Feedback sought on remedies and liability if things go wrong with AI‑enabled goods and services
The Albanese government has opened a consultation on the review of artificial intelligence (AI) and Australian Consumer Law (ACL) in line with its stated commitment to ensure that consumers can safely enjoy the benefits of new and emerging AI technologies.
The consultation is a part of the government’s efforts to support safe and responsible AI practices, to fortify existing laws seeking to tackle the risks and harms of AI, and to improve the potentially mandatory guardrails impacting the development and use of AI in high-risk settings, according to a media release of Australia’s Treasury.
The government is releasing a discussion paper on AI and the ACL, which aims to explore the application of the ACL to AI‑enabled goods and services. Specifically, the government is requesting feedback from interested stakeholders on issues such as:
- whether the existing consumer protections under the ACL are appropriate for consumers of AI‑enabled goods and services
- how existing ACL provisions should apply to new and emerging AI‑enabled goods and services
- what the remedies for consumers and the liability for suppliers and manufacturers of AI‑enabled goods and services should be in situations where things go wrong
The government has urged any interested stakeholders to give their comments relevant to this discussion by 12 November, Tuesday.
Australian consumers and businesses have increasingly been accessing services and purchasing goods powered by AI, noted the media release of Stephen Jones, Australia’s assistant treasurer and minister for financial services.
