Three Australian-US scientific teams will set their sights on minimising the impact of health pandemics, harmful environmental emissions and drought using AI approaches. 

Minister for Industry and Science Ed Husic welcomed the announcement that the US National Science Foundation and Australia’s national science agency CSIRO have awarded grants under their Collaboration Opportunities in Responsible and Ethical AI initiative. 

The grants total $1.8 million on the US side and $2.3 million on the Australian side, and include researchers from the University of NSW, RMIT University, University of Technology Sydney and the University of Melbourne.

“These grants will support valuable research in ethical artificial intelligence, while strengthening relationships between US and Australian research organisations,” Minister Husic said.

“The NSF-CSIRO initiative will bring the best Australian and US researchers together from a range of disciplinary backgrounds, to share knowledge and learn from each other.

“AI is an important driver of new scientific discoveries and economic prosperity, while also safeguarding national wellbeing.  

“International collaborations like these will ensure we can maximise the benefits of AI in ways that are positive for individuals and society.”

In January 2022, CSIRO and the NSF established a memorandum of understanding to establish multiple pathways for expanding and deepening research collaborations between the US and Australia.