Consultation to define AI sovereignty kicks off

The Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) is undertaking a project to define 'AI Sovereignty' and baseline Australia’s National AI Capabilities, embarking on a national sprint consultation roadshow to do so.

The project is supported by the Australian Computer Society and the Department of Industry, Science and Resources and will include a mix of roundtables held across the country, along with an online survey running in parallel. 

The roundtables kick off today in Melbourne, with another taking place in the Victorian capital city tomorrow before heading to Canberra on 22 September, Adelaide on 23 September, Sydney between 24 and 26 September and Brisbane on 26 September.

Virtual roundtables will also be held on 19, 23 and 25 September.

Those who choose to take part in the project will not only influence the draft AI Sovereignty Framework before it is finalised, but also contribute directly to the Australian National AI Capability Stocktake across the full AI stack.

The TPDi said that 'AI Sovereignty' is a "provocative concept often invoked but rarely defined", with the project aiming to address "three immediate challenges" of shared languages, a full stack view and a stocktake of Australia’s National AI Capabilities.

"'AI Sovereignty' means different things to different stakeholders; this project will provide clarity and an authoritative Sovereign AI Framework," the TPDi said.

"Current efforts are siloed. Australia requires a holistic view of sovereignty across the entire AI stack – from compute infrastructure to data and governance.

"There is no single consolidated, structured evidence-based picture of where Australia currently stands. Without this clarity, it is challenging to prioritise investment or set a coherent national strategy. 

"The timeline is pressing with the government's National AI Plan due by the end of 2025."

All contributions, whether through workshops or the survey, will be recognised in TPDi’s Discussion Paper released in October 2025 and the final report at the end of 2025.