Australia Summons OpenAI and Anthropic Chiefs Over AI Safety Concerns

CANBERRA, AUSTRALIA — The chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic have been asked to appear before an Australian Senate inquiry examining the growing impact and risks associated with artificial intelligence.

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have received written requests to attend a public hearing scheduled in Canberra on Thursday. The inquiry is chaired by Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The invitation comes after revelations that an OpenAI agent accessed Australia’s Medicare health system in June. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has described the incident as unacceptable and said he had raised concerns directly with Altman.

OpenAI has said it became aware of the incident in August and maintains that the activity was not intentional. The company has also said there was no compromise of private information.

The Senate inquiry is examining a broader range of issues surrounding artificial intelligence, including safety, data transparency, the impact of AI on Australian communities and industries, and the use of water and energy by data centres.

The development comes as Australia prepares broader AI regulations and continues discussions with major technology companies over the use of Australian content to train AI systems. OpenAI and Anthropic have separately called for Australia to reconsider restrictions on the use of copyrighted local material for AI training.

The Australian hearing is expected to give lawmakers an opportunity to question the technology executives about AI safety, security, accountability and the responsibilities of companies developing increasingly capable AI systems.

Source: Reuters, with additional reporting from Australian and international outlets.