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ChatGPT creator OpenAI has laid out its economic blueprint for Australia, giving the government a plan for AI rollout.
In a release posted on its website yesterday (30 June), OpenAI said its plan “provides a clear, actionable plan for how Australia can unlock the full economic and social potential of artificial intelligence.”
The blueprint is laid out in a 10-step plan that aims to integrate AI into Australian society and lay down the infrastructure to make Australia an AI powerhouse.
“To secure its AI future, Australia should:
Roll out national AI skills training for workers, students, and managers,
Offer targeted tax incentives for all businesses adopting AI,
Embed AI literacy and responsible use in schools and universities,
Modernise government services delivery through responsible AI,
Provide secure access to government data for public-interest AI use,
Upskill public service and empower a central AI capability unit,
Reform AI procurement rules to support innovation and pilots,
Invest in AI-ready infrastructure like data centres and compute,
Ensure access to affordable, renewable energy for AI infrastructure,
and, establish Australia as a trusted regional hub for AI standards and investment in the Indo-Pacific.”
OpenAI claims that Australia could see annual economic growth of A$115 billion by 2030, if it were to adopt the building of AI data centres, integrate AI use within government and industry and use its vast land to develop renewable energy.
“Australia has the potential to become the Indo-Pacific’s trusted hub for AI infrastructure,” said OpenAI.
“OpenAI’s Stargate, a multibillion-dollar data centre project in the US, is already generating thousands of jobs and expanding critical AI infrastructure. It offers a blueprint for how strategic compute investments can drive economic growth, workforce development, and technological leadership. Australia now has an opportunity to benefit in the same way.
“Australia leads on the core building blocks of data centre competitiveness: it has the highest land availability among peer nations, strong policy stability, efficient permitting processes, and abundant access to renewable energy. These advantages, more than just low average electricity costs, reinforce its appeal for major infrastructure investment.”
Of course, it seems that OpenAI wants to lead the charge in Australia’s AI journey, boasting about its US achievements and requesting to partner with Australia. However, its proposal makes a good case for Australia becoming an AI powerhouse.
Should Australia aim to become an AI leader?
Business Council of Australia chief executive Bran Black believes that Australia needs to seize the opportunity it has to grow in the AI sector and become a leader, or else risk being left behind.
“It’s not often talked about locally, but in global boardrooms, Australia has long been seen as a fertile ground for new technologies. Payments technology is but one example, where for years, Australia was leaps ahead of our larger peers. We are good at grasping new innovations, and we can do so with AI, too,” he said.
Black agrees that Australia is set up perfectly for AI, with space for renewable energy and a geographic location that makes us an ideal regional hub.
“Australia can host world-class data centres powered by renewable energy, helping global and local organisations train models securely and sustainably,” he said.
“With investment, these facilities can also serve as the backbone for sovereign AI capabilities, supporting industries from mining and agriculture to healthcare and advanced manufacturing.”
However, like OpenAI, he said that filling our 370,000 tech worker shortage would be critical and can be treated with skills development.
“We have many of the building blocks in place, with enthusiastic and willing business and research communities willing to help, and much of the consultation and thinking on AI regulation and capacity-building already undertaken. What Australia needs now are hard and fast decisions to let everyone get on with it,” Black said.
“AI is not a distant future. It is already transforming the way we live and work. The challenge before us is to choose the path of ambition. To be not only users of AI, but creators and leaders in its responsible development.
“The question isn’t whether Australia will be left behind in the AI revolution – it’s whether we’ll have the courage to lead it.”
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