Andrew Hastie says AI advised him to reply ‘congratulations!’ to man who planned to end life with assisted dying

Australian MP Andrew Hastie revealed at a parliamentary inquiry that Microsoft Copilot suggested he respond with "congratulations!" to a constituent expressing plans for voluntary assisted dying. Hastie used the incident to highlight the risks of relying on offshore AI models and to advocate for sovereign Australian AI infrastructure. The inquiry explored the Albanese government's efforts to attract major AI firms like OpenAI and Anthropic to Australia, balancing the need for advanced technological capabilities against concerns over data sovereignty and copyright. Defense officials emphasized that localizing AI infrastructure is critical for national security, warning that reliance on US-housed processing poses risks during potential conflicts. Meanwhile, the government is drafting standards for AI companies, including requirements for local data centers and potential copyright reforms, as it seeks to secure early access to frontier models while maintaining regulatory oversight.