As we approach 2025, generative AI (GenAI) is poised to reshape industries across Australia, driving innovation and productivity in both private and public sectors.
The technology is not only transforming how businesses operate but also raising critical discussions around its ethical use, regulation, and workforce impact.
Adoption Across Industries
Generative AI is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of Australian enterprise strategy. Companies like Commonwealth Bank have already deployed GenAI to enhance customer service and software development. Their AI systems, for instance, assist in real-time queries by sifting through thousands of internal documents and helping software engineers automate code generation and optimise applications.
In the public sector, the Australian government is actively guiding agencies to adopt AI responsibly. Recent initiatives include a $41.2 million investment to promote responsible AI practices, emphasising transparency, privacy, and ethical AI use.
This funding supports projects like the Responsible AI Network, aimed at fostering collaboration across industries.
Accelerating Use Cases
Marketing and Sales: Many businesses are leveraging GenAI to draft proposals, personalise customer engagement, and generate trend analyses.
Product Development: AI is being used to draft technical documentation, identify market needs, and even design new products.
Software Engineering: More companies are exploring GenAI’s ability to write and debug code, reducing development cycles and costs.
The use of AI in these areas and many others across businesses is set to increase dramatically throughout 2025.
Who is using AI?
While 68% of Australian businesses are already using AI in some capacity, it is predicted that 86% are likely to increasing their investment in GenAI in 2025.
Although this is the case, a significant number still face challenges in measuring its return on investment (ROI) in the short term.
High-expertise organisations, however, are successfully aligning GenAI with strategic goals, leading to tangible outcomes. The focus is shifting from pure productivity gains to fostering innovation and creating new business models.
Preparing for the Future
To maximise GenAI's potential, IT leaders in Australia are advised to:
Establish cross-functional specialist teams to prototype AI solutions aligned with business objectives.
Create a strategic roadmap highlighting GenAI's benefits, risks, and metrics for success.
Address workforce concerns through retraining and career development, ensuring employees are prepared for the AI-driven future.
As Australia continues to adapt to this transformative technology, businesses that strategically invest in and align AI with their objectives will be better positioned for sustained growth and competitive advantage in 2025 and beyond.