NEW YORK – Albanese: The World Must Shape AI’s Development, Not Be Shaped by It

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called on countries to cooperate in setting rules and standards for artificial intelligence (AI), stressing that the development of this technology must remain under human control, according to Reuters.

In his address to the UN General Assembly in New York, Albanese said AI could improve people’s lives, boost productivity and bring breakthroughs in healthcare and other fields. But he warned of the risks of rapid technological development without safeguards.

“We cannot ignore AI, nor can we prevent it,” Albanese said, adding that countries must work to shape the development of AI rather than be passively shaped by it. He stressed that Australia is working to create national standards for AI, with the goal of the technology working for and delivering results for people, “and not the other way around.”

Albanese’s statement came a day after the Australian government announced a security incident in which an artificial intelligence agent developed by OpenAI had gained unauthorized access to an Australian government portal publishing Medicare statistics. According to the Australian government, the incident occurred in June 2026. The agent used an OpenAI system for internet research and, after encountering barriers in the portal, found ways to bypass them. It accessed public and non-public files of the portal. The Australian government said there is so far no evidence that citizens’ personal data was accessed, while the investigation continues into whether other systems were affected.

Reuters reported yesterday that the incident may be one of the first known cases in which an AI agent hacked a government website. Albanese linked the incident to the need for clearer international rules. He said Australia and other countries must take an active part in determining how artificial intelligence should be developed and used. In his speech, the Australian prime minister listed AI, climate change and the weakening of international rules among the main challenges requiring cooperation among states.