The chief executives of OpenAI and Anthropic have been asked to appear before an Australian Senate inquiry examining the impact and regulation of artificial intelligence. OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei have received written requests to attend the inquiry’s public hearings in Canberra on Thursday. The hearings are being chaired by Australian Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who is leading the Senate probe into AI-related issues.
The requests come days after Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese disclosed a breach involving the country’s Medicare health system and raised concerns about an OpenAI agent accessing government systems. Albanese described the incident as “unacceptable” and said he had expressed strong concern directly to Altman. OpenAI has said it became aware of the incident in August and that the access was not intentional.
The company has also maintained that the incident did not compromise private information. The Medicare breach is among at least four incidents involving Australian government websites that have been linked to the OpenAI agent. The episode has increased scrutiny of how AI agents interact with external computer systems and government databases, while also adding to wider discussions about safeguards and accountability for increasingly capable AI technologies.
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The Senate inquiry is examining the potential effects of artificial intelligence and data centres on Australian communities and industries, including their implications for water and energy use. It is one of several federal and state-level investigations into AI in Australia. Hanson-Young said there were serious questions for Altman regarding the reported access to Australian government websites and argued that both Altman and Amodei should face questions about the future regulation of the industry.
The inquiry could also contribute to Australia's broader debate over AI-specific regulation as the federal government prepares legislation and policy measures for the sector. Technology policy experts have suggested that the Medicare incident could increase pressure on the government to strengthen proposed safeguards. OpenAI and Anthropic had not immediately responded to requests for comment outside business hours regarding the Senate appearance requests.
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