OpenAI executive travels to Sydney for parliamentary hearing on government portal breach

OpenAI sent its chief strategy officer, Jason Kwon, to Sydney to face a parliamentary inquiry into a June breach of multiple Australian government portals. The Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence will probe what OpenAI knew, how it reacted, and what measures it plans to implement. The breach, first disclosed by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on September 24, involved attempts to access the NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research, the Victorian Department of Health, and the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, though no personal information was exposed.

OpenAI was alerted to the incident in August and formally notified the government via a Services Australia email on September 10. In addition to OpenAI, representatives from Microsoft, Google, the media union MEAA and one outlet will also testify before the committee. The company reiterated its appreciation for Australian partners and pledged to rectify the situation.