Introduction

Australia is an active and influential player in the global AI ecosystem, consistently punching above our weight in research and innovation:

  • Australia ranks highly in AI use by consumers. After adjusting for population size, Australia ranks third globally in the use of Claude, a popular AI tool developed by leading technology company Anthropic (Appel et al 2025).
  • Australia attracted $10 billion in data centre investment during 2024, making it the second-largest destination globally that year for this asset class after the United States (Knight Frank 2025).
  • Our AI industry is thriving, with more than 1,500 companies driving growth and innovation nationwide (Bratanova et al. 2025).
  • Australia produces 1.9% of the world’s AI research publications, far exceeding our share of global population and GDP. Our research extends beyond core computer science and into practical, discipline-specific applications including in medicine, environmental science, agriculture and the social sciences (Bratanova et al. 2025).
  • In 2024, Australia attracted $700 million in private investment in AI firms, reflecting increasing momentum in developing and deploying Australian AI solutions (Bratanova et al. 2025).
  • Demand for AI-skilled workers has tripled since 2015, underscoring Australia’s position as a hub for cutting-edge technology and talent (Bratanova et al. 2025). 

AI is already shaping our economy and society, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Realising the full benefits of AI will not happen by chance – it requires deliberate, coordinated action to seize the potential of AI while managing its risks.

This plan sets out the steps the Australian Government will take to support Australia to build an AI-enabled economy that is more competitive, productive and resilient. 

With significant private sector capital ready to invest in AI technologies, our role is to ensure settings are fit for purpose to attract and direct investment, enable successful adoption and proactively identify and address harms as appropriate. 

Guided by the plan, the government will ensure that AI delivers tangible benefits for all Australians. In this National AI Plan, references to artificial intelligence refer generally to AI systems. The OECD defines an AI System as ‘a machine-based system that, for explicit or implicit objectives, infers, from the input it receives, how to generate outputs such as predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that can influence physical or virtual environments. Different AI systems vary in their levels of autonomy and adaptiveness after deployment’ (OECD 2023).

Our goals

The National AI Plan is anchored in 3 goals:

  • Capturing the opportunity: We are fostering investment in world-class digital and physical infrastructure, supporting local capability and attracting global partnerships. By expanding high-speed connectivity, attracting investment in advanced data centres, and backing our researchers and businesses, we aim to lead in AI innovations and applications.
  • Spreading the benefits: Our goal is to ensure that all Australians, regardless of background or location, shares the advantages of AI. We are supporting small and medium enterprises, regional communities and groups at risk of digital exclusion. Australian workers must share fairly in the potential productivity benefits of AI. Building digital and AI skills, growing and protecting jobs, supporting workforce transitions, and improving public services are central to this effort.
  • Keeping Australians safe: We are committed to robust legal, regulatory, and ethical frameworks that protect rights and build trust. This includes ongoing review and adaptation of laws and establishing an AI Safety Institute. We are engaging internationally to manage risks such as bias, privacy breaches, and emerging threats, while promoting responsible innovation.

This plan is a starting point for the government’s vision. As technology develops and confidence in AI use becomes more widespread, we will adapt and evolve the plan to capture emerging opportunities and manage new risks. This will ensure that Australians continue to benefit from AI and remain safe in a rapidly changing world.

The government’s role

As the steward of the National AI Plan, the government will:

  • Provide national leadership and coordination to shape the direction of AI development, adoption, and governance to ensure Australia has the right policies, infrastructure, skills and capabilities to lead in AI innovation.
  • Establish the right settings to attract domestic and global investment, in collaboration with state and territory governments.
  • Promote responsible practices to ensure Australians and organisations have the confidence to adopt AI.
  • Coordinate action with unions, businesses and civil society to improve workers’ standard of living, protect jobs, and ensure the benefits of AI are equitably distributed across Australian society.
  • Partner with industry, unions, and the tech sector to equip Australians with the skills, training and credentials needed to develop and use AI technologies.
  • Engage internationally to strengthen Australia’s innovation capability, support adoption of trusted technologies with a focus on our region and promote international norms in line with our interests.

Implementing the plan and measuring success

The National AI Plan sets out the government’s direction on AI and is designed to support iterative, adaptive action to reflect the dynamism of AI technologies.

We will track progress under the plan using a flexible, evidence-based approach, factoring in the evolving nature of AI and its impacts across the economy and society.

We will draw on national data sources, sector-specific reporting and stakeholder feedback to monitor adoption, skills development and responsible AI practices. Data sources may include, but are not limited to:

This evidence base will guide ongoing refinement of the plan and help identify gaps and priorities. Updating frameworks will ensure we can respond flexibly to urgent issues.