Insider Brief:
- The Alan Turing Institute, DSTG, and the University of South Australia signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on AI research for defence and national security.
- The partnership will focus on key areas, including AI opportunities for defence, AI-related threats, and risk management strategies.
- Researchers will work on ensuring responsible AI development, pairing technical advancements with risk assessments and policy guidelines.
- Leaders from all three institutions emphasized the importance of global collaboration in advancing AI responsibly to address shared security challenges in Australia and the UK.
PRESS RELEASE — The Alan Turing Institute has today strengthened research ties with Australia, through a new agreement with the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) and the University of South Australia.
The DSTG is Australia’s lead agency for applying science and technology to safeguard national interests. It collaborates with industry, universities, and the scientific community to enhance Australia’s defence capabilities and operates within the governance framework of the Department of Defence.
The three organisations have signed a memorandum of understanding that will lead to joint research, focusing especially on defence and national security challenges. This collaboration will see the three organisations address core themes, including AI opportunities for defence and security, threats to defence and security from AI, and AI risk management and policy responses.
Dr Sacha Babuta, Director of the Centre for Emerging Technology and Security (CETaS) at The Alan Turing Institute said, “Global collaboration is essential to unlocking the full potential of emerging technologies for defence and security. Working with Australia’s world-class research institutions will help us to tackle shared challenges and, ultimately, help both nations harness new technologies to meet societal needs.”
Professor Peter Murphy, Deputy Vice Chancellor Research and Enterprise, University of South Australia said, “The formalisation of this partnership between the University of South Australia, The Alan Turing Institute, and Defence will enable cutting-edge research to ensure AI innovations are developed and applied responsibly, addressing challenges across Australia and the UK. This collaboration highlights the University of South Australia’s ongoing support of a collaborative and co-design approach to research.”
Dr Mel McDowall, Director of the Defence AI Research Network (DAIRNet) said, “AI is a rapidly evolving technology. Technical advances need to be paired with the development of checks, guidelines, and identification of risks to ensure the responsible use of AI, regardless of sector. We are excited to be partnering with Defence, UniSA and Alan Turing Institute, who are globally recognised as the premier institute for AI and data science, to accelerate the responsible use of this critical technology”
SOURCE: The Alan Turing Institute
