Australia's Albanese urges US and China to strike AI deal ahead of UN talks

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has called on the United States and China to reach an agreement on artificial intelligence governance, saying humans must remain in control of the technology. He made the remarks while visiting Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California, on his way to New York. Albanese said he would raise the issue of global AI rules with like-minded leaders at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly.

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He described AI as a global phenomenon and said there was a need for discussion about the framework for its rollout because the technology is moving quickly. Albanese said he accepts there are risks and that they need to be mitigated. He also urged the two leading powers in the AI race to cooperate in the interests of humanity, and suggested a deal between them could be comparable in significance to the 1970 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

The comments come as debate over AI regulation intensifies among governments and technology leaders. Albanese's intervention places Australia in a broader international discussion about how to manage the pace of AI development, with pressure building for some form of coordinated oversight. The issue has also become more politically sensitive in the United States, where President Donald Trump has pushed back against regulation and argued that slowing development would benefit China.

Albanese's remarks also point to the economic side of the debate. He left open the possibility of changing copyright laws in Australia to help attract AI investment, indicating that his government is weighing both regulation and competitiveness. That suggests Canberra is trying to position itself as supportive of AI development while still arguing for guardrails on how the technology is deployed.

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The prime minister's comments were made during a visit to one of the world's most influential technology companies, underscoring the role major firms play in shaping the AI debate. The discussion around AI has increasingly involved not only governments but also leading executives and researchers, some of whom have called for a coordinated slowdown. Albanese's call for cooperation between Washington and Beijing reflects the view that the two countries are central to any global framework.

The timing is significant because the United Nations General Assembly is approaching, giving world leaders a forum to discuss whether AI should be governed through international rules. Albanese said he would speak with leaders there about that question, suggesting Australia wants to contribute to a wider diplomatic effort. His comments also highlight the tension between innovation, national security and regulation that is now shaping policy in several countries.

What remains unclear is whether the United States and China will engage in any formal AI agreement, or whether the UN discussions will produce a concrete framework. It is also not yet clear how far Australia would go in changing copyright law, or what form any domestic reforms might take. The next developments to watch are Albanese's meetings at the UN General Assembly and any response from Washington or Beijing to his call for cooperation.

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