Conroy also talked about how the Albanese government was managing the emerging role of AI in defence, which he said posed both “risks” and “opportunities”.
There are risks of AI to defence, as well as opportunities. That’s why we established a defence AI centre in 2024 under this government. That’s why we’ve put in place a number of safeguards. But importantly, we’re also seizing the opportunities. We lead the world in large autonomous systems, like the Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft, the first combat aircraft designed to build in this country in 50 years, as well as the Ghost Shark, extra large underwater autonomous vessel that is a robot submarine. Both of these autonomous systems are making Australia safer by coming into service with the Australian defence force as well as generating thousands of jobs in Australia. So AI is both a risk and an opportunity, and you need to deal with it. You can’t run and hide away from it. You’ve got to engage in it.
There are risks of AI to defence, as well as opportunities.
That’s why we established a defence AI centre in 2024 under this government.
That’s why we’ve put in place a number of safeguards.
But importantly, we’re also seizing the opportunities.
We lead the world in large autonomous systems, like the Ghost Bat collaborative combat aircraft, the first combat aircraft designed to build in this country in 50 years, as well as the Ghost Shark, extra large underwater autonomous vessel that is a robot submarine.
Both of these autonomous systems are making Australia safer by coming into service with the Australian defence force as well as generating thousands of jobs in Australia.
So AI is both a risk and an opportunity, and you need to deal with it.
You can’t run and hide away from it.
You’ve got to engage in it.
