It’s great to be back in the United States, and I’m looking forward tomorrow to taking up the invitation of Tim Cook, the Executive Chair of Apple, looking particularly at the issue of child safety and new technology. Australia is, of course, a world leader when it comes to dealing with the issues of safety, when it comes to new technology and the digital economy. We’re engaging on those issues today, but also in the United Nations over the next week, where with artificial intelligence are making sure that we seize the opportunities, whilst being very conscious about mitigating the risks – that are required, which is a part of the global discussion that’s taking place.
JOURNALIST: Prime Minister, you’re hoping to learn from world leaders, tech leaders, while you’re here about how they’re grappling with this very issue of AI?
PRIME MINISTER: The whole world is grappling with this. This is a technology that’s here right now, so we need to make sure that we shape its use in the interests of humanity, rather than allow it to shape us. And this has been a debate that’s taking place. I’ve had verbal discussions, but also a lot of interaction in the lead-up to next week’s UN General Assembly meeting, because this is something that goes beyond national boundaries, and that’s why it requires discussion at the multilateral level.
JOURNALIST: I guess overall, how are you feeling about this week? Six busy days on the ground in the US. Always good to be here with one of your close allies?
PRIME MINISTER: Well, it will be a busy time, and it’s always good to be here in the United States. Australia has no greater friend than the U.S. And tomorrow here in San Francisco will be an important day, looking at new technology and how we make sure we protect children in particular. This has been a big issue in Australia. We led the world a year ago in New York. We launched an international campaign to get other nations to join us with the social media ban that we put in place. And what we saw in the last year, more than 20 countries have taken up legislative options to try to protect children and to make sure that this technology works in the interests of their own populations.
JOURNALIST: So, just say you’re ready to put Australia on the map when it comes to digital safety for kids?
PRIME MINISTER: Look, Australia is seen as a world leader when it comes to digital safety, particularly with regard to children, and that is why other nations are reaching out, looking at the work that Australia has done. We, of course, will be talking about our digital duty of care as well, the broader obligations that we think are important. Companies and new technology can have an absolutely critical role. But we need to make sure that new technology works in the interests of our nation, and indeed other nations’ leaders are considering those issues as well, because it’s a global issue. Thanks very much.
