The National AI Centre (NAIC) has launched the AI Directory, aiming to help SMEs, government and industry easily find and connect with companies that possess local AI capabilities.
The platform replaces the former AI Ecosystem Discoverability Portal.
To be listed, companies must have an ABN; support the adoption, deployment, or development of AI in Australia, either as a company developing AI products and services for sale, a research institution or AI centre, a consultancy or service provider supporting AI adoption or a non-profit initiative advancing AI capability; and currently be in market with customers or partners.
At the time of writing, the directory listed 33 companies, including consultancies InfoCentric, Blitzm Systems, Aspire Sharp Consulting, Amplify AI Group and AC SmartData.
AI developers and product vendors focused on tax clients, construction, tendering, process automation, education and training, dental businesses and other areas are also included.
There were no IT channel businesses listed at the time of writing.
The AI enablement categories listed in the directory cover AI deployment; AI for cyber security; AI for safety; cloud services; consulting; data services; governance and ethics; hardware and infrastructure; research and innovation; responsible AI; skills and training; software development; solution evaluation; and systems integration.
Entire AI ecosystem not fully known
The NAIC also launched a new report, 'Australia’s artificial intelligence ecosystem: growth and opportunities', which states that the full population of AI companies in Australia is unknown and fast evolving, with new companies entering and exiting the space regularly.
"AI use by Australian business is already ubiquitous and many companies can be considered partial AI companies," the report said.
"For example, some ICT-sector companies are increasingly heavy users of AI and will soon be (or already are) fully fledged ‘AI companies’."
The sample of businesses that make up the report contains 1,121 private companies and 412 public companies, all headquartered in Australia. Each of these either develops AI technologies or actively integrates AI into their operations.
IT infrastructure and hosting companies leaning into AI
The report claimed that 105 private and public companies identified as AI companies in 2023 are no longer operating, while over 1,000 new companies have joined the current list.
An analysis of recently founded companies (within the past five years) revealed 339 new AI ventures, representing about 30% of all private AI companies, the report stated.
The business processes and support services sector leads the way in terms of private AI companies, with 494 (44% of the private AI company sample). This sector includes professional services firms, technology adoption consultants and customer interaction solution providers.
"Many deploy AI-driven tools to streamline workflows and improve business efficiency," the report said.
IT infrastructure and hosting emerged as the second-largest domain with 346 companies (31% of the private AI company sample).
"This concentration highlights the prevalence of technology firms among Australian AI startups," the report said.
"The pattern differs notably from public AI companies, which focus more on resource industries. Private companies primarily develop AI technologies and solutions in Australia. Their activities centre on application development, conversational AI, optimisation solutions, data management and integration tools."
Australia needs to move beyond a 'reactive, consumer-based AI posture'
The stakeholders interviewed by the NAIC said that Australia needs to move beyond a reactive, consumer-based AI posture toward a proactive role as a global AI contributor.
"This would require sustained, targeted investment in foundational research, sovereign technologies and public-good AI aligned with national priorities, such as health, environment and education," the report said.
"While a strong academic base and entrepreneurial energy exist, without strategic funding, cross-sector partnerships and equitable resource access (especially for SMEs), Australia risks deepening internal divides and losing global relevance."
Those interviewed for the report also felt that developing sovereign AI capability has become essential, as control over these technologies increasingly defines economic and geopolitical power.
"[Respondents] indicated strategic investment must balance immediate commercial applications with longer term foundation-building to ensure Australia can shape AI development pathways aligned with national values and interests," the report said.
The report did identify a number of gaps and uncertainties around AI, however, including AI sovereignty requirements and risks.
"We know little about Australia’s ability to manage and control its digital infrastructure, technology and data," the report said.
"This is under increasing scrutiny as reliance on foreign-built systems grows, raising concerns about sovereignty and data exposure."
Productivity and return on investment from AI adoption was also mentioned.
"There is still limited evidence on how AI projects are impacting productivity or delivering returns on investment in real-world Australian contexts," the report stated.
"This is not well understood at the firm level or the national level.
The National AI Centre (NAIC) was established in 2021 to support and accelerate Australia's AI industry, aiming to help Australia become a global leader in developing and adopting trusted, secure and responsible AI.
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