South Australia will establish the first Australian royal commission into artificial intelligence to study AI’s impact on work, education, public services, and creative industries, with findings meant to inform proactive government regulation.

The Premier announced the inquiry after a US trip where he engaged with AI firms and officials, signed a memorandum of understanding with OpenAI, and met with Tim Cook.

The inquiry will begin on October 1, with terms of reference finalized within six weeks and a final report due by July 1, 2027.

Experts warn against treating AI outputs as expert advice, stressing safeguards and clear distinctions between AI capabilities and professional expertise, especially in high-stakes contexts.

Stakeholder views diverge: industry seeks rapid permitting with renewable offsets; civil society calls for strict regulation; academics demand transparent risk assessments and inclusive governance; planners want data-center siting guidance to protect grids.

Business voices urge clear regulatory settings to guide where global firms invest, balancing innovation with safeguards.

National cybersecurity perspectives note AI’s potential to strengthen or undermine security, underscoring the need for timely regulatory responses.

Opposition criticizes the move as duplicative of existing work and questions the need for another $3 million inquiry, referencing a prior report with 15 recommendations.

Legal experts question the commission’s design and outputs, noting the inquiry will determine whether practical rules emerge or only high-level observations.

Experts warn about existential and societal risks—accelerated malicious activity and vulnerabilities—if AI deployment remains unregulated.

The commission’s legitimacy is uncertain due to lack of formal Premier press release, missing minutes, and unclear hearing authority, though theme analysis is possible.

Experts argue AI is advancing quickly and urges immediate action using existing expertise to avoid lag while awaiting the commission’s findings.