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South Australian industry leaders and ministers have convened to discuss the role that cyber technology and artificial intelligence will play in the growing defence sector within the state.
At an Australian Computer Society (ACS) leadership event, Chris Picton, SA Minister for State Development, Minister for Artificial Intelligence and Digital Economy, and Minister for Defence and Space Industries, explored how the state will adopt the tools of modern technology to align with defence needs.
SA is continuing to develop as a major defence hub for the country, with hundreds of industry small and medium-sized enterprises emerging in the state to support the major companies that operate in the state, including BAE Systems, Saab, Kongsberg Defence, and Leidos.
“We must make sure the growth already underway in defence, space and the digital economy translates into secure, highly skilled jobs for South Australians,” Minister Picton said.
“AI will be part of the systems, industries and decisions that shape Australia’s future security, and South Australia is well placed to help lead that work.”
Artificial intelligence and cyber technology has been rapidly integrated in the Australian defence industry, primarily through the use of autonomous, integrated systems and command and control support.
The use of AI specifically has been a contested subject in defence, with criticism surrounding the potential of critical decision making being made by algorithms and computers.
Defence has continued to ensure that human oversight is a critical and stringent requirement when using artificial intelligence to make defence decisions.
“Defence will apply an informed, risk-based approach, which will preserve individual accountability for AI-enabled decisions and outcomes,” the department said on its website.
Mustafa Kadir, South Australian chair of the ACS, said responsible and skilled personnel within the industry can assist in mitigating these potential risks and harnessing the best capabilities.
“South Australia is known as the Defence State, but its next advantage will be built by people with deep technology capability,” Kadir said.
“AI, cyber security, software, data and systems thinking are now central to defence, space, infrastructure and industry.
“As the professional body for Australia’s technology sector, ACS has an important role to play in supporting the skills, standards and leadership needed to use these technologies responsibly and turn AI from promise into capability.”
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