Arabic version: دعوات لأستراليا لضمان الوصول إلى الحوسبة الخاصة بالذكاء الاصطناعي

According to ABC News, Australia’s growing appeal for data centres has given the country leverage as global technology companies build artificial intelligence infrastructure. Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy Andrew Charlton says Australia is at a “sliding doors” moment to become a creator rather than a renter of AI.

Australian AI companies want the federal government to use that position to secure guaranteed, affordable computing power for businesses, researchers and startups. Advanced computing capacity is controlled by a small number of companies and generated through large, electricity-hungry data centres. The government is developing national standards with states and territories covering project approvals, location, and electricity and water use.

Mr Charlton has argued that companies seeking to build data centres in Australia should make some computing capacity available locally. He said this could give Australia a greater return from the AI boom. Simply hosting data centres does not ensure a large share of the economic benefits, as the facilities employ relatively few people directly once built.

The federal government has also launched the Buy Australian AI Partnership, backed by the Big Four banks, to help local AI companies gain customers. More than 1,500 Australian AI companies are developing technology, but startups say domestic buyers are vital. Tiliter co-chief executive Christopher Sampson said an early Australian customer can provide the validation and credibility needed to compete internationally.

Trellis Data chief executive Michael Gately said computing power can take months to secure and its price can change by as much as 50 per cent in a week. Stone & Chalk chief executive Stela Solar said Australia risks being squeezed out of sovereign AI foundations without domestic computing capability. She said stronger local demand, investment and research partnerships could help Australia capture more of the wealth created by AI.