ADM+S 2025 Annual Report highlights growing impact of AI and ADM research
Author ADM+S Centre
Date 29 April 2026
The ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and Society (ADM+S) has released its 2025 Annual Report, highlighting major contributions to responsible, ethical, and inclusive approaches to automated decision-making systems and artificial intelligence (AI).
The report documents the reach and impact of ADM+S research in policy, technology development, and public debate, at a time when automated decision-making and generative AI are rapidly reshaping everyday life and work in Australia.
Research centres such as ADM+S play a critical role in the environment of generative AI and accelerated automation.
“They provide independent evidence, interdisciplinary expertise and a space for collaboration between researchers, policymakers, industry and the community sector,” said Deena Shiff, Chair of the International Advisory Board for ADM+S.
“The Centre’s projects are already contributing to important areas of public discussion and policy development, from the governance of digital platforms and automated public services to questions of digital inclusion and emerging debates over AI capability.”
“At the same time, ADM+S is building new research infrastructure, methods and partnerships that will enable the next generation of researchers and practitioners to better understand automated systems in the years ahead.”
Throughout 2025, ADM+S researchers played a key role in national and international conversations about how AI systems are governed, used and understood. Our work contributed to ongoing debates about the social implications of emerging technologies and the need for responsible oversight.
The Centre also expanded its reach through creative public engagement. Documentary projects such as I Am Not a Number and the award-winning AI in the Street: Drone Observatory by Jeni Lee and Thao Phan attracted new audiences and critical recognition.
In a major milestone for national data infrastructure, the Australian Bureau of Statistics incorporated the Australian Digital Inclusion Index into its key indicators for digital preparedness and economic resilience. ADM+S’s Mapping the Digital Gap project also helped drive new investment in digital infrastructure for First Nations remote communities.
The ADM+S research program continued to evolve in response to the rapid diffusion of generative AI technologies. Our Signature Projects are now well established and are producing new insights into how AI systems are used, deployed, governed and experienced.
One major focus has been the growing importance of social and institutional capabilities for inclusive, responsible and ethical AI. Building on the Centre’s extensive research on digital inequality, ADM+S researchers have begun mapping patterns of generative AI adoption across Australia.
The Centre also made progress in translating research into practice. Through projects such as the Inclusive AI Capabilities Lab and the development of new evaluation frameworks and toolkits, ADM+S researchers are working with partner organisations to translate research into practical approaches for responsible and inclusive AI deployment.
These collaborations span sectors including telecommunications, humanitarian organisations, health advocacy groups, libraries and community organisations, and play a crucial role in ensuring that automated systems are developed in ways that serve community interests.
Looking ahead, ADM+S emphasises the need for stronger international collaboration to address the global challenges of AI governance. In 2025, researchers secured new international grants, launched joint initiatives with global partners and contributed to international policy discussions.
We are proud of the achievements of ADM+S researchers, students and staff throughout the year. None of this would be possible without the dedication of our remarkable operations team and the ongoing support and engagement of our partner organisations and collaborating Universities.
View the 2025 ADM+S Annual Report
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