Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has joined more than 20 world leaders in signing a major declaration calling for artificial intelligence to be kept under strict human control.
The statement, released in New York City to coincide with the U.N. General Assembly, marks a coordinated push by countries outside of the United States and China to rein in the rapid growth of AI.
“Artificial intelligence has the potential to improve lives, to strengthen our economy and productivity, and to massively advance science and medical breakthroughs,” Albanese told reporters at a doorstop in New York on Sept. 22.
“But humans need to be in control of it. If it’s going to be successful, then we need to make sure that humans are at the centre of everything that occurs.”
The declaration (pdf) calls for the technology to remain under “human direction, oversight, and control,” as well as contained under international law.
“Recently we have seen capable AI systems circumventing testing safeguards, exploiting vulnerabilities and gaining unauthorised access to real-world systems,” the declaration said.
“Leading scientists and executives are warning that the pace of development could outpace our ability to manage emerging risks.”
It calls for common standards to be enforced by governments and Big Tech alike.
Signatories include Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
The United States and China did not sign the statement.
“Australians do want to know that artificial intelligence won’t be in control of us,” Albanese said.
“We need to shape how it rolls out, rather than have artificial intelligence shape the way that our society functions.”
Albanese said Australia helped drive the statement.
“Australia played a central role in the statement. I was in direct discussions with [Finnish] President [Alexander] Stubb, and we continue to engage with our neighbours” he said.
Albanese also met with Apple Executive Chairman Tim Cook during a brief visit in Silicon Valley, San Francisco to discuss AI risks and Australia’s under-16 social media ban.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump has pushed back against AI safety fears.
“The people that say AI is going to destroy the World, and that Data Centres are bad for your neighborhood, are the same people that said, just a short time ago, that the World would be extinguished by ‘Climate Change,’” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
“That HOAX never worked out for them, and now they’re on to the next one.”
AAP contributed to this story.
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