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Anthony Albanese has repeatedly declined to rule out changes to Australia's copyright laws covering artificial intelligence, despite insisting 'humans must remain in control'.
The Prime Minister met with former Apple head Tim Cook and other executives at the company's headquarters in Silicon Valley, California, on Sunday morning, Australian time.
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Minister → see → morning
Following the meeting, he spoke to ABC's Insiders host David Speers, who pressed him several times on whether Australia would dilute copyright protections as US AI firms seek greater access to books, music, articles and other creative works to train their models.
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firms → follow → models
Albanese said creators should keep control over their intellectual property, but did not directly answer questions about whether copyright laws themselves would remain unchanged.
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laws → say → questions
Speers noted that, in a speech earlier this year, Albanese said: 'No company should use Australian books, music, art or news to build or train AI without the artist's control.
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company → note → control
Asked if that was still his position, Albanese said: 'Absolutely, and that's our position.'
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that → ask → ?
But when Speers asked whether that meant copyright laws would not be watered down, Albanese did not answer directly.
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Albanese → ask → ?
'They should still have control over whether their intellectual property is used and, if it is used, there should be proper monetisation of that use,' he said.
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he → use → use
Anthony Albanese (pictured) declined to rule out potential changes to copyright laws covering artificial intelligence
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Albanese → picture → intelligence
Albanese (right) met with Apple chief executive Tim Cook (left) at the company headquarters
Speers pushed again, asking: 'Does that mean any watering down of the copyright laws or not?'
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that → meet → laws
Albanese did not directly answer the question, saying: 'What it means is control and monetisation of it.'
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means → answer → it
He reiterated that creators should retain authority over how their work is used by AI companies.
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work → reiterate → companies
'Artists need to keep control of their intellectual property.
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Artists → need → property
I think that's a very clear position,' he said.
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he → think → ?
When Speers asked whether creators might instead be required to opt out of having their content used to train AI models, Albanese pointed to what he described as two key principles.
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he → ask → principles
'They will have control over their intellectual property, and the second principle is that any use needs to be monetised as well.
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use → have → property
That needs to be part of the equation,' he said.
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he → need → equation
Asked whether those protections would apply to independent creators as well as large media organisations capable of negotiating licensing agreements, Albanese said commercial deals should flow through to the underlying creators.
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deals → ask → creators
'If they do deals, then those deals will encompass the artists.
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deals → do → artists
One would assume that if they do a deal with the ABC then the ABC content will be available,' he said.
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he → assume → ABC
Albanese's comments on the policy came just days before he is due to meet with US President Donald Trump at the UN where AI is expected to be a major topic
'
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AI → come → UN
But to all other creative content makers who may not be part of a big organisation, I can't be clearer, David, than what I have said.
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I → say → what
Speers then raised the issue again, asking: 'So no change to copyright law?'
'Well, no change to the principles that I've outlined very clearly,' Albanese said.
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Albanese → raise → that
Speers said: 'That's different to saying no change to copyright law.
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That → say → law
What might you change?
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you → change → What
'
But Albanese again would not specify whether legislative changes were being considered.
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changes → specify → ?
'I've said what the principles are, and we'll engage constructively on all of these issues,' he said.
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he → say → issues
While declining to provide a definitive answer on copyright laws, Albanese argued the rapid development of artificial intelligence posed significant risks and backed international efforts to establish safeguards, while warning Australia could not afford to fall behind.
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Australia → decline → safeguards
I certainly accept that there are risks and that's why we need to mitigate them,' he said.
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he → accept → them
ABC's Insiders host David Speers pressed Albanese several times on whether Australia would dilute copyright protections as US AI firms seek greater access to creative works
'
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firms → press → works
There is a need for a discussion about what the global framework is for the rollout of AI, because it is moving very quickly.
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it → be → AI
We need to make sure that humans remain in control.'
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humans → need → control
The federal government unveiled national AI standards in July requiring data centres supporting eligible projects to be powered by additional renewable energy.
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government → unveil → energy
The policy comes as the Prime Minister prepares for a meeting with US President Donald Trump at the United Nations General Assembly in New York this week, where AI is expected to be a major topic.
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AI → come → York
The push at the UN coincides with OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman and Anthropic chief executive Dario Amodei calling for a slowdown in the technology's development.
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Altman → coincide → development
But Trump has rejected calls for further guardrails, warning America could lose the AI race to China as a result.
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America → reject → result
Asked by Speers whether the United States and China should work together on AI regulation, Albanese said: 'I certainly agree.'
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I → ask → regulation
We want to see cooperation.'
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We → want → cooperation
Albanese also expressed hope that a meeting between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping this coming week might yield progress.
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meeting → express → progress
While avoiding direct criticism of Trump, Albanese emphasised the need for safeguards around AI development.
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Albanese → avoid → development
Speers noted Trump had previously dismissed concerns about artificial intelligence and questioned the need for stronger guardrails.
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Trump → note → guardrails
…and 3 more, not listed.
The Aporia
