International Monetary Fund managing director, Kristalina Georgieva, was recently quoted saying that "in most scenarios artificial intelligence (AI) would probably worsen overall inequality across the global economy and could stoke social tensions without political intervention".

$1/

(min cost $8)

Login or signup to continue reading

Australia's vulnerability to such AI-induced inequality would appear to be high, while our chances of any mitigating political intervention appears to be very low, based on current and past examples of the way state and federal governments have sought to use AI.

Too often we find that the seduction of increased revenue, sugar-coated by alleged positive outcomes (such as saving lives, or nailing thieves and cheats) has led to the rollout of programs and schemes that have had the reverse effect. Rather than check for errors or undertake rectification, the initial tendency is to double-down and attack critics or innocent victims of the programs.

The Queensland government appears to be providing the latest example.

Catching speeding drivers performs a social good (making roads safer), but also provides a revenue stream for state governments.

Along with speeding, in recent years using a mobile phone while driving has been identified as hazardous and, where detected, leads to fines.

To police mobile phone use, governments are increasingly turning to fixed camera technologies that can identify not just a phone held to the ear, but a phone placed in the lap.

As this technology can also detect whether seat belts are worn, Queensland added camera-detected seatbelt infringements in 2022, and other States are now following........

© Canberra Times