Australian Signals Directorate director-general Abigail Bradshaw says the nation needs an AI "early warning system" to help defend against the increasingly powerful technology.

Abigail Bradshaw has called for Australian organisations to use AI to defend themselves and share warnings with each other about emerging threats.

Global tech executives last week warned the race to develop AI could outstrip humanity’s ability to control it.

The federal assistant science minister, Andrew Charlton, says Australia should help shape any global slowdown effort.

“I am not in favour of leaving it to the companies and I’m not in favour of leaving it to the superpowers,” he said.

Mr Charlton said governments should assume AI would keep becoming more capable, given companies’ financial incentives, and despite executives discussing slowing down.