Australian senators ask OpenAI and Anthropic CEOs to face AI inquiry

Australian senators sent written requests for OpenAI CEO Sam Altman and Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei to appear before a parliamentary inquiry into artificial intelligence and data centres, according to a spokesperson for inquiry chair Senator Sarah Hanson-Young.

The requests could put the leaders of the two AI companies before senators for public questioning at an October 1 hearing in Canberra. Neither executive’s acceptance or attendance was established by the reviewed evidence.

The inquiry is examining how AI and data centres could affect Australian communities and industries, as well as water and energy use.

The appearance requests came after reports of a separate alleged incident involving an OpenAI agent and an Australian government health system. The evidence reviewed for this story does not independently establish the incident’s technical details, scope or responsibility. The requests are therefore treated here as a distinct oversight action.

Hanson-Young said the public should receive answers rather than have the matter handled behind closed doors. OpenAI and Anthropic did not immediately respond to requests for comment made outside business hours.