The ABC chair warned that AI could be “dangerous and sinful” considering some who lend these views “too autocratic”.
Kim Williams, who has led the National Broadcaster since March 2024, is a heavy user of various AI applications, including chatgpt, gemini, saying that people who understand the technology.
“I choose myself and try to understand it … I don’t pretend to be an expert, but I’m sure that technology is active that Australia is Australia.
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“Like all technology, it’s a useful tool. But it’s a tool and we shouldn’t take care of it as much as anything else…
Williams warned that the technology could subvert the values of those who create or control it, and said he worries about what it means for AI.
“There are a lot of constructs that AI shows that can be seen in some ways that can be dangerous and sinful,” he said.
“Many of the participants in the financing – and even the beginning and leadership of some of the AI [companies] – There are unusual views on human organization and politics, and in some cases … there are views that are more autocratic, and believe in an anointed one who rules the majority. “
Williams said that as a believer in democracy and competition of ideas, it is “obviously socially dangerous” for people to limit the views of those they disagree with.
“We should not underestimate the skill and power of these technologies – and we have seen examples of these technologies in the hands of some governments of how dangerous they can be.”
Asked if he thought media organizations – including news and watchdog news – should sign agreements with companies to use technologies in the public and national interest.
“I discuss this openly with colleagues because I think these things are very important.”
AI companies have failed to enter a text data mining and copyright law in Australia, which allows them to train AI in creative works without paying for it. Last month, the Albanese government ordered the introduction of such an exemption.
Williams, who has been in charge of the copyright agency for six years, said that people have a right to receive income from their creative work.
“Anything that is compromised is not cool, and it is not acceptable, and that is, as far as I know, illegal,” he said.
“And you have to get the full … Defense and prosecution of the government. You have to pay the people who have invested their lives in creating works.”
Williams said he sees AI as potentially damaging for entry-level jobs in industries like accounting or law, but he believes the impact on journalism jobs won’t be as detrimental to journalism jobs.
“I think the impact of journalism is probably more positive on people, and they will improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods that they can do better and improve the methods they can do better and improve the methods they can do better and improve the ways they do the ways they can do it better and improve jourterism,” he said.
“But boy, in a lot of other areas, I think it could be a job destroyer.”