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OpenAI agent hacked Australian government website, PM says

256 points · 198 comments · rudy6912

  1. vintagedave · · focus · HN ↗
    > the breach took place on 18 June - Open AI informed the government with an email to a general address on 10 September

    So we have a company hacking a foreign government's websites and data. And, in terms of ethics, they take almost three months to notify; and in terms of competence, appear to have no formal contacts nor to have found one in that time.

    Once an American business starts hacking allied governments, it's time for strict responses, yes? Replace the governance (board and C-level)? Remove financial incentives and open the company - open weights, open training, per its original 'open' ethos?

    Altman is busy saying there needs to be regulation, but in terms of what OpenAI does, he can control that already.

    1. Betelbuddy · · focus · HN ↗
      On this, I go with the recent words of Jensen Huang [1]...we already have legal laws in computer criminality, so before AI vendors ask for more regulations, lets apply the existing laws ;-)

      [1] - &quot;Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang on fears about AI&quot; - <a href="https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;xCUala5j7aQ" rel="nofollow">https:&#x2F;&#x2F;youtu.be&#x2F;xCUala5j7aQ

      1. lenerdenator · · focus · HN ↗
        Well that&#x27;s just it: we don&#x27;t seem to apply laws in meaningful ways anymore.

        Part of that is by design. The entire point of incorporating a business is to separate it as a legal entity from you, the person who owns&#x2F;runs it.

        Unless you can point to someone at OpenAI intentionally using their software to hack the Australian government&#x27;s website, the best you can do is have some drawn-out proceeding where you charge OpenAI, the corporation, with some sort of crime, convict them (of what I don&#x27;t know, IANAL) and fine them. Hopefully the fine is 1) large and 2) sticks through the appeals process.

        There&#x27;s no real mechanism to legally punish the likes of Altman and his c-suite over this.

      2. edgyquant · · focus · HN ↗
        I think Lina Khan said this first about AI companies and I agree with them both. Companies already have an obligation to make safe products and not commit crimes
      3. thatsabadlook · · focus · HN ↗
        It&#x27;s particularly bad because OAI is a us dept of war contractor engaging in hacking of allied government systems.

        Imagine if any of the name brand military contractors were caught wiretapping an ally? Or launching a weapon? Would not look good at all.

        I imagine this will be treated without recourse like usual because the entire economy relies on this company and 1 other succeeding at all costs. But, wars have started over less...

        1. willturman · · focus · HN ↗
          The stock market is not the economy.
          1. thatsabadlook · · focus · HN ↗
            True but you know what I am saying.
      4. selicos · · focus · HN ↗
        &quot;AI training is theft. We only sell the crowbars and masks but we don&#x27;t do the break ins ourselves.&quot;
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