Generative AI – language models and multimodal foundation models
The current ‘ChatGPT moment’ is provoking public conversation about the role AI should have in Australian society.
In February 2023, Australia’s National Science and Technology Council, at the request of the Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic MP, commissioned a report exploring the rapidly evolving area of Generative AI. The Australian Council of Learned Academies was pleased to develop this rapid report, convening contributions from the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, the Academy of the Humanities, and the Academy of Science.
The report has been developed in the context of rapid change in the ecosystem and heightened expectations about the risks and possibilities of both ChatGPT in particular and generative AI more broadly. Generative AI raises questions about opportunities and risks of widespread adoption; the scope and adequacy of national strategic planning and policies; the fitness of legal and regulatory approaches; and the implications of increasing geopolitical competition and geo-specific regulation in AI-related technologies and industries.
The report responds to the following questions:
- What are the opportunities and risks of applying large language models (LLMs) and multimodal foundation models (MFMs) learning technologies over the next two, five and ten years?
- What are some examples of strategies that have been put in place internationally by other advanced economies since the launch of models like ChatGPT to address the potential opportunities and impacts of artificial intelligence (AI)?
Contributors
The development of the report was supported by lead authors Distinguished Professor Genevieve Bell FAHA FTSE, Professor Julian Thomas FAHA, Professor Jean Burgess FAHA and Professor Shazia Sadiq FTSE with input from 24 expert contributors and 7 peer reviewers.
Project Management
| ACOLA | Ryan Winn |
| Australian Academy of the Humanities | Kylie Brass |
| Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering | Peter Derbyshire
Natasha Abrahams |
| Australian Academy of Science | Hayley Teasdale
Lauren Sullivan |
Project Funding and Support
The report was commissioned by Australia’s National Science and Technology Council.
Acknowledgement of Country
ACOLA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and custodians of the lands on which our company is located and where we conduct our business. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.
