Why Australia chose the world's biggest political stage to reveal OpenAI hack

Australia made a dramatic revelation on Wednesday during the United Nations General Assembly.

Rogue AI agents had hacked one of its government bodies - the first known incident of its kind in the world. Private data, but not sensitive information, was taken from Medicare, Australia's universal healthcare scheme.

The breach happened in June, but OpenAI says it only became aware of it in August - and then took until 10 September to alert Australia's government, by sending an email to an address used by researchers and academics to alert authorities to concerns of vulnerabilities.

While worrying, the timing of the incident is somewhat of a gift for Australia.

A middle power that doesn't usually get as much of a platform as its influential allies, the country wants to be seen as punching above its weight on one of the most defining issues of our time - big tech regulation.

In the past year alone, it has implemented the world's strictest social media ban , announced what it says are the world's strongest algorithm controls , floated the possibility of "world-leading" limits on smart glasses , and is now the first government to confront AI firms over a rogue attack on its data.

It's entirely possible other governments have been the victim of rogue AI agents.

Former Australian government cybersecurity adviser Alastair MacGibbon told the BBC he'd heard whispers that several others have been notified of similar recent breaches by OpenAI agents.