Tech giants in Australia face levy to fund local AI
ACTU and leading academics propose tech firms fund Australian AI through computing power or payments.
Australia's biggest unions and AI researchers want this. Tech companies building data centres should help fund Australia's own AI.
Under this proposal, companies like Anthropic and OpenAI would give computing power to a pool run by the federal government. Or they could pay an 'AI capability contribution' instead.
Australian researchers lack the computing power needed for top AI models. Other countries have already committed billions to public AI work.
The UK, Norway, Korea and the US all did this. The ACTU says Australia has talent.
It lacks investment and coordination. The proposal could fund AI systems built for Australia.
They would be narrower and local. They would work for Australian organisations and their conditions.
This beats trying to match the biggest US models.
- Anthropic, OpenAI
- Target companies
- Sue Keay from UNSW
- Expert voice
Why it mattersIf adopted, it would give Australians a say in how AI shapes healthcare, work and the economy. This reduces dependence on US companies and the risk of service disruption.
AustraliaAustralian tech workers and businesses would gain access to domestically funded AI research and tools, and superannuation funds could be drawn into the investment.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
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