Labor exploring world first smart glasses ban amongst flurry of AI workplace safety standards

Australia will explore a world first smart glasses ban in all government offices under new workplace standards designed to safely harness AI for productivity.

Anthony Albanese is expected to unveil a suite of actions on Friday to keep pace with the AI revolution before jetting off to spruik his approach to other world leaders at the UN General Assembly in New York next week.

The PM had vowed to share his AI approach at the international forum when he first unveiled it during a landmark speech at the University of Sydney in July.

Mr Albanese says he does not want Australia to miss out on the AI demand so will encourage AI models and data centre development to put their roots Down Under but only on Australia’s terms.

It includes strict energy requirements which will force them to bring their own renewables and to comply with copyright restrictions to protect Australia creators.

The Office of AI which has since been established in the PM’s department will open consultation for the standards Mr Albanese announced in that July speech on Friday.

Labor will turn its attention to AI in the workplace next, hosting a series of roundtables with top business leaders and unions to guide the technology’s adoption.

Commonwealth Bank of Australia, Microsoft, AGL, Telstra, Kmart, Blackmores Group and Ramsay Health Care will be among the sessions hosted by Employment and Workplace Relations Minister Amanda Rishworth.

The government plans to learn from businesses already using the technology about how it can boost Australia’s struggling productivity but also how workers can be protected.

However, amid growing security concerns of nonconsensual recording from smart glasses, Labor will seek to ban them in Commonwealth workplaces.

The glasses, which shot to prominence after Kylie Jenner promoted Meta’s latest model, are increasingly becoming cheaper and more accessible.

However, it’s understood Katy Gallagher who is responsible for the public service will explore how to exempt people who need them for legitimate use such as visual impairment.

Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Mr Albanese said he hoped to work with other world leaders while in New York, especially the United States, on a range of AI and digital initiatives.

“We think that there is enormous benefit to come from artificial intelligence in areas such as healthcare, health provision, doing analysis to make a difference, benefits in education, potentially benefits as well in productivity. But that doesn’t mean that there are not risks which need to be mitigated,” he said.

“Next week at the United Nations, I expect that this will be a major topic of conversation. I’ll engage constructively.

“We’ve said very clearly that we must shape AI, or it will shape us.

“Areas such as sovereign capability, our capacity to provide for the defence and security of Australia is absolutely essential.”

Also on Friday, Treasurer Jim Chalmers is expected to give a sneak peak into how the AI revolution is already impacting Australian workplaces as part of the 2026 intergenerational report which is slated to be released in full on Monday.