Australia considers criminal penalties for rogue AI in wake of OpenAI hack

Australia plans to create a new AI safety regulator and has flagged criminal penalties for tech companies who do not comply, months after an OpenAI hack.

In September, Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that a rogue OpenAI agent had "infiltrated" a government health website and other systems, and criticised the company for taking months to tell them about the hack.

On Tuesday, he released the 18 recommendations made after a "rapid review" into the breaches including new safety and security standards for AI companies such as mandatory reporting of hacks.

AI brings opportunities, he said, but Australia must prepare for the "new risks" from this "rapidly advancing technology".