The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) sees a role for generative AI, but only in “low risk, low complexity” situations. The ATO acknowledges the potential of generative AI, like ChatGPT, to make tasks easier and faster, particularly for the ATO’s teams. However, strict ethical and privacy safeguards are in place, and taxpayer data will not be used with generative AI.
The ATO’s approach aligns with the Digital Transformation Agency’s interim guidance on AI experimentation. AI, including generative AI, is used by the ATO for tasks like analyzing international tax datasets and specific investigations.
Fawad Abro, Assistant Commissioner of Enterprise Data and Analytics at the ATO, emphasized the importance of focusing on business value, risk, and cost rather than just technology hype. The ATO is cautious and considers the ethical use of generative AI tools a top priority.
