A NEW initiative to create an online tool that will help classify different types of artificial intelligence (AI) solutions used in Australian healthcare has been announced by the Digital Health Cooperative Research Centre.
Teaming up with the Department of Health and Aged Care and two specialist AI teams from the University of Technology Sydney, the initiative complements efforts by governments, peak organisations and clinical professional and safety bodies to ensure AI is deployed safely into health care settings.
The tool will adapt the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) AI Classification Framework, which aims to assess the opportunities and risks in different types of AI systems, to the Australian context.
The project will see the tool being modified for healthcare organisations in Australia to support the safe adoption of AI and it is expected to be ready for testing by mid-2025.
"As government looks to build community trust and promote AI adoption, we need to provide guidance on how to use AI safely and responsibly," said Sam Peascod, Assistant Secretary, Digital and Service Design, Department of Health and Aged Care.
"Having a tool that can assist in classifying and performing a risk assessment of AI technologies will support the adoption of AI solutions by health care organisations and health care providers, ultimately leading to better health outcomes for consumers," he added.
The dynamic, interactive tool will be a first-of-its-kind initiative, highlighting specific risks associated with bias, explainability and robustness of AI within healthcare.
"The availability and adoption of AI is without doubt moving at a rapid pace across all sectors, including healthcare", DHCRC CEO Annette Schmiede said.
"The challenge is building clear and consistent guidance and tools, ensuring these are effective for the diverse range of audiences and AI solutions across healthcare including developers, health care providers and consumers." KB
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