OpenAI has released a comprehensive economic blueprint urging Australia to accelerate artificial intelligence adoption, projecting the technology could contribute AU$115 billion annually to the national economy by 2030.
The 16-page report, titled AI in Australia: OpenAI's Economic Blueprint, argues that the nation risks falling behind international competitors without decisive action on AI infrastructure, skills development and policy reform.
"We are at an inflection point," Sandy Kunvatanagarn, OpenAI's head of policy for Asia-Pacific wrote in the report.
"The opportunity AI presents to spur productivity and increase prosperity is too compelling to forfeit."
The blueprint suggests AI adoption could deliver approximately AU$3,925 per person in economic benefits by 2030, with productivity improvements accounting for AU$80 billion of the total projected gains.
OpenAI's analysis noted Australian output per hour worked sitting 18 per cent below United States levels, driven by underinvestment and slower adoption of digital technologies.
The company points to Australia's information technology sector as a model for AI transformation, where early digital adoption has delivered measurable efficiency gains whilst other sectors including construction, manufacturing and retail have stagnated.
The report outlines a 10-point action plan covering workforce training, business incentives, education reform and infrastructure investment to position Australia as a regional AI leader.
Key recommendations include rolling out national AI skills training for workers and students.
Offering targeted tax incentives for businesses adopting AI technologies should also be considered, along with embedding literacy around the technology in school curricula.
OpenAI also calls for modernising government service delivery through responsible AI deployment, noting that Australians spent an average of 1.6 hours on hold with government agencies in 2024, totalling 9.8 million lost hours.
The blueprint advocates for substantial investment in AI-ready infrastructure, projecting that data centre capacity will more than double from 1350 megawatts today to 3100 megawatts by 2030.
This infrastructure expansion could attract up to AU$26 billion in additional investment and support 17,900 full-time equivalent jobs by 2030, up from 9,600 currently employed in data centre operations.
The report said Australia's strategic advantages for AI infrastructure development include high land availability, policy stability, efficient permitting processes and abundant renewable energy access.
OpenAI suggests Australia could establish itself as the Indo-Pacific's trusted hub for AI infrastructure and standards, offering democratic leadership during a period of rising global uncertainty.
The company advocates for Australia to lead regional innovation through partnerships with advanced economies including Singapore, Japan, Korea and Taiwan to drive alignment on AI standards and promote responsible compute access.
Education is a critical focus area, with the report pointing to declining academic performance amongst Australian students over the past two decades across Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) scores in reading, mathematics and science.
OpenAI notes that more than a quarter of teachers' time is consumed by administrative work, with 92 per cent reporting insufficient time for lesson preparation, suggesting AI could reduce this burden through task automation.
The blueprint cites existing partnerships with Australian institutions, including South Australia's support for safe AI experimentation in schools and collaborations with the University of New South Wales.
Workforce development represents another priority, with OpenAI noting that ChatGPT usage has more than doubled in Australia over the past year, with over 90 per cent of users reporting benefits for learning and skill-building.
The company proposes establishing sector-based capability frameworks, expanding access to AI-driven learning through micro-credentials, and providing targeted investment incentives to accelerate business adoption.
Infrastructure recommendations include establishing streamlined approval processes for AI projects, harmonising environmental standards, and creating federal guarantees for AI infrastructure investments.
OpenAI emphasises the national security implications of AI development, arguing that domestic capability is vital for threat detection, disinformation monitoring and protection against cyber threats and foreign interference.
The blueprint warns that without coordinated action across government, business and civil society, Australia risks becoming a passive recipient of AI developments rather than an active shaper of the technology's future.
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