The reports out of Labor’s AI Joint Committee today prove what the Greens have said: that this Labor controlled committee is a stitch up to appear to be doing something to address community concerns on AI while doing little to take on this US billionaire controlled industry.
Lines attributable to Greens Leader and AI Spokesperson Senator David Shoebridge:
“Labor created, controlled and is running this committee so it’s no surprise at all that the result reads like Labor’s own talking points.
“In setting up this committee it was made clear from the start that the Government would not allow me as the Greens AI spokesperson to have a seat. Hard questions and serious challenges to US big tech was never part of their plan.
“Captive committees doing pretend inquiries serve no one but a Government ducking for cover.
“The letter to the PM from this committee being edited by the PM’s office is a farce worthy of Utopia.
“I know copyright holders are deeply concerned about the foreshadowing in this report on the possible erosion of copyright. They are right to be concerned, it looks like there is nothing this Government isn’t willing to sell out to pander to billionaire big tech owners.
“We support moves towards public investment and ownership in data centres but the rules have to be fixed first so the taxpayer is funding ethical AI not just trashing the environment and our culture for someone else’s profits.
“We are now in the more than ridiculous situation that OpenAI breached a site holding Medicare data and while the investigation is on foot they have secured a recommendation for more funding.
“Sometimes you look back and have to be grateful, not being part of this Labor farce was a blessing after all.”