Push for big tech to pay for Australian-made AI

Researchers and unions in Australia are pushing for big tech companies to pay a levy in order to fund the development of local AI capabilities. The proposal, backed by the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) and leading AI academics, aims to ensure that domestic AI infrastructure is readily available, rather than relying on foreign companies.

Companies such as Anthropic and OpenAI would be required to contribute a portion of their data centre computing capacity. The siphoned compute would be pooled and distributed by the federal government, while a separate contribution may also be paid by these companies to fund the necessary people, software, and infrastructure. The aim is to cultivate a strong Australian AI industry, which currently lacks the confidence, investment, and coordination to fully develop its own AI models.

Australia has the talent and sector expertise, but it lacks a funded national ambition and coordinated access to compute, skills, research support, and patient capital. By developing homegrown AI models tailored to Australian conditions, the proposal seeks to keep critical services operating, even if access to US-based frontier models is disrupted.

The plan also highlights the importance of Australian influence over the development, governance, and deployment of AI systems that will shape various aspects of society, including healthcare, public services, workplaces, and the economy.