University AI expert Witbrock tapped by government for advice

Professor Michael Witbrock from Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland, has been appointed chair of a new panel to advise on public agencies’ adoption of artificial intelligence.

The expert group was convened by the Government Chief Digital Officer, who described it as “a significant step towards ensuring the safe and responsible adoption of artificial intelligence within the public service”.

Witbrock is a professor of computer science and directs the University’s Strong AI Lab (SAIL) and the Natural, Artificial and Organisational Intelligence Institute (NAOI). 

“It’s likely that people in countries that effectively work out how to integrate these new AI capabilities into our societies will benefit most and most rapidly,” he told a University staff forum this year . “I think that Aotearoa is very well placed to benefit from AI.”

Superhuman minds and civilisational impacts from AI seem to be on the way, he said.

Joining him on the panel are Paul Littlefair of Kiwibank, Dr Te Taka Keegan of the University of Waikato, David Shanks of Inland Revenue, David Downs of New Zealand Story, and Frith Tweedie of Simply Privacy.