38412 (2024). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Social Development and Employment

38412 (2024). Francisco Hernandez to the Minister for Social Development and Employment: How, if at all, are the Minister's departments, if any, currently using AI, and what plans, if any, have been developed to manage the risks associated with AI?

Hon Louise Upston: I am advised by the Ministry of Social Development (MSD) that they use a variety of tools that could be considered AI, including common applications such as spam filters and search tools. Because AI is a very broad term, MSD does not maintain a register of these tools. For specifically generative AI (tools like ChatGPT), MSD policy permits staff to use these for ideation only as long as no client or Ministry information is used. MSD is also considering its application as an additional tool in our suite of information security technologies, and as a way of quickly creating synthetic data for testing purposes. Any proposed use of AI would need to be assessed in line with MSD’s general information policies, certification and accreditation processes, and commitments under the Algorithm Charter and Data Protection and Use Policy. Where relevant, this would include assessment through MSD’s Privacy, Human Rights and Ethics framework and our Model Development Lifecycle, as described on the MSD website. Additionally, an Emerging Technologies Advisory Group has been established to assess the suitability of potential use cases for generative AI and other new technologies prior to any such assessment.