Australian organisations are taking a more measured approach to automating workflow through AI compared to their global counterparts, with only 35% of businesses prioritising productivity gains through automation, compared to 42% of organisations globally.
When it came to ensuring the trustworthy adoption of AI, Australian businesses lead the charge, according to KPMG’s latest Global AI Pulse survey. More than 31% of Australian businesses were actively focused on implementing AI governance policies to ensure the development of compliant and reliable AI solutions at scale, compared to 26% of businesses globally.
“Australian businesses are much more conscious about trust and the responsible use of AI, compared to businesses around the world and that’s what sets us apart,” said KPMG Australia chief technology officer John Munnelly.
“There is still a lot to do when it comes to productivity, and Australia has all the right foundations to take advantage of what’s coming. It’s now up to us to seize those opportunities.”
Globally, advanced analytics and real-time insights are enabling faster and better decision making, with 41% of organisations leveraging these capabilities. But in Australia, just 38% of businesses are taking advantage of these tools.
“AI is the biggest lever for productivity change we have. It’s up to us to pull it, sensibly, and be trusted in the process,” Mr Munnelly said.
“There are enormous productivity benefits with AI, but trust is what really matters.”
Strengthening cybersecurity, protecting data, and building stakeholder confidence remain top priorities for Australian organisations in an increasingly digital landscape, with 38% of businesses viewing trust and security as high priorities, significantly above the global average of 26%.
“Australia is demonstrating strong leadership in responsible AI adoption and risk management,” Mr Munnelly said.