There are just two topics of conversation in Australia right now: You are either talking about artificial intelligence, or you’re talking about productivity (or you are talking about them both at the same time).
Which brings us to Treasurer Jim Chalmer’s Productivity Roundtable to be held in Canberra next month.
There were plenty of eyebrows raised when the first tranche of invitations were issues last week, more for which groups were missing than for the groups invited.
Of the ten invitations sent out, there were four to union representatives, four to business groups, one to the Productivity Commissioner, and one to the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS).
The business groups to receive invitations were the Business Council of Australia (Bran Black), the Australian Industry Group (Innes Willox), the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Andrew McKeller) and the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (Matthew Addison).
The most obvious invitation that was missing from this list was someone from the Technology Council of Australia with its star-studded board of largely billionaire luminaries. Also missing was the venerable Australian Information Industry Association.
It does seem like quite a fundamental omission, given the contribution that technology adoption makes to productivity improvements and considering the wave of productivity-enhancing AI software that is now hitting our shores.
Could it be that the Treasurer has decided he can get what he needs on tech with the business groups he has already invited?
The BCA has sharpened its own focus on the tech sector, recently releasing a landmark strategy for Accelerating Australia’s AI Agenda, and then a week ago announcing it had strengthened the tech credentials of its board with the appointment of AirTrunk founder Robin Khuda and Telstra chief executive Vicki Brady.
Also on the BCA board is Google Australia managing director Mel Silva and Commonwealth Bank CEO Matt Comyn, who has been the most outspoken executive from corporate Australia pushing an AI agenda.
The Treasurer’s Productivity Roundtable is an intimate affair, literally being conducted around the Cabinet table in Canberra. Presuming the group might want to keep a chair available for the Prime Minister, there are probably only 10 or 12 invitations still to be sent.
Hmmmm. You really have to wonder out loud on this one.
There are two kinds of technology in this world. There is technology that is produced somewhere else and purchased here, and there is technology that is developed and owned in Australia, that attracts all of the retained economic benefit that derives from this.
It is all very well to have business representation with an understanding of the productivity benefits of being a sophisticated user of technology. But if there is not someone from the local, sovereign tech sector, then that’s a voice that’s missing.
The science community and the universities will also be sweating on a phone call from the Treasurer’s office.
Speaking of Australian business IP leaking offshore, OpenAI was everywhere across local media this week with a visit by its chief economist Ronnie Chatterji. The visit coincided with the release of a policy paper (or a “pamphlet” if you were reading Crikey.)
I can’t be the only person that finds it curious that a US company can come to Australia to tell us how we can help them, even before it has set up an office.
We can be an AI hub for the region. Ok great. We can also provide tax breaks.
A measure of how serious OpenAI is about having influence in this country is demonstrated by its engagement of former Tech Council chief executive Kate Pounder, who has been tapped for policy work, according to Capital Brief.
Elsewhere across the week, we reported that Deloitte had been engaged by government to review the Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund, and the Department of Finance said it had delayed making a decision on whether to allow disgraced big four accountants and consultants PwC to resume bidding for government contracts.
The week’s highlights:
Business Council pivot to tech issues gathers momentum – InnovationAus.com
OpenAI wants AI tax breaks, promises $115b annual windfall – AFR [$]
Australia could become regional AI hub: OpenAI – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
OpenAI’s ‘productivity’ garbage is an age-old scam that’s long crippled Australia – Crikey [$]
OpenAI’s Australian lobbying machine takes shape with Kate Pounder hire – Capital Brief [$]
AI giant’s bold plan for Australia – ABC Radio National Breakfast
AI ‘vital national security asset’, says OpenAI – The Australian [$]
Deloitte brought in to review govt’s science diplomacy fund – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
PwC government work ban extended as Finance decides firm’s fate – InnovationAus.com [SUBSCRIBER]
Do you know more? Contact James Riley via Email.