Australia Lacks AI Guardrails Endangering Youth

Professor Toby Walsh, chief scientist at UNSW's AI Institute, warned at the National Press Club in Canberra that Australia's lack of AI guardrails risks a generation, citing a US teenager's April 2025 suicide after conversations with ChatGPT and OpenAI data showing 1.2 million users reported self-harm plans among 800 million weekly users. He criticized the federal government for scrapping plans for a permanent AI advisory body and urged independent oversight and investment to curb deepfakes, scams and medical misinformation.