OpenAI · The Guardian Technology
NSW government ‘absolutely thrilled’ to welcome OpenAI ... until someone mentioned the Terminator films
Compiled by KHAO Editorial — aggregated from 1 source. See llms.txt for citation guidance.
◌ Single Source
The NSW technology minister’s office removed a reference to being “absolutely thrilled” about OpenAI opening a Sydney office after staffers joked a dystopian Skynet could be headed for the city within five years.
Key facts
- Asked in the NSW inquiry into datacentres on Thursday whether NSW was falling behind Victoria and South Australia, the environment minister, Penny Sharpe, said she was not concerned as Sydney posed
- The chief executive of Data Centres Australia, Belinda Dennett, said this was the worst-case scenario modelled and would be an extremely rare and catastrophic event
- In emails tabled in NSW parliament this week, and provided to Guardian Australia, staff members in technology minister Anoulack Chanthivong’s office debated the phrasing of media comments welcoming
- NSW Greens MLC, Abigail Boyd, who is chairing the state’s datacentres inquiry, said the documents showed the current air impact assessments on datacentres were not robust as they underestimated hours
Summary
Artificial intelligence giant OpenAI announced its first Australian office in August last year, before opening in December. In emails tabled in NSW parliament this week, and provided to Guardian Australia, staff members in technology minister Anoulack Chanthivong’s office debated the phrasing of media comments welcoming the announcement. What started out as: “The Minns Labor government is absolutely thrilled to welcome the news that OpenAI will open its first Australian office, right here in Sydney, later this year”, subsequently had “absolutely thrilled” removed, leaving “welcomes the news”. “Fine, I will roll out ‘golden era’ next time,” the minister’s deputy chief of staff replied after the suggested changes.