Gen AI Working Group

Why we have formed

The AI Forum has formed a working group to draft a white paper on Generative AI (Gen AI) in New Zealand.

The working group comprises subject matter experts from across Aotearoa and aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits, challenges, and governance considerations associated with Gen AI in Aotearoa New Zealand.

The white paper will explore various topics related to Gen AI, including their impact on privacy, security, bias and ethics, as well as their potential applications in different industries such as healthcare, education, and law. Additionally, the group will examine best practices for deploying and managing these models in the local context, specifically focusing on Te Ao Māori.

The Forum facilitates AI advancement for Aotearoa New Zealand, across a multi-stakeholder environment. Members are encouraged to consider different points of view when formulating projects, to provoke conversation within the working groups and cultivate open critique and reflection.

Overall, the working group aims to provide insights and guidance to organisations and individuals considering or already using Gen AI in New Zealand to ensure they do so ethically, responsibly, and sustainably.

The Forum’s intent for the Working Group is to use the Forum’s power to convene and bring together knowledge from across the AI ecosystem to collate and bring to life AI best practices and guidelines for its use in Aotearoa New Zealand.

Purpose

The group has been formulated to address the following:

To ensure that Te Ao Māori is embedded in AI governance approaches adopted in Aotearoa New Zealand.
To open the eyes of New Zealanders wanting to investigate and gain access to valuable tools available.
To inform the AI Governance working group on frameworks and toolsets relevant to Gen AI.
Recognising that effective governance of AI relies on solid foundations of responsible governance, use and processing of New Zealanders’ data.

Deliverables

White Paper on Large Language Models in New Zealand

Objectives: The objective of the white paper is to provide a comprehensive overview of the benefits, challenges, and governance considerations associated with Gen AI (formerly refered to as Large Language Models or LLMs) in New Zealand, as well as best practices for deploying and managing these models in the local context. This will help organisations and individuals make informed decisions about how to use Gen AI responsibly and ethically.

Audiences: The white paper will be delivered to the Forum and other relevant industry groups, as well as to academic institutions and government agencies. It will also be made available to the broader public interested in understanding the impact of Gen AI in New Zealand.

Guidelines for Ethical Use of Gen AI in New Zealand

Objectives: The objective of the guidelines is to provide practical guidance to organisations and individuals considering or already usingGen AI in New Zealand. The policies will focus on ethical considerations, such as privacy, security, bias, and cultural sensitivity, explicitly focusing on the Māori language and culture. This will help ensure that Gen AI is deployed and managed in a way that is respectful and responsible towards all stakeholders.

Audiences: The guidelines will be widely disseminated to relevant stakeholders, including AI researchers, software developers, business leaders, data scientists, policymakers, and academics. They will also be available for public use.

Case Study Examples of Gen AI Applications in New Zealand

Objectives: The case studies aim to showcase the potential of Gen AI to drive innovation and enable better decision-making in New Zealand. The case studies will also highlight best practices for deploying and managing these models in practice, which can be used as a guide for others looking to develop their own Gen AI applications.

Audiences: The case studies will be publicly available and disseminated through the NZ AI Forum and other relevant industry groups. They will interest businesses, government agencies, scholars, and public members interested in learning how Gen AI is used in New Zealand.