The Victorian government is aiming to seize on the “once-in-a-generation” opportunity presented by artificial intelligence and become the nation’s “AI capital”, with plans to upskill workers, support those who are displaced, and lobby the Commonwealth for reforms.

Victorian Minister for Economic Growth and Jobs Danny Pearson late last week unveiled the state’s AI Mission Statement, which outlines how the state government plans to use AI to drive innovation, boost productivity and stimulate economic growth.

The statement outlines a future where AI is used “responsibly, inclusively and for the benefit of all”.

It details a number of existing policies and initiatives along with a handful of new programs around data centres and skills, and plans to lobby the federal government on some AI-related issues.

“AI is rapidly transforming the world around us,” Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said in the statement’s foreword.

“It is reshaping entire industries and institutions – from how students learn, to how researchers make discoveries that can save lives, to how filmmakers revolutionise screen production.

“Victoria is ready to lead the nation in AI development and adoption.”

Upskilling the state

The statement is centred on six strategic pillars: investment attraction and adoption; data centres and digital infrastructure; local innovation, products and services; talent and workforce; ethical AI use; and public sector adoption.

It includes the new $8.1 million ‘Digital Jobs – AI Career Conversation’ program, which will support workers in Victoria to move into AI-enabled roles, with an aim to safeguard jobs from AI and help workers transition into new roles.

The Victorian government also plans to establish principles to guide local employers in preparing for the widespread adoption of AI tools and investigate supports for groups of displaced workers impacted by this adoption of the technology.

Late last year, the state government rolled out its $5.5 million Sustainable Data Centre Action Plan, with plans to balance the need for timely access to land, water and energy with security and sustainability of water and energy supply.

It will do this using data on transport, energy and water to determine the most sustainable locations for new data centres, and partner with local TAFEs to develop the workforce needed to support them.

The statement also outlines how the Victorian government will advocate to the Commonwealth government on several AI-related issues, including for a migration system that is “accessible to people with new and cutting-edge AI skills” and the establishment of a national network of high-performance computing AI capabilities that encompasses skills and infrastructure.

The statement said that advancements in AI have the potential to generate $30 billion in gross state product over the next decade.

The state government is planning to leverage the technology to drive productivity in faster scientific and tech progress, creating new products and services and increased labour capacity.

“We’re embracing AI with the same bold ambition that has made Victoria a global innovation leader, paving the way for our state to become the nation’s capital of AI,” Pearson said.

“Our AI Mission Statement outlines how Victoria will seize the potential of AI to accelerate innovation, lift productivity and grow our economy.”

The new statement builds on the Victorian Industry Policy, which was released last year and includes a framework to “grow local industries, back cutting-edge technologies and build on” the state’s strengths, and the Economic Growth Statement which includes digital technologies as a key priority.

Surprising support

The AI Mission Statement has found an unlikely supporter in the NSW state Opposition, which used it to criticise the NSW Labor government’s own commitments towards AI.

“Even the Victorian Labor government is acting on AI as an engine of jobs, productivity and investment,” NSW Shadow Minister for Artificial Intelligence James Griffin said in a statement.

“Unfortunately, in NSW, the government is still treating it as a policy risk to be managed.

“The difference in mindset is already costing NSW its competitive edge.

“Industry is telling us it is getting harder, not easier, to plan and deliver data centres in NSW.

“Planning delays are growing, energy certainty is weakening and investors are increasingly looking south.

“When capital has choices, it goes where governments have a plan.”