Digital Transformation Agency's generative AI services and support RFI closes next week

The Digital Transformation Agency's Request for Information to “gain an understanding of the market to provide generative artificial intelligence (AI) services and support” closes next week.

The RFI is not a procurement exercise, but rather an effort to “obtain information in connection with generative artificial intelligence (AI) solutions that could serve for individual Government organisations or the Australian Government as a whole”.

It was published on 9 November and closes on 6 December 2023.

The agency wants to “understand how to enable the APS to harness the opportunities of AI technology in a safe and responsible manner that continues to uphold public trust,” the RFI states.

It seeks information “ to help understand the range of products and services that exist in relation to this rapidly evolving technology and how they may offer value for government.”

“There is a clear opportunity but procurement works best when we understand what we're buying,” states a DTA presentation accompanying the RFI.

The “RFI is a first step for us to learn more, fast. We’ve identified some broad, possibly useful functions though they’re just illustrative. We welcome other ideas.”

The presentation also stated that the agency “must proceed with some care while learning about uncertainties, risks and mitigations”.

The DTA wants to know what new products and services have been developed that could help Government Agencies take advantage of generative AI capabilities.

It is also asking about ways in which the Australian Government could approach generative AI with a whole-of-government approach using commercial offerings.

The agency also wants to know about ways in which suppliers can support accountability, assurance, safety and transparency in the use of generative AI.

The RFI states that the DTA invites proposals to help the Australian Government develop a whole-of-government approach to adopting and integrating generative AI solutions.

This could involve scalable SaaS solutions, modular solutions targeted at particular functions of work of the public sector, offerings that can be integrated across agencies using existing propriety or open source foundation models and solutions, and the development of foundation model(s) for the Australian Public Service.

On 16 November 2023, the DTA held an industry briefing about the generative artificial intelligence RFI, which could still be viewed at the time of writing.

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that the Australian Government would conduct a six-month trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot from January to June 2024. Microsoft will provide training, onboarding and implementation assistance with participating agencies.

The Queensland and South Australian state governments have stood out for their progress they have made with generative AI, according to the State of IT, an annual review of state and territory ICT programs by iTnews.

iTnews credited the Queensland and South Australian state governments for “practical guidance and early sanctioned uses of generative AI that run on top of the Azure OpenAI service”.