Two of the world’s largest technology companies, Google and Microsoft, are urging Australia to loosen its copyright laws in the clearest sign yet of how powerful artificial intelligence platforms will fight over the contentious issue.
Submissions to the Productivity Commission’s review of the digital economy in the lead up to Labor’s economic roundtable, both lodged in June, confirm the two tech giants want Australia to weaken copyright laws and give AI platforms text and data mining exemptions.
In its submission, Google warned AI companies may divert major resources from Australia to other markets in the Asia-Pacific if the government does not relax copyright laws to make it easier for them to train their models.
It said regulatory uncertainty in Australia over copyright, tax and other laws could see businesses “operating at the cutting edge of AI” hesitate to commit significant resources to the country.