Pope's AI adviser warns Australia over copyright reform risks

Father Paolo Benanti, an artificial intelligence adviser to Pope Leo, has warned that Australian copyright reforms permitting AI training without permission could allow foreign companies to profit offshore from Australian writing.

Benanti compared that prospect to colonial powers extracting resources from other countries. He questioned whether Australia would benefit if companies used its creative work while the resulting profits and tax revenue went overseas.

The Attorney-General's department has been consulting on a possible change under which copyright owners would need to opt out to prevent their content being used for AI training. In June, Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the government had no plans to reduce copyright protections relating to AI.

The federal parliament's AI committee also sent a letter advocating reforms to enable AI training, ahead of completing its own process.

During a visit hosted by the Italian Embassy, Benanti met Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and welcomed Australia's approach to regulating AI and social media, including its teen social media ban. He said international cooperation would strengthen governments' ability to enforce local rules on technology companies operating in their countries.

Benanti, a Franciscan friar and professor of technology ethics, also raised concerns about companies making money from users' loneliness and emotional attachments to AI products. He questioned whether such products should operate without legal safeguards for vulnerable people.