Iain Ross appointed chair of South Australia AI inquiry

• Former judge Iain Ross has been appointed to lead South Australia’s Royal Commission into artificial intelligence.
• The government established the commission following an initial announcement by Premier Peter Malinauskas.
• The enquiry aims to guide state policy on safely managing technology risks and economic opportunities.

Reserve Bank board member Iain Ross has been appointed to chair South Australia’s new Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence alongside commissioners Kate Pounder and Christopher Manning.

The appointment follows Premier Peter Malinauskas’s initial announcement on Aug. 10 detailing plans for the state-level enquiry.

"The AI boom presents significant risks but also opportunities for South Australia, which is why my government has established the nation’s first Royal Commission into Artificial Intelligence," said Premier Peter Malinauskas.

The enquiry will examine artificial intelligence across education, employment, regulation, and public service delivery ahead of a final report deadline on July 1, 2027.

The commission plans to deliver policy and legislative recommendations to help the state capitalise on emerging technologies.

Ross currently serves as chair of the Net Zero Economy Authority and was previously president of the Fair Work Commission.

Pounder formerly served as CEO of the Tech Council of Australia, while Manning co-founded Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence.