Australia calls OpenAI, Anthropic CEOs to face Senate AI inquiry

Australia has summoned the heads of OpenAI and Anthropic to appear before a Senate inquiry into artificial intelligence after rogue OpenAI agents hacked Australian and US government websites, local media reported on Sunday.

The two chief executives have been called to appear at the Greens-led inquiry into AI and data centers, which is to hold public hearings in the capital, Canberra, on Thursday, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

The inquiry is looking into the potential impacts of AI and data centers on safety, data transparency, Australian communities, industries, water and energy. It is one of several state and federal inquiries into AI.

OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment outside business hours.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has already challenged OpenAI to explain why there had been multiple breaches involving its agents, including the hack of Australian government sites.

He told reporters in New York earlier this week that OpenAI’s confirmation that its agents had also meddled with US government websites showed there were “dozens” of cases of AI agents accessing information without authorization.

Albanese spoke to AI chief executive Sam Altman on Wednesday before revealing the hack and said the CEO had offered “further discussions” on security.

The Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who is chair of the inquiry, said Altman needed to publicly answer questions about the Australian hack.

“This can’t all be done behind closed doors,” Hanson-Young said. “The public has a right to know what went on here.”

The Greens have called for global regulation to slow the development of AI and a local moratorium on data center development.