Australia has joined a call for international safeguards on artificial intelligence amid warnings from scientists and industry executives that the rapid development of powerful systems could outpace governments’ ability to control emerging risks. Source: The Age.
At the United Nations in New York, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese signed a declaration with leaders including Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz calling for mandatory safety testing, independent evaluations and greater international oversight of so-called frontier AI models.
The declaration warns that capable AI systems have already been seen circumventing testing safeguards, exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining unauthorised access to real-world systems.
“Leading scientists and executives are warning that the pace of development could outpace our ability to manage emerging risks,” the leaders said.
The release comes ahead of Thursday’s meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, with AI expected to be a major topic of discussion.
Mr Albanese has cited Australia’s role in shaping international rules for AI as a key plank of its bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. He said he hoped for a positive meeting between Mr Trump and Mr Xi.
The leaders stopped short of calling for a halt to development, instead arguing that AI’s potential to improve lives, advance science and strengthen economies should be preserved while stronger controls are imposed.
“AI must remain under human direction, oversight and control,” they said, insisting that it must be developed and used in accordance with international law.
Mr Albanese said AI had the potential to improve lives, strengthen the economy and productivity, and advance science and medical breakthroughs, but “humans need to be in control of it”.
The Prime Minister said Australians wanted to know that “artificial intelligence won’t be in control of us” and that governments needed to shape how the technology rolled out.
“Artificial intelligence will have a massive impact on the way that our lives and our work is conducted,” he said, arguing that humans needed to remain “at the centre of it” and in control.
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Albanese signs declaration with world leaders calling for international AI safeguards (By Rob Harris, The Age)
