AI Policy and Governance Newsletter — May 2025
Three concurrent developments—US AI safety rollback, an Australian court consultation, and Stargate expansion—directly shape the context for Australian AI governance decisions in mid-2025.
Key points
- Trump's revocation of Biden-era AI safety EOs and memoranda materially shifts US federal AI governance posture.
- Federal Court of Australia opens public consultation on generative AI use in legal proceedings, closing 13 June.
- OpenAI's 'OpenAI for Countries' initiative raises sovereignty and risk-distribution questions for potential Australian participation.
Summary
The May 2025 Good Ancestors newsletter covers three significant AI governance developments. First, the Trump administration has revoked Biden-era AI safety executive orders and memoranda, replacing them with innovation-focused instruments that remove risk-tiering and redirect Chief AI Officers toward adoption rather than safeguards. Second, the Federal Court of Australia has opened public consultation on generative AI use in legal proceedings, with submissions open until 13 June 2025 and a focus on accuracy, accountability, and accessibility. Third, OpenAI has announced 'OpenAI for Countries', a global infrastructure initiative expanding the Stargate project to US allies, raising questions about sovereignty, cost-sharing, and the distribution of benefits versus risks for participating nations including potentially Australia.
Implications for Australian agencies
- Consider Agencies tracking Australia's AI Safety Institute and AI Act development may want to consider how the US rollback of safety guardrails affects the comparative case for stronger Australian regulatory settings.
- Decide Any APS legal teams or agencies using generative AI for submissions or legal work could determine whether to make a submission to the Federal Court AI consultation before the 13 June 2025 deadline.
- Monitor Policy teams in DISR and Treasury may want to monitor the terms of any 'OpenAI for Countries' approach to Australia, particularly regarding sovereignty conditions and compute access arrangements.
Implications are AI-generated. Starting points, not advice.
"AI Policy and Governance Newsletter — May 2025" Source: Good Ancestors – AI Policy & Governance Newsletter Published: (undated) URL: https://www.goodancestors.org.au/newsletter/2025-05 The May 2025 Good Ancestors newsletter covers three significant AI governance developments. First, the Trump administration has revoked Biden-era AI safety executive orders and memoranda, replacing them with innovation-focused instruments that remove risk-tiering and redirect Chief AI Officers toward adoption rather than safeguards. Second, the Federal Court of Australia has opened public consultation on generative AI use in legal proceedings, with submissions open until 13 June 2025 and a focus on accuracy, accountability, and accessibility. Third, OpenAI has announced 'OpenAI for Countries', a global infrastructure initiative expanding the Stargate project to US allies, raising questions about sovereignty, cost-sharing, and the distribution of benefits versus risks for participating nations including potentially Australia. Implications for Australian agencies: - [Consider] Agencies tracking Australia's AI Safety Institute and AI Act development may want to consider how the US rollback of safety guardrails affects the comparative case for stronger Australian regulatory settings. - [Decide] Any APS legal teams or agencies using generative AI for submissions or legal work could determine whether to make a submission to the Federal Court AI consultation before the 13 June 2025 deadline. - [Monitor] Policy teams in DISR and Treasury may want to monitor the terms of any 'OpenAI for Countries' approach to Australia, particularly regarding sovereignty conditions and compute access arrangements. Retrieved from SIMS, 18 May 2026.