New Zealand’s Minister for Digitising Government, Judith Collins, plans to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in the health and education sectors. Experts have responded with cautious optimism, emphasising the need for a careful and well-considered approach.
Collins believes AI could be used in areas such as analysing mammogram results and tutoring children. Dr Michael Johnston, a senior fellow at the New Zealand Initiative, supports the potential for AI to promote educational equality. However, he warns that technology should not replace the learning of basic skills and raises concerns about increased screen time for children.
Mahsa McCauley, a senior lecturer at Auckland University of Technology and Director of the AI Forum, sees significant benefits for teachers and students in using AI. She suggests AI could handle repetitive tasks, freeing up teachers’ time, and offer personalised learning experiences for students. However, she also highlights the need for education about AI use and a responsible approach.
In the health sector, Collins proposes using AI for tasks like processing mammogram results. Dr Matthew Clark, a general surgeon and associate professor at Auckland University, sees this as a potential game-changer. He also suggests using AI chatbots in different languages to improve health communication. However, he agrees that human oversight is still necessary.
Allyn Robins, AI lead of public interest think tank Brainbox, urges caution, stating that the technology is not yet capable of tasks like tutoring. He also raises concerns about how personal data will be used by AI systems.
The European Union has regulated AI usage in high-risk sectors, including education and health, but New Zealand has yet to do so. Robins believes some form of guidelines or regulation is necessary.
