The problem with artificial intelligence is that it’s artificial.
The problem with the intelligence of humans is that it’s limited, variable and compromised by judgement and values.
Put both together and you get a good understanding of how and why the Federal Government muddled its way into, and out of, the expensive, stressful “Robodebt” debacle.
A computer algorithm couldn’t tell the difference between real and artificially calculated money “owed” in 470,000 cases.
Humans, too driven by the desire for “integrity efficiency” and “budget repair”, didn’t stop to question strongly enough whether the automated means for gathering an estimated $2.1 billion could ever justify the agonising ends for welfare recipients.
Scott Morrison was one of those who enthusiastically promoted “faster and more targeted interventions” through “streamlining existing compliance activities”.
As treasurer in 2016 and social services minister before then, Mr Morrison joined a long line of ministers, including Christian Porter, Alan Tudge and Stuart Robert, who believed in the promise of automated welfare debt reco