Purpose

Responsible AI is a collective responsibility, encompassing all levels within an agency, from executives to end users. It is important that everyone understands their role in ensuring the safe and responsible use of AI. This module provides guidance for aligning responsibilities and accountability within your agency, based on ISO/IEC standards and in alignment with the NSW AI Assessment Framework (AIAF).

NSW government agencies can use this guidance to understand what responsible AI means in practice. Public servants are encouraged to consider integrating these responsibilities into performance plans where appropriate, as well as into AI awareness training content and internal processes for AI governance, assurance, and the evaluation, development, and operation of AI solutions.

How to use

Responsibilities are outlined through standard roles for flexibility and organised under broader strategic objectives. The recommended approach to using this guidance is:

1. Identify the general role descriptions that best relate to your role by reviewing the 'Roles' section. 
2. Review the responsibilities and consider how to integrate them within your team's existing workflows. If you manage direct reports, assess whether any responsibilities should be included in performance plans. 
3. Implement the relevant changes.  

Roles & Responsibilities

While executives within Agencies are ultimately accountable for the safe and responsible use of AI technologies, ensuring responsible AI use involves everyone within an agency, not just technical or product teams.

This guidance should be used to enhance existing structures, allowing agencies to define and assign AI-related responsibilities that best meet their unique operational needs.

Responsibilities

The RACI matrices provided are to assist agencies in considering different roles and responsibilities. They are organised under broad strategic objectives to support the establishment of responsible AI practices.

What’s next?

By following this guidance, government agencies can better structure their approach to responsible AI, ensuring that all levels of the organisation are aligned and actively contributing to ethical AI practices.

Agencies should start by ensuring a Governance and Assurance function has clear accountability for overseeing responsible AI use.

Resources

[1] Compliance plans communicate departmental compliance with the AIAF, tracking implementation progress and raising awareness of challenges for support. Reporting requirements apply to department Governance and Assurance functions and are collated by Digital NSW through the AI Secretariat.