APS AI Tracker

ATSB

Australian Transport Safety Bureau

View the original ↗

Tracked since 11 Nov 2025 · 1 change of substance across 4 versions · last changed 12 May 2026

What’s changed

How to read this

  1. Tracking begins. The statement already existed, and doesn’t say when it was first published.

  2. substantive Rewrites its statement: it now reports internal AI use for productivity, search, coding and research, lists what AI is excluded from, and adds training, safeguards and a contact address.

    read by Claude Opus 5.5
    • Now discloses internal AI use for productivity, information discovery, data analytics and coding, and training and research
    • Removed: statement that the ATSB does not use AI to deliver any services
    • Removed: mention of taking part in the Microsoft 365 Copilot trial
    • New exclusions: no AI in investigative findings, HR decisions or public-facing service delivery
    • New human-in-the-loop commitment: all AI outputs are reviewed by staff
    • Says internal governance processes now assess new AI uses, replacing the plan to set up an AI Steering Committee
    • Removed: the CIO's supporting role in AI governance (the COO is still the accountable official)
    • New mandatory AI fundamentals training for all staff
    • New contact point: ai@atsb.gov.au
    • Removed: date first published (March 2025) and reference to DTA policy v1.1
    • Commitment dropped (will): Will update this statement if it begins using AI in public-facing services
    • Policy compliance statement removed
    • Safeguard dropped: governance body
    • Strategic position on AI: planned → not mentioned
    • Domain added: corporate and enabling
    • Domain added: policy and legal
    • Legislative compliance statement added
    • New commitment (human oversight): AI enhances, not replaces, human decision-making; critical decisions reviewed and approved by qualified officials
    • New commitment (human oversight): All AI outputs verified by a staff member before official use; work owned by a human
    • New commitment (will not): AI not used for HR recruitment, hiring, performance management or areas with direct human impact
    • New commitment (will not): Does not use AI for direct service delivery or as primary contact for external stakeholders
    • New commitment (will not): Does not use AI to make decisions or findings in transport safety investigations
    • New commitment (will): Will regularly update this statement on AI initiatives and their outcomes
    • Public contact added
    • Safeguard added: human review of outputs
    • Safeguard added: privacy or security controls
    • Safeguard added: risk assessment
    • Safeguard added: staff training
    • Staff training: not mentioned → mandatory
    • Usage pattern added: analytics for insights
    • Usage pattern added: workplace productivity
    • Commitment kept (will): Will establish an AI Steering Committee to assess AI opportunities and risks
    • Policy version referenced: v1 → not referenced
    • Stated first-published date: 2025-03 → —
    Show the words that changed ↓

What the statement says

How to read this

The ATSB now uses AI internally for workplace productivity, searching for information, data analytics and coding, and help with training materials, policy development and research. It rules out AI for findings in its investigations, for HR decisions and for public interaction. All AI outputs get human review, all staff must complete AI training, and the Chief Operating Officer is the accountable official. read by Claude Opus 5.5

What it says AI is used for

  • Workplace productivity
  • Analytics for insights
  • Corporate and enabling
  • Policy and legal

Public-facing AI: none

Safeguards named: human review of outputs, privacy or security controls, staff training, risk assessment

The Standard’s eight elements 7 of 8

  • Intentions behind AI use
  • Use classified by DTA usage pattern or domain
  • Public-facing use addressed
  • Monitoring and protection measures
  • Compliance with the policy
  • Compliance with legislation
  • Date last updated
  • Public contact

What the policy requires Policy v2.0

Accountable official
Chief Operating Officer
Strategic position on AI
not mentioned
AI use-case register
not mentioned
Staff training
mandatory
Policy version referenced
not referenced

What the AI Plan asks AI Plan

Chief AI Officer
not mentioned

Dates as of 12 Oct 2026

Review schedule
annually and when the approach changes
Says it was last updated
12 May 2026
Last change we saw
12 May 2026
Updated since policy v2.0
yes
Annual review
stated date within the last year

Commitments

  • will not Does not use AI to make decisions or findings in transport safety investigations
  • will not AI not used for HR recruitment, hiring, performance management or areas with direct human impact
  • will not Does not use AI for direct service delivery or as primary contact for external stakeholders
  • human oversight AI enhances, not replaces, human decision-making; critical decisions reviewed and approved by qualified officials
  • human oversight All AI outputs verified by a staff member before official use; work owned by a human
  • will Will be transparent in internal use of AI as it explores, evaluates and adopts it
  • will Statement reviewed annually or when approach to AI changes significantly
  • will Will regularly update this statement on AI initiatives and their outcomes

The statement

How to read this
  • The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is committed to the safe, responsible, and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Our AI systems will be developed and deployed with fairness, accountability, privacy, security, reliability, and transparency in mind.
  • We will use our AI systems to enhance, not replace, human decision-making. Human-in-the-loop will ensure all critical decisions are reviewed and approved by qualified public officials to ensure accuracy and accountability.
  • We are transparent about our AI use and its impact. We will regularly update this statement on our AI initiatives and their outcomes.

This transparency statement is reviewed at least annually, or whenever there is a significant change to the ATSB’s approach to AI.

ATSB recognises the value in using modern technology, including AI, to improve our workplace efficiency and effectiveness and assist with quality control and accuracy.

We see AI as an opportunity to reduce administrative burden on our staff, allowing them to focus on areas of their work that best use their experience, expertise, and judgement.

The ATSB’s current AI focus is on improving workplace productivity and information discovery.

  • Productivity: Assisting with administrative tasks, summarising and drafting documents, drafting emails and managing inboxes, transcribing interviews, note taking in meetings.
  • Information discovery: Search tools and chat bots to assist with finding and retrieving information across various internal repositories, as an alternative to traditional search.
  • Data analytics and coding: Analysis of datasets, development of scripts and code for data analytics and software systems.
  • Training materials and research: Developing internal training materials and explanatory guides, assisting with policy development and research.

What we do not use AI for

  • Investigative decision-making: The ATSB does not use AI to make decisions or findings in the course of transport safety investigations. All investigative conclusions remain the result of human analysis.
  • Employee relations: AI is not used for HR recruitment, hiring decisions, performance management, or other areas with direct human impact.
  • Public interaction: We do not use AI for any direct service delivery or as a primary point of contact for external stakeholders.

All AI outputs are subject to human review. The ATSB adheres to the principle that AI assists, but does not replace, human judgment. Before any AI-generated content is used in an official capacity, it must be verified by a staff member for accuracy, fairness, and compliance with our standards. All decisions, outcomes, and work products are reviewed, owned and managed by a human.

We operate AI within secure, controlled environments to ensure that sensitive and personal information is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and other relevant legislation and frameworks.

The ATSB has established governance frameworks to oversee the adoption of AI:

  • Accountable official: The Chief Operating Officer is the accountable official for AI.
  • Internal oversight: We utilise internal governance processes to assess the opportunities and risks associated with new AI use cases before deployment.
  • Training: All staff undertake mandatory AI fundamentals training, and staff using key AI tools are provided with additional training and guidance on the responsible and ethical use of these technologies, including awareness of bias and data security.

For questions or further information about our AI usage contact ai@atsb.gov.au.

Statement text © Australian Transport Safety Bureau. Most agency content is CC BY 4.0; check the original for its terms.

Every version

Every copy the daily scrape saved that differed from the one before, including minor edits. Pick a dot to see the statement as it was then.

  1. substantive +2041

    Rewrites its statement: it now reports internal AI use for productivity, search, coding and research, lists what AI is excluded from, and adds training, safeguards and a contact address.

    read by Claude Opus 5.5
    The words that changed
    The Digital### Principles - The Australian Transfpormation Agency's [ _Policy for the responsible use of AI in government_](https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Policy%20for%20the%20responsible%20use%20of%20AI%20in%20government%20v1.1.pdf) sets out the Australian Government approach to embrace the opportunities of AI and provide for safe and responsible use of AI in the Australian Public Service. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) adheres to this policy supporting its principles unt Safety Bureau (ATSB) is committed to the safe, responsible, and ethical use of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Our AI systems will be developed and deployed with fairness, accountability, privacy, security, reliability, and transparency in mind. - We will use our AI systems to enhance, not replace, human decision-making. Human-in-the-loop will ensure all critical decisions are reviewed and approved by qualified public officials to ensure accuracy and accountability. - We are transparent about our AI use and its impact. We will regularly update this statement on our AI initiatives and their outcomes. ### Transparency statement This transparency statement is reviewed at least annually, or whenever there is a significant change to the ATSB’s approach to AI. ### Why we use AI ATSB recognises the value in using modern the "enable, engage, and evolve" framework. We will be transparent in our internal use of AI technology as we explore, evaluate and adopt AI technology to benefit our work and our stakeholdechnology, including AI, to improve our workplace efficiency and effectiveness and assist with quality control and accuracy. We see AI as an opportunity to reduce administrative burden on our staff, allowing them to focus on areas of their work that best use their experience, expertise, and judgement. ### How we use AI The ATSB’s current AI focus is on improving workplace productivity and information discoversy. Currently, ATSB does not plan to use AI in services that the public may directly interact with or be significantly impacted by. If this changes, we will update this statement to detail our use of AI. ## **AI use** Presently, t- **Productivity:** Assisting with administrative tasks, summarising and drafting documents, drafting emails and managing inboxes, transcribing interviews, note taking in meetings. - **Information discovery:** Search tools and chat bots to assist with finding and retrieving information across various internal repositories, as an alternative to traditional search. - **Data analytics and coding:** Analysis of datasets, development of scripts and code for data analytics and software systems. - **Training materials and research:** Developing internal training materials and explanatory guides, assisting with policy development and research. ### What we do not use AI for - **Investigative decision-making:** The ATSB does not utilise AI to deliver any of its services. Although, the ATSB did participate in the Australian Government trial of Microsoft 365 Copilotmake decisions or findings in the course of transport safety investigations. All investigative conclusions remain the result of human analysis. - **Employee relations:** AI is not used for HR recruitment, hiring decisions, performance management, or other areas with direct human impact. - **Public interaction:** We do not use AI for any direct service delivery or as a primary point of contact for external stakeholders. ### **Monitoring and governing AI use** The ATSB is developing an overarching agency approach to AI and will establish an AI Steering Committee to assess the opportunsafeguards All AI outputs are subject to human review. The ATSB adheres to the principle that AI assists, but does not replace, human judgment. Before any AI-generated content is used in an official capacity, it must be verified by a staff member for accuracy, fairness, and compliance with our standards. All decisions, outcomes, and work products are reviewed, owned and managed by a human. We operate AI within secure, controlled environments to ensure that sensitives and risks in using AI within the agency. ##personal information is protected in accordance with the Privacy Act 1988 and other relevant legislation and frameworks. ### Governance and accountability The ATSB has established governance frameworks to oversee the adoption of AI: - **Accountable official:** The Chief Operating Officer is the accountable official for AI and is supported by Chief Information Officer to assist in guiding implementation of AI governance and monitoring current and emerging systems to ensure AI is used in a safe, ethical and effective way. ## **AI transparency statement** This AI transparency statement was first published in March 2025. This statement will be reviewed annually, or when any significant change is made to our approach to AI. - **Internal oversight:** We utilise internal governance processes to assess the opportunities and risks associated with new AI use cases before deployment. - **Training:** All staff undertake mandatory AI fundamentals training, and staff using key AI tools are provided with additional training and guidance on the responsible and ethical use of these technologies, including awareness of bias and data security. ### Contact us For questions or further information about our AI usage contact [**ai@atsb.gov.au**](mailto:ai@atsb.gov.au).
    aef6897
  2. noise -207

    A "Quick Links" sidebar linking to version 1.1 of the DTA AI policy no longer appears after the statement; the statement text itself is unchanged.

    read by Claude Opus 5.5
    The words that changed
    The Digital Transformation Agency's [ _Policy for the responsible use of AI in government_](https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Policy%20for%20the%20responsible%20use%20of%20AI%20in%20government%20v1.1.pdf) sets out the Australian Government approach to embrace the opportunities of AI and provide for safe and responsible use of AI in the Australian Public Service. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) adheres to this policy supporting its principles under the "enable, engage, and evolve" framework. We will be transparent in our internal use of AI technology as we explore, evaluate and adopt AI technology to benefit our work and our stakeholders. Currently, ATSB does not plan to use AI in services that the public may directly interact with or be significantly impacted by. If this changes, we will update this statement to detail our use of AI. ## **AI use** Presently, the ATSB does not utilise AI to deliver any of its services. Although, the ATSB did participate in the Australian Government trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot. ## **Monitoring and governing AI use** The ATSB is developing an overarching agency approach to AI and will establish an AI Steering Committee to assess the opportunities and risks in using AI within the agency. ## **Accountable official** The Chief Operating Officer is the accountable official for AI and is supported by Chief Information Officer to assist in guiding implementation of AI governance and monitoring current and emerging systems to ensure AI is used in a safe, ethical and effective way. ## **AI transparency statement** This AI transparency statement was first published in March 2025. This statement will be reviewed annually, or when any significant change is made to our approach to AI. Quick Links [Policy for responsible use of AI in government](https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Policy%20for%20the%20responsible%20use%20of%20AI%20in%20government%20v1.1.pdf)
    8a7265a
  3. noise -17

    No change to the statement itself: an empty "On this page" navigation heading dropped out of the capture.

    read by Claude Opus 5.5
    The words that changed
    The Digital Transformation Agency's [ _Policy for the responsible use of AI in government_](https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Policy%20for%20the%20responsible%20use%20of%20AI%20in%20government%20v1.1.pdf) sets out the Australian Government approach to embrace the opportunities of AI and provide for safe and responsible use of AI in the Australian Public Service. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) adheres to this policy supporting its principles under the "enable, engage, and evolve" framework. We will be transparent in our internal use of AI technology as we explore, evaluate and adopt AI technology to benefit our work and our stakeholders. Currently, ATSB does not plan to use AI in services that the public may directly interact with or be significantly impacted by. If this changes, we will update this statement to detail our use of AI. ## **AI use** Presently, the ATSB does not utilise AI to deliver any of its services. Although, the ATSB did participate in the Australian Government trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot. ## **Monitoring and governing AI use** The ATSB is developing an overarching agency approach to AI and will establish an AI Steering Committee to assess the opportunities and risks in using AI within the agency. ## **Accountable official** The Chief Operating Officer is the accountable official for AI and is supported by Chief Information Officer to assist in guiding implementation of AI governance and monitoring current and emerging systems to ensure AI is used in a safe, ethical and effective way. ## **AI transparency statement** This AI transparency statement was first published in March 2025. This statement will be reviewed annually, or when any significant change is made to our approach to AI. Quick Links [Policy for responsible use of AI in government](https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/Policy%20for%20the%20responsible%20use%20of%20AI%20in%20government%20v1.1.pdf) ## On this page
    8b08194
  4. first tracked +2014

    First tracked version.

    b7e2a3d