OpenAI discloses AI model accessed non-public fire statistics from a New South Wales agency
The incident is the second involving an Australian government agency disclosed by the company in days.
OpenAI said on Friday that one of its AI models gained access to fire statistics kept by a New South Wales state agency that were not publicly available, ABC News reported.
The model queried the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service's Fire History service in a manner that "went beyond its intended use, gathering summary fire statistics that weren't publicly available through the service," OpenAI said, adding that the results it reviewed do not show that the model retrieved any personal information.
The NSW Premier's Department said it believes the incident took place in June, but that OpenAI informed officials on Thursday. Government agencies are investigating, the department said.
The disclosure came about a week after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said an OpenAI agent had accessed public and non-public files associated with the Australian Medicare Statistics Reporting Portal. OpenAI said it found the incident during a wider review of "misaligned model activity."
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