National AI Plan welcomed for advancing digital skills inclusion

The Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance has welcomed the introduction of the National AI Plan, describing it as an initial step towards coordinated national efforts to address AI literacy and digital inclusion across the country.

AI skills focus

The plan places significant emphasis on AI skills development and digital literacy. The Alliance notes these areas are fundamental to ensuring equitable access to technology and its benefits. According to David Spriggs, Chair of the Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance, building digital skills for those most excluded is crucial for effective participation in an AI-driven society.

"We are very pleased to see AI literacy feature so prominently as part of the National AI Plan. Building capability, particularly for those most excluded from the digital world, is vital to ensure as many people as possible can confidently navigate and participate in an increasingly AI-driven society," said David Spriggs, Chair, Australian Digital Inclusion Alliance.

Exclusion rates

The latest Australian Digital Inclusion Index reveals that roughly 20 per cent of Australians remain digitally excluded, with about 10 per cent identified as highly excluded. Groups most affected include those aged 75 years and older, individuals who did not complete secondary school, residents of public housing, and First Nations communities.

The Alliance has previously called for the prioritisation of digital skills and literacy measures as AI becomes more prevalent in daily life and the workplace. It has advocated for greater national coordination to ensure digital inclusion keeps pace with technological change.

Path to inclusion

Spriggs considers the current plan a milestone, but views it as only part of the necessary response. The Alliance is encouraging policymakers to further address broader inclusion challenges, warning that skills and literacy alone are not sufficient to overcome all barriers.

"This National AI Plan is an important milestone that highlights both the value of AI and challenges we face to enable all Australians to benefit. Skills and literacy are a vital element of this dynamic, however we urge the government to use this plan as a stepping-stone to coordinated national action around the broader challenges of digital inclusion," Mr Spriggs said.

Proposed initiatives

The Alliance has put forward several initiatives to improve digital inclusion. These include developing a common language and national benchmark for digital skills, establishing a National Device Bank to support device refurbishment and reuse, and introducing a national concessional broadband offering to ensure affordable internet access for more Australians.

The Alliance also supports the ongoing work of the Future Skills Organisation to define digital and AI-related competency standards. It welcomes collaborations by the National AI Centre and Good Things Australia aimed at producing additional research on the social and economic impact of upskilling Australians in AI. Support for the activities of the National AI Centre and Infoxchange, specifically those targeted at enhancing AI literacy within the non-profit sector, is also noted.

Collaboration outlook

The Alliance underscores the importance of ongoing consultation and cooperation with government stakeholders to link efforts across the broader digital inclusion landscape.

"The ADIA looks forward to continued positive consultation and collaboration with the government, and to build linkages through the digital inclusion ecosystem as Australia's works to effectively and equitably harness AI," Mr Spriggs said.