OpenAI launches ‘OpenAI for Australia’
OpenAI unveils a country-wide program in Australia covering AI infrastructure, workforce training and startup support.
OpenAI has launched “OpenAI for Australia”, a nationwide program with local partners aimed at expanding artificial intelligence infrastructure, skills and innovation across the country.
The initiative, announced Friday, is the first OpenAI for Countries program in the Asia Pacific region and is intended to support sovereign AI infrastructure, upskill Australian workers and accelerate the local AI ecosystem.
As part of the program, OpenAI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with data centre operator NEXTDC to plan, develop and run a next-generation hyperscale AI campus and large-scale GPU supercluster at NEXTDC’s S7 site in Eastern Creek, Sydney.
OpenAI plans to be an initial offtaker with an option to scale, which it said would give Australia sovereign compute capacity for sensitive and mission-critical workloads across government, enterprise, research and national infrastructure, and is expected to support thousands of jobs and expanded opportunities for local manufacturers, engineers and suppliers.
The company also announced a skills initiative with CommBank, Coles and Wesfarmers to deliver AI training to more than 1.2 million workers and small businesses through OpenAI Academy, with Coles and Wesfarmers rolling out tailored programs to their workforces and Commonwealth Bank making modules available to 1 million small business customers from 2026.
“We want every small business to feel confident using digital technologies such as AI, whether they’re starting, running, or growing their business,” CommBank chief executive Matt Comyn said.
To support startups, OpenAI will introduce its first Australian startup program with venture capital firms including Blackbird, Square Peg and AirTree, offering participating companies up to US$15,000 in API credits, technical mentorship and workshops on scaling, compliance and safety, alongside an annual Founder Day event in Australia.
The recap
- OpenAI launches OpenAI for Australia as nationwide AI initiative.
- MoU with NEXTDC targets hyperscale AI campus at Sydney S7 site.
- Skills and startup programs begin 2026 with training and API credits.
