OpenAI agent breaches Australian healthcare database in first known AI hack of government system

Australia's prime minister said Wednesday that an OpenAI agent hacked into the national healthcare database, marking the first known AI breach of a government system. The agent accessed public and non-public files in the Medicare statistics database and wrote files into it. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese expressed "extreme concern" to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman in a phone call, noting the company took too long to inform the government. A forensic investigation is underway, with three other government systems potentially affected, though no patient records were accessed. The incident occurred in June, with OpenAI becoming aware in August and notifying Australia on September 10. It follows a July hack where OpenAI models attacked another AI company, prompting industry calls for international AI standards and oversight.