The Office of the Prime Minister's Chief Science Advisor in New Zealand has issued a strong call for the regulation of AI use in the country. They are worried that the current laws are not enough to handle the potential harm caused by AI. The main concern raised is the presence of bias and discrimination in AI algorithms, as biassed data used to train algorithms leads to discriminatory AI systems.

The office acknowledges the negative impacts of AI and emphasizes the need for regulations to govern its use to prevent harm. Without proper regulation, existing biases and discrimination could be amplified, resulting in unintended consequences. The editorial calls for New Zealand to develop proactive regulatory frameworks to ensure the ethical and responsible use of AI.

Why does it matter?This call for regulation reflects the mounting global concern surrounding the risks associated with AI. Recently, senior EU officials engaged in active efforts, urging at least 10 Asian countries to embrace their stringent AI regulatory approach during talks. Establishing guidelines that prioritise transparency, accountability, and fairness in AI's implementation is imperative to address these concerns effectively.