FOI 24/25-1356 - DISCLOSURE LOG DOCUMENT 9
Title: Use of AI/ML and Advanced Technologies Within NDIA
Witness: Sam Porter, Chief Operating Officer, Deputy Chief Executive Officer Enabling Services
Talking Points
- The NDIA supports the safe, responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence (AI). This aligns with advice provided by the AI in Government Taskforce led by the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).
- AI, Machine Learning (ML) and generative AI provide opportunities to improve the Agency’s efficiency and effectiveness.
- The Agency follows guidance from the DTA to ensure its use of AI is safe, responsible and ethical.
- The NDIA is part of a Government AI working group that is developing rules for AI development and deployment in high-risk settings. This will complement the work underway by the DTA with industry to develop a voluntary AI Safety Standard and options for voluntary labelling and watermarking of AI-generated materials. The Agency’s work with the DTA will be vital for the safe and responsible use of AI within the Agency.
- The NDIA has developed an interim policy position on the use of AI, noting this technology is changing quickly with a growing market, expansion of AI tools and integration of AI within existing tools.
- The NDIA took part in the Copilot for Microsoft 365 trial coordinated by the DTA which ran from January 2024 to June 2024. The trial has been extended for a further 12 months (June 2025) to enable a more thorough review of use cases and benefit to the organisation.
- This trial provided valuable data on the impact AI can provide and how it can better support the disability sector. In comparison to open AI, Copilot provides the benefits of a large language model whilst protecting Agency data. Risk is reduced as open market AI tools harvest data as part of their operating model.
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FOI 24/25-1356 - DISCLOSURE LOG
Use of AI in the NDIA – Copilot Trial
- The NDIA provides training to employees and contractors on the responsible use of AI. This has included micro-credentials at the AI introductory level, and an AI literacy short course targeting the Agency’s senior leaders. The Agency continues to provide specific training to staff who are continuing to participate in the Microsoft Copilot trial to ensure appropriate, ethical and responsible use of AI.
- The DTA Policy for the responsible use of AI in government (external) and the NDIA’s Use of AI, Generative AI, and Machine Learning - Interim Policy are clear that sensitive and security classified information must not be entered into generative AI tools.
- In May 2023, the Agency ceased access to Open AI products in the Agency’s operating environment due to concerns regarding the security, confidentiality and privacy of information held by the Agency.
- The NDIA has blocked access to public generative AI services, continues to monitor web content filtering and data loss prevention controls, and assesses and blocks new websites as they arise.
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