Australia to Establish AI Office, Regulate Data Centres' Energy and Water Use
Australia will establish a new Office of AI within the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, and introduce binding national standards for large data centres. The rules require data centres to underwrite their own new power supply, reduce load when needed, and minimise water use, while also protecting creative rights through a world-first copyright regime. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese outlined the framework to manage AI's rapid growth, addressing concerns over job losses, higher energy costs, and environmental harm from data centre expansion. Some critics have called for a moratorium on new data centres until the regulations are in place, as the government seeks to balance opportunity with safety.
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