Australian Human Rights Commission Human Rights in the Digital Age: Additional Material Submitted to the UN Global Digital Compact, 30 April 2023 As an independent statutory office that champions the public interest, including human rights, an AI Safety Commissioner could help build public trust in the safe use of AI.42 59. A more detailed explanation of the role of an AI Safety Commissioner can be found at pages 125–135 of the Final Report. 60. Although the above is specific to Australia, the notion is applicable more broadly. All countries would benefit from the creation of such an independent statutory body to better promote the regulation of AI within their countries. Recommendation 8: Countries should establish statutory bodies specifically focused on promoting and protecting human rights in respect of AI. These statutory bodies should also work towards advancing AI regulation. Such bodies must be independent and appropriately funded. 61. However, the creation of such a body will take time. In the meantime, countries must build upon the capacity of existing regulators. Recommendation 9: Until an independent statutory body, as described in Recommendation 8 is implemented, countries must build the capacity of existing regulators, including by increasing funding, to better respond to the human rights risks of AI. 4.3 Pessimism towards a timely legislative response 62. The Commission is alarmed by the rise of generative AI, and stresses that this necessitates an effective and fast response to its regulation. This is supported by the Future of Life’s Pause Giant AI Experiments: An Open Letter which calls on: all AI labs to immediately pause for at least 6 months the training of AI systems more powerful than GPT-4. This pause should be public and verifiable, and include all key actors. If such a pause cannot be enacted quickly, governments should step in and institute a moratorium. 43 63. Unfortunately the open letter is unlikely to have any real effect in regulating AI, or addressing potential risks of AI, due to its non-binding nature. It is also questionable if any governments are even capable of 15