Australia urges slowdown of AI race in global statement

Australia says it has joined a cross-border call for additional safeguards as “frontier” artificial intelligence develops rapidly, arguing that AI risks must be managed ahead of the United Nations General Assembly meeting in New York. (aapnews.aap.com.au) The Finnish presidency that issued the statement said it was released as countries seek common approaches to keep advanced AI under control. A Call for Control of Frontier AI Models (presidentti.fi)

The statement says AI “must remain under human direction, oversight and control” and must be developed and used in line with international law, warning that “the pace of development could outpace our ability to manage emerging risks.” (presidentti.fi) It also calls for safeguards that do not widen the gap between countries seeking to benefit from AI. (presidentti.fi)

According to the statement, governments and regional organisations are urged to coordinate common standards and strengthen transparency, including shared reporting of serious safety incidents, while companies are asked to develop transparent safety protocols with pre-deployment testing and independent evaluation. (presidentti.fi) The statement further urges UN member states to build on existing international mechanisms and explore an international institution to set standards and enable verification when capability thresholds are crossed. (presidentti.fi)

The Albanese government’s push comes as world leaders prepare for the UNGA High-Level Week, while attention also turns to scheduled US–China talks. (un.org) The White House said Chinese President Xi Jinping’s state visit to Washington is set to begin on Thursday, September 24, 2026, aligning with the period referenced in the AAP reporting. (whitehouse.gov)