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Government of South Australia - Department of State Development

    South Australia’s AI capabilities

    Investing in AI research and industry application
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    Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a focus and strength of South Australia’s research sector since the internationally competitive Australian Institute for Machine Learning was established with the support of the South Australian Government in 2018.

    The state boasts the nation’s most concentrated pool of AI talent, strengthened by South Australian Government supported local and international attraction programs like the AIML Industrial AI Program Scholarships and Future Industry Making Fellowships.

    Recently, AI has been elevated in the public consciousness due to the widespread adoption of AI technologies to aid in our personal and professional lives – especially generative AI tools such as ChatGPT.

    South Australia’s strong AI research base and network of AI startups and businesses has given our state a head start in the global race to capitalise on AI technologies across government and private sectors, boosting productivity, attracting investment, and providing better services for our population.

    However, government must balance support for the development of a prosperous local AI industry with consideration for safeguards that ensure AI is adopted fairly, safely and transparently.

    This balance was explored in SA Parliament’s 2023 Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Michael Brown MP, now Assistant Minister for AI and the Digital Economy.

    Download the Report of the Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence to view the Committee’s findings and recommendations, which now guide South Australian Government investment into AI programs and the current development of a state-wide AI strategy.

    Access Full Report

    Industrial AI Program

    How could AI increase productivity in your organisation?

    Industrial AI refers to the use of AI to improve efficiency or create value for industry.

    The Department of State Development has partnered with the Australian Institute for Machine Learning (AIML) to help local SME businesses and government agencies explore how AI can be used to leverage data and solve specific challenges.

    The Industrial AI Program invites South Australian SME businesses and SA Public Sector agencies to engage with AIML’s engineering expertise to enhance business operations, develop innovative solutions, and leverage AI technology to gain a competitive edge.

    Examples of Industrial AI include chatbots, advanced analytics, management tools, supply chain management, and automation and robotics in manufacturing.

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    Responsible AI Research Centre

    The law, government policy, and community understanding has struggled to keep pace with the swift progression of AI technology development.

    The Responsible AI Research (RAIR) Centre addresses this discrepancy – dedicated to the practice of developing and using AI systems in a way that provides benefits to individuals, groups, and the wider society while minimising the risk of negative consequence.

    Research will focus on four themes: Tackling misinformation; Safe AI in the Real World; Diverse AI and AI that can explain its actions.

    Established in 2024, RAIR is expected to reach 30-40 researchers with an initial Department of State Development investment of $5 million over 5 years, matched by the University of Adelaide and CSIRO's Data 61. Additional research partners are anticipated to join over time.

    Learn more

    Supporting home-grown AI businesses

    The Department of State Development is collating a South Australian AI Capability Matrix to map and showcase local AI expertise.

    As with the South Australian Cyber Capability Matrix, this document will serve as a directory of the state’s companies offering AI advice, technologies, software and other solutions.

    Not only will this document help local, domestic and international businesses connect with the AI services they require to grow their businesses, it will drive whole-of-industry development by identifying state strengths and areas for improvement.

    Grant funding for innovative SA businesses

    South Australian startup businesses looking to commercialise an innovative AI product or service may be eligible to apply for funding through the Seed-Start grant program.

    Up to $500,000 in matched project funding is available through this competitive grant program, with previous Seed-Start recipients including AI-enabled companies Presagen (Life Whisperer), Cropify, Athlete’s AI, ValAi and Baseline Technologies.