South Australia Orders Australia’s First Royal Commission into AI
Synopsis
The inquiry will examine how artificial intelligence is reshaping society and the future of work, with the state government planning to use its findings to inform AI regulation and policy.
South Australia will establish Australia's first royal commission into artificial intelligence (AI), marking a significant step toward shaping future AI governance.
Premier Peter Malinauskas said the inquiry will examine how AI is transforming society, workplaces, education, creative industries and public services, while helping governments develop proactive regulations for the rapidly evolving technology.
The royal commission is expected to begin on October 1, with findings due by July 1, 2027. The state government said it will continue introducing AI-related policies where necessary and will not wait for the inquiry to conclude before taking action.
Inquiry to Focus on AI's Impact across Society
According to the South Australian government, the royal commission will examine the societal use of AI rather than infrastructure such as data centres. The inquiry will explore the technology's influence on employment, education, public services and creative industries, with recommendations expected to guide future state and national AI policy.
Malinauskas said South Australia aims to play a leadership role in AI governance, similar to its earlier push for restrictions on social media use by children, which later influenced federal legislation.
The government plans to appoint three royal commissioners to lead the inquiry, with the process expected to cost more than $3 million.
Premier says AI presents both Opportunity and Risk
While describing AI as a major opportunity to improve productivity and innovation, Malinauskas warned that the technology also poses significant risks if left without appropriate oversight.
He said governments must carefully consider AI's long-term impact on employment and society, arguing that the cost of preparing for these challenges would be far lower than the consequences of failing to regulate the technology responsibly.
The premier also suggested that recommendations from the inquiry could ultimately be adopted by both state and federal governments.
Opposition Questions Cost of the Royal Commission
South Australia's Opposition Leader Ashton Hurn criticised the decision to establish a royal commission, arguing that a previous parliamentary committee had already examined AI-related issues and produced recommendations.
Hurn questioned whether the inquiry would duplicate existing work and called on the government to provide an update on the implementation of the committee's recommendations before committing additional public funding.
US Meetings Strengthen South Australia's AI Ambitions
The announcement follows Malinauskas' recent visit to the United States, where he met executives from OpenAI, Anthropic and Apple, along with local government officials.
During the trip, South Australia signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI President and co-founder Greg Brockman to explore opportunities in AI skills development, research, innovation and investment across the state.
Malinauskas said he hopes the technology companies he met during the visit will participate in the royal commission as it examines AI's future role in society.
Premier Highlights Rapid Pace of AI Development
Malinauskas said AI is advancing at an unprecedented rate and suggested society may soon face systems capable of matching or exceeding human intelligence in certain areas.
Although acknowledging that AI technology will continue evolving during the inquiry, he said the commission could help establish long-term governance frameworks to ensure AI benefits society while minimising potential risks.
Source: Information Age (ACS)
At Inspirepreneurs Magazine, covering entrepreneurship, business failures, and the human stories behind the world's most ambitious founders. She writes at the intersection of strategy and storytelling.
