Get ready for a bold move that's sure to spark debate! The government has an ambitious plan to utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for the upcoming New Year's Honours, but is it a step too far?
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPMC) is considering the use of generative AI to draft citations for the New Year's Honours list. This innovative approach aims to streamline the process and save time, but it's not without its controversies.
Here's the catch: The Honours Unit will first assess the value of AI by using it 'substantively'. If successful, AI-generated citations will be checked by staff and sent to honorees for proofing before publication. But what about the personal information involved?
The citations combine nomination details and letters of support, which contain sensitive data. An exemption form, signed in July, allows DPMC to use an AI tool called Paerata, developed by the Treasury and CASS for internal government use. This exemption is crucial as government policy typically restricts AI's access to personal information.
But here's where it gets controversial: Paerata will not retain or learn from the personal information it processes. All data will be stored in a secure database with limited access. However, the question remains: is this enough to maintain public trust and confidence in the honours system?
The application form for Paerata states, "Citations are currently drafted from scratch by the Honours Unit. They are an ideal use case for our Gen-AI tool, Paerata, as it can synthesize information and present concise summaries, saving time for staff while ensuring confidentiality."
And this is the part most people miss: Paerata's use of personal information is rated as having a "low" privacy impact and a "negligible" risk of harm. But is the potential for error or misuse worth the risk?
In a statement, DPMC clarified that AI was not used for the 2026 New Year's Honours list, as most citations were written before internal approval for Gen-AI was granted.
So, what do you think? Is the government's plan to use AI for the New Year's Honours a brilliant innovation or a risky move? Share your thoughts in the comments and let's discuss!
