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‘Bunch of Luddites’: Australia Lags Behind China in AI Race

news.com.au

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Details

Date Published
28 Aug 2026
Priority Score
2
Australian
Yes
Created
28 Aug 2026, 06:01 pm

Description

Former Queensland premier Campbell Newman says Australia’s politicians are a “bunch of luddites” when it comes to the advancement of artificial intelligence in comparison to China. “People's Republic of China is going all in on artificial intelligence and robotics,” Mr Newman told News24 host Jaimee Rogers. “It’s ultimately going to be an instrument of state to influence and power. “In contrast to this country [Australia], we have a bunch of luddites. Small-minded politicians that the moment something big comes along, they want to regulate it.”

Summary

Former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman argues that Australia's current regulatory mindset positions the nation at a competitive disadvantage compared to China's aggressive pursuit of AI and robotics. The commentary highlights the geopolitical stakes of the AI race, framing technological dominance as a primary instrument of state power and influence. While the discourse focuses more on economic and geopolitical competition than technical safety protocols, it underscores the tension between rapid frontier AI capability development and the implementation of governance frameworks. This perspective is relevant to Australian policy debates regarding whether proactive regulation mitigates risk or stifles the sovereign capability needed to counter foreign technological influence.