The PM wants to show action on AI, even if the answers aren't there yet
As Anthony Albanese heads overseas for a series of conferences, he seems determined to show a nervous Australian public that his government will control AI, even as he embraces it.
The Australian prime minister recently announced a set of mandatory AI safety and security protections before embarking on international summits. These protections are more principles than concrete measures, as it remains unclear who or how would be held accountable for potential AI malfunctions. Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles explained that a primary focus would be examining the prompts and construction of AI agents, ultimately linking it to the decisions made by technology owners or developers.
However, substantial work is still needed to develop these guidelines. Despite the lack of clear answers, the prime minister emphasized that the government is actively addressing AI concerns, echoing his earlier statement that "we shape AI, not the other way around." Meanwhile, various industries and communities have expressed unease over AI's impact, including potential job losses, artists' concerns over their work being stolen, and growing worries over noisy, energy-intensive data centers.
The prime minister intends to highlight Australia's commitment to AI safety during upcoming international meetings with leaders from ASEAN, APEC, and the Quad, despite skepticism from US President Donald Trump, who dismisses concerns about AI and is focused on "winning" the AI race against China.
Written by urgent.news from ABC News AU's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
