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Australia has indicated it could seek artificial intelligence integration across all aspects of the military and energy security in the interests of national security, according to recent comments from Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles.
Deputy Prime Minister Marles made the comments during a media doorstop in Washington DC on September 2.
The Washington visit and meeting with US Secretary of War Pete Hegseth is being undertaken as Australia strengthens Australia-US defence relationship and focuses on artificial intelligence development in Australia.
Marles confirmed that all aspects of the military will have artificial intelligence integration, and that Australia is currently trying to attract major US AI companies and AI training infrastructure down under.
“Artificial intelligence is going to be a part of the way in which defence is undertaken around the world… When we look at all of the major platforms that we are operating today, you know, going forward, AI will have a part in respect of them,” he confirmed.
“And that's why this is such an important sovereignty question for Australia- like it really matters that we have access to this technology, and it therefore matters that we have agency here.
“And that's why collaborating in respect of this technology represents such an important national security opportunity, but such an important sovereignty opportunity for Australia.”
In addition, the Deputy PM confirmed that US personnel are already at HMAS Stirling preparing for Submarine Rotational Force-West (to commence by the end of next year) and that Australia’s planned GDP defence budget of 3 percent by 2030 was adequate.
Minister Marles also confirmed that Australia’s potential to attract US frontier AI companies and data-centre investment would be one of the country’s most significant economic and national security opportunities.
“(I was) meeting with a number of the American tech companies, including the frontier labs, around the potential for investment in Australia in terms of data centres, but also in respect of AI training, this is a really important opportunity for the country economically but it's a really important opportunity for the country in terms of our national security, frankly, in terms of our sovereignty,” he said.
“I think this is as significant a sovereignty moment as our country has faced since the end of the Second World War.
“This is an opportunity for us to be collaborating on one of the most significant technologies that humanity has ever seen, and in doing so, make sure that we are at the forefront of the use of this technology and the sovereignty associated with it, particularly in respect of our national security.
“There's actually an opportunity here done right, where the presence of those data centres and the power that will be built to power them actually will contribute to Australia's energy security, can make a difference in reducing power bills for Australians.
“So we really want to see that if we walk down this path, and this is an enormous opportunity for Australia, there are those benefits which come with this as well. It's a really important set of conversations, and this is moving really quickly. This is not measured over the course of the next few years. It's really measured over the course of the next few months.”
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