analytics requires considerable upfront investment, and most universities are not currently in a position to pursue these benefits.
- There is a risk of systemic bias and discrimination if the AI recruitment tools are not designed with a diversity and inclusion lens.
- Human-AI collaboration works better when the AI delegates the work to humans rather than the other way around.
- An AI-based monitoring tool can translate into unfair pay cuts or redundancies.
- Despite growing use of AI and its potential benefits, the risks of increased use include:
– worsening the existing “digital divide”; and
– downplaying of important interpersonal skills that remain vital in workplaces.
