TLDR: A recent economic blueprint by OpenAI projects that AI-driven software will contribute AUD $6 billion annually to Australia’s economy through the creation of new businesses by 2030. This figure is part of a larger anticipated annual economic gain of AUD $115 billion from AI adoption.
Australia is set to experience a substantial economic uplift, with AI-driven software projected to generate AUD $6 billion annually from new businesses by 2030. This insight comes from a comprehensive economic blueprint released by OpenAI in July 2025, which urges Australia to accelerate its adoption of artificial intelligence. The headline figure of $6 billion, while significant, represents a specific component within a much broader economic forecast.
According to OpenAI’s ‘AI in Australia: OpenAI’s Economic Blueprint,’ the overall adoption of AI could unlock an impressive AUD $115 billion in annual economic gains for Australia by 2030. This translates to approximately AUD $3,925 per person. The majority of this projected gain, an estimated AUD $80 billion, is expected to stem from productivity improvements across various sectors. An additional AUD $25 billion is anticipated from enhancements in output quality, with the remaining AUD $6 billion specifically attributed to the emergence of new AI-driven businesses.
The report highlights that Australia’s current output per hour worked is 18% below that of the United States, a disparity attributed to underinvestment and a slower uptake of digital technologies. OpenAI posits that AI presents a unique opportunity to reignite Australia’s growth trajectory and significantly boost economy-wide productivity.
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Key recommendations from the blueprint include embedding AI skills in schools and workplaces, modernizing public service delivery through responsible AI deployment, incentivizing business adoption, and investing in sovereign infrastructure. The report notes the increasing engagement with AI tools, with ChatGPT usage in Australia more than doubling over the past year, and over 90% of users reporting benefits for learning and skill-building. Furthermore, the potential for AI to streamline government services is underscored by the fact that Australians spent an average of 1.6 hours on hold with government agencies in 2024, accumulating to 9.8 million lost hours annually. OpenAI emphasizes that strategic action is crucial for Australia to avoid falling behind international competitors in the AI era.
