How does the WA Government govern AI?
The WA Government has governance processes to ensure the safe and responsible use of AI in the WA public sector. This includes the:
- WA Government AI Policy: provides foundational principles to enable WA entities to experiment and implement innovative Al solutions in a safe and responsible manner.
- WA Government AI Assurance Framework (self-assessment): helps entities to self-assess their AI use case at each stage of the AI system lifecycle, to ensure their AI systems are designed, built and used transparently and safely, in compliance with the WA Government AI Policy. The self-assessment highlights risks associated with an AI project and assigns a risk level. Entities must use the self-assessment for any system or project that is driven by AI or automated decision making.
- WA Government AI Advisory Board (the Board): is comprised of government and non-government experts to provide independent advice to the WA Government on higher risk, large-scale or centrally funded AI projects.
- WA Government AI Register: a collated list of AI use cases within the WA public sector based on completed self-assessments.
These processes apply to your entity and should be considered for establishing any further internal measures.
How can AI boost productivity?
AI has the power to automate tasks and processes, this includes:
To harness this potential, strong governance mechanisms must be in place.
What else should my entity do to ensure adherence to WA Government AI governance processes?
- There should be clear roles and lines of accountability for the implementation of AI within an organisation.
- The WA Government AI Policy requires organisations to nominate an AI Accountable Officer. This will be an executive within a government agency, responsible for, and with oversight of, the governance of AI technologies.
Role of the AI Accountable Officer:
- Ensures their entity’s AI usage aligns with the WA Government AI Policy.
- Approves AI use case self-assessments as they are submitted.
- Ensures that the risks of using AI systems and tools within the entity are effectively managed.
- Supports staff to understand the opportunities and risks of AI tools.
- Contact point for the Office of Digital Government (DGov), and shares information with DGov on possible risks and opportunities in AI use in your entity.
- Ensures oversight of all AI projects and tools in use in the entity through the AI use case register and AI tools reference list.
- Keeps up to date with governance requirements.
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