Labour is promising to create a dedicated Office of AI, introduce more rules on data centres, and set clearer expectations on automated decision-making in a plan aimed at stopping "big tech calling all the shots".
The party's "AI in New Zealand's Interests Action Plan", launched by leader Chris Hipkins and technology spokesperson Reuben Davidson, sets out how the opposition party would regulate the emerging technology if elected in November.
"We can’t turn back the clock or press pause on AI. Nor should we," the party asserted.
Davidson said: "New Zealanders can see the opportunities of AI, but they also see the risks, whether that's job losses, harmful content, data centres driving up energy costs, or a lack of accountability for important decisions that affect people's lives."
Hipkins said new data centres would have to show the electricity needed came from new renewable generation, rather than drawing on existing supply and pushing up prices for other consumers.
Questioned on whether some tech companies might view the rules as too burdensome and decide not to invest, Hipkins said renewable resources meant that was unlikely.
"They won't be burdensome because, ultimately, we have an abundance of renewable energy, and the data centres can be the catalyst for bringing more of that renewable energy into the market," he said.
Office of Artificial Intelligence
Beyond data centres, Labour would establish an Office of AI within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. A senior minister would hold lead responsibility for AI, although Hipkins said it would not be a standalone portfolio.
The Labour leader said he wanted the office running quickly, "certainly within the first few months" if he were elected.
Party co-leader Chlöe Swarbrick said a freeze was not a ban, as a "one-year pause gives us time to get this right, while National leader Christopher Luxon called it "alarmist". (Source: 1News)
Scrutiny of the AI sector has grown since Datagrid's $3.5 billion hyperscale facility north of Invercargill was granted resource consent without public notification.
In July, the Greens called for a one-year moratorium on consents for facilities using more than 50 megawatts, a proposal Prime Minister Christopher Luxon dismissed as "alarmist".
Labour today stopped short of backing the pause from its potential coalition partner.
Energy Minister Simeon Brown told Q+A last month that hyperscale data centres should underwrite renewable generation equivalent to their projected power use.
MSD example of automation creating 'risk'
Labour would also make "clear" how technology could be used to make decisions within government — citing the Ministry of Social Development as an example of an agency already granted greater freedom to automate some decision-making.
A survey commissioned by the company found 40% of respondents use ChatGPT every day, while 45% said it saved them at least four hours each week. (Source: Breakfast)
"New Zealanders shouldn't have decisions made about their lives by an algorithm that they cannot understand and that no one can explain and no one is accountable for," HIpkins said.
"Making sure that there is a person accountable for decisions made by government agencies that affect people's lives will be a very clear priority for us.
"If we need to make law changes to ensure that happens, we will."
MSD previously said new systems would not be based on generative AI models such as ChatGPT.
One seller said the orders were for non-fiction books published before the 1990s. (Source: 1News)
Automated decision-making was currently used by the ministry for rules-based calls "made using clear, set criteria based on the information we have about a client, where no discretion is required", according to MSD.
"This Government have changed the law to allow more algorithmic decision-making in government agencies," Hipkins said. "There's a risk with that. We have to protect New Zealanders from that risk. At the end of the day, someone needs to still be accountable."
The party also pledged to "establish clear expectations for human oversight and accountability in the public service, and review how existing privacy, consumer and employment protections apply to AI."
Labour unwilling to 'just let it rip'
The plan also committed to an online safety regulator with a mandate wider than the Government's planned under-16 social media ban, a ban on non-consensual deepfake pornography, and an AI in Education team to support schools.
Labour accused National of taking a "light-touch approach" on AI that "relies too much on existing law and decisions made by overseas technology companies".
"They said we're going to sack 9000 people, and then we're going to fill the void with AI. They don't know how they're going to do that. They don't know how much it's going to cost," Hipkins said.
Finance Minister reveals changes over the next three years will reduce around 8700 fulltime roles. (Source: 1News)
More broadly, he said Labour wanted to align with Australia where it could, pointing to the creative sector and businesses that work on both sides of the Tasman.
Asked about bipartisanship, he said he would welcome National working with Labour but was "not willing to sit back and just let it rip".
SHARE ME