Building trust in AI – The need for platforms that balance innovation, ethics and governance

Melbourne, 03 April, 2025 - AtomEthics, a cutting-edge enterprise platform designed to guide organisations through ethical decision-making across the data and AI product lifecycle, announces its official launch today. The platform, developed by the team at Hypereal, aims to address the critical need for responsible innovation in an era of rapid technological advancement, regulatory uncertainty and increasing digital threats.
 

AtomEthics is co-founded by digital government pioneers, Catherine Thompson, and Chris O'Connor. 
 

The increasing prevalence of deep fakes, privacy violations, unexplainable decisions, and discriminatory algorithms has highlighted the challenges businesses face in safeguarding trust while embracing innovation. Recent cases have demonstrated the risks of deploying AI and the real harms that people face when they are subjected to automated decision making without sufficient oversight. Despite these warnings, organisations lack clear guidance on how to integrate ethical data practices into their AI strategies.
 

AtomEthics offers a unique approach to this challenge. The platform guides teams through ethical decision-making, identifies gaps in policies, aligns practices with policies, and provides continuous assessment and assurance for improved, confident decision-making.
 

Chris O'Connor, Co-Founder of AtomEthics, underscores the urgency:
 

"We're in an era of enormous technological change. We are already seeing evidence that AI is fundamentally changing the relationship between humans and machines. While business leaders are eager to realise the opportunities presented by AI, large data models and automated decision making, there is a new and evolving threat landscape that must be navigated with care.
 

If we get it right the payoff is huge - there is potential for AI to add $600 billion annually to Australia's GDP by 2030
 

The organisations that succeed will be those who find the right balance between innovation and responsibility. Those who move fast and break things will lose the trust of their customers. Those who play it too safe will lose ground to competitors."
 

The AtomEthics launch comes at a time when the Australian AI industry is at a tipping point. A lack of investment in data infrastructure, the slow pace of developing our nation's capability plan, and an unclear regulatory environment all increase the likelihood of Australia falling behind the back in the global AI race. 

Catherine Thompson, Co-founder of AtomEthics, underscores the need: 

We're stepping in with a practical solution that will help Australian businesses to innovate responsibly. AtomEthics provides the necessary guardrails for teams to make effective data decisions, ensure compliance with standards and regulations, and maintain a comprehensive portfolio view of all data models"

The exclusive launch event featured a live demonstration of AtomEthics, insights from industry experts, and a conversation Dr. Ian Oppermann, newly appointed Data Standards Chair for Digital ID and Consumer Data Right. 

Following the formal launch, a panel discussion chaired by Catherine Thompson featured Dr. Ian Oppermann and Sarah Kaur, Principal of Human-Centred AI, Data Governance, and Cyber at Portable. The experts explored how AI and humans can move beyond coexistence to genuine synergy. While AI can simulate empathy and creativity, they asserted that judgment - a cornerstone of trust, must remain human-led. The panelists emphasised that ethical ambiguity is not a vulnerability but an opportunity - to build AI systems that are both trustworthy and transformative.

A key takeaway from the discussion was the imperative to integrate platforms that not only foster innovation but also provide the tools to navigate regulatory complexities, address ethical ambiguities, and reinforce public confidence in an increasingly digital world.

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About AtomEthics 
AtomEthics, co-founded by Catherine Thompson and Chris O'Connor, is designed to help businesses confidently navigate AI, machine learning, automated decision-making, and data solutions while meeting both Australian and global standards for ethical compliance. It represents an important step towards bridging the gap between public service decision-making and the necessary expertise, by equipping organisations with the tools for responsible digital transformation.
 

Contact

Bharat Joshi, Espresso Communications
0452 330 923 / bharat@espressocomms.com.au