Artificial Intelligence at Westpac

At Westpac, we use Artificial Intelligence (AI) to help build a better future. We recognise AI's evolving complexities and risks, and remain committed to governing AI systems for safe, secure, and beneficial outcomes for our people and customers. To achieve this, Westpac adheres to a set of eight Responsible AI Principles to guide the design, delivery, deployment and use of AI systems.

Our Responsible AI Principles

Human, Societal, and Environmental Wellbeing

AI systems should create positive outcomes for individuals, society, and the environment. 

Human-Centered Values

AI systems should respect human rights, diversity, and the autonomy of individuals, promoting freedom of choice. 

Fairness

AI systems should be inclusive and accessible and should not involve or result in unfair discrimination against individuals, communities, or groups.

Privacy, Protection, and Security

AI systems should respect and uphold privacy rights, data protection and ensure the security of data. 

Transparency and Explainability

There should be transparency and responsible disclosure so people can understand when they are being significantly impacted by AI and know when an AI system is engaging with them.

Contestability

When an AI system significantly impacts a person, community, group or environment, there should be mechanisms in place to allow people to challenge the use or outcomes of the AI system.

Accountability

The people responsible for the different phases of the AI system lifecycle should be identifiable and remain accountable for the outcomes of the AI system. Human oversight of AI systems should be enabled. 

Reliability and Safety

AI systems should operate reliably in accordance with their intended purpose.

Our definition of AI

A machine-based system designed to operate with varying levels of autonomy and that may exhibit adaptiveness after deployment and that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments.

Simply put, AI is the ability for computers to imitate cognitive human functions such as learning and problem-solving.