UA’s 39 member universities are constantly adapting to the evolving nature of AI. This relates to how AI tools may be used to support teaching, learning and operational functions and activities, and any guidance required for the appropriate use of AI for students and staff. Australian universities are also investing significantly in research into all aspects of AI, producing world class research with 22 per cent of Australian AI research in the top 10 per cent of published research (compared to 16.2 per cent for China and 21 per cent for the US who are dominating AI research globally).1

Over the past couple of years, UA has provided responses to various consultations and inquiries concerning AI. For a more comprehensive overview of how universities have responded to the introduction of AI tools into the sector, we refer DISR to our submissions to the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training’s inquiry into the digital transformation of workplaces, the Senate Select Committee’s inquiry on Adopting Artificial Intelligence, TEQSA’s Assessment Reform, and the House Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training’s inquiry into the use of generative AI in the Australian education system.

Recommendations

• The Government continues to enable a principle-based approach to AI in the higher education sector, driven by providing guidance to student and staff on the appropriate use of applications with the aim to realise the applications’ potential.
• Any future potential regulatory approach to AI should offer some sort of specification to the sector it attempts to regulate and that a one size fits all approach will have deleterious effects on Australia’s knowledge economy.
• The Government does not apply a list-based approach to defining high-risk applications.
• UA continues to work with the sector and the Government on Australia’s future response and approach to AI.