ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Albanese's AI pledge fails to quell creative sector job fears

opinion-review · 2026-07-30

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese's July speech outlining Australia's AI approach has not alleviated anxiety among artists, writers, and journalists, who face job losses and reduced opportunities due to AI. Albanese affirmed that Australian creative works are 'not up for grabs' and promised copyright laws to protect them, but details on enforcement remain vague. AI's impact is already pervasive: Netflix reported 300 shows using generative AI in 2026, over half of new online articles are AI-written, and AI has infiltrated literary prizes, radio, audiobooks, and film festivals. High-profile endorsements like A24's partnership with Google for AI filmmaking tools and Martin Scorsese's support for AI storyboarding have sparked backlash. The article argues that AI normalizes outsourcing mental effort, threatening human expression and secure employment in creative sectors, echoing dystopian themes from films like 'Ex Machina'.

Key facts

  • Prime Minister Anthony Albanese delivered a speech on AI in mid-July at the University of Sydney.
  • Albanese stated that Australian writers, musicians, artists, and journalists must retain ownership and control of their work.
  • The speech promised to make AI companies accountable for water and power used by data centres.
  • Netflix announced that around 300 of its shows have used generative AI so far in 2026.
  • More than half of new articles on the internet are now AI-generated.
  • A24 partnered with Google to develop AI filmmaking tools.
  • Martin Scorsese backed AI's use for storyboarding.
  • The article references AI's impact on literary prizes, radio play, audiobooks, and film festivals.

Entities

Artists

  • Anthony Albanese
  • Martin Scorsese
  • Philip K Dick
  • Alex Garland
  • Sarah Ward

Institutions

  • University of Sydney
  • Netflix
  • A24
  • Google
  • ArtsHub
  • ScreenHub
  • ABC radio Gold Coast
  • Screen International
  • Alliance of Women Film Journalists
  • Concrete Playground
  • Variety Australia
  • Goethe-Institut Australien
  • Australian Centre for the Moving Image
  • SBS
  • Flicks
  • Lumina
  • Senses of Cinema
  • Australian Academy of Cinema and Television Arts
  • Junkee
  • FilmInk
  • Broadsheet
  • Televised Revolution
  • Metro Magazine
  • Screen Education
  • City of Gold Coast
  • World Film Locations

Locations

  • Australia
  • University of Sydney
  • Sydney
  • Gold Coast

Sources