The world’s leading artificial intelligence (AI) companies are investing in Australia’s AI capability, expanding the compute, skills and infrastructure that support the nation’s digital economy.
Since the National AI Plan launched in late 2025, OpenAI, Anthropic, AWS and Microsoft have each moved to grow their Australian operations, backed by long-term community and environmental partnerships.
Anthropic backs research and safety standards
Anthropic is investing in Australia’s research strength and talent. As the first AI company to sign an MoU with the Australian Government, it is directing funds into Australian research – from disease diagnosis to computer science education – and will work with Australia’s AI Safety Institute. Sydney will be the company’s fourth office in the Asia-Pacific region.
Austrade has worked with Anthropic since 2023, helping connect the company to the talent, research base and partnerships underpinning its Australian growth. Andrew Barnes, Austrade’s Critical Technologies Lead, says Anthropic’s expansion highlights the strengths drawing global AI investment to Australia.
‘Anthropic’s expansion reflects what global AI leaders see in Australia: world-class talent, a deep research ecosystem, and the right conditions to innovate and grow. Our role is to connect investors with those strengths with the partners, institutions and stakeholders that can support their success.’
OpenAI invests in sovereign compute and skills
Through OpenAI for Australia – its first OpenAI for Countries program in the Asia-Pacific – OpenAI is investing in local infrastructure, skills and ecosystem.
At its centre is a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Australian operator NEXTDC to develop an AI Campus and a large-scale GPU supercluster at Eastern Creek, Western Sydney. Planned as one of the region’s most advanced sovereign AI facilities, it will give government, enterprise and research secure compute for sensitive workloads. OpenAI is an anchor customer. The first phase is expected from late 2027.
OpenAI is also building local workforce capability, partnering with CommBank, Coles and Wesfarmers to train more than 1.2 million Australians through OpenAI Academy. It also runs alongside a startup program with local venture capital firms.
AWS powers AI with renewable energy
AWS’s recent data centre expansion is backed by 3 new solar farms across Victoria and Queensland, taking Amazon’s Australian renewable energy portfolio to 11 wind and solar projects, expected to generate more than 1.4 million megawatt hours of carbon-free energy a year.
Amazon has also committed to a 10-year partnership with the Australian River Restoration Centre to restore a 14.8-kilometre stretch of the Coxs River in Greater Western Sydney, degraded by land-clearing, cattle and invasive species. The project aims to return almost 400 million litres to Sydney’s drinking water catchment. It follows a 2024 land restoration partnership with Great Eastern Ranges in the bushfire-affected Buxton district.
‘AI is a once-in-a-generation transformation, and Amazon is pleased to be empowering all Australians to innovate at scale through this investment,’ says AWS CEO Matt Garman.
‘We’re expanding our world-class data centre infrastructure, bringing more renewable energy online, and supporting the country’s vision to be a global AI leader.’
Microsoft Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Satya Nadella with Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Image supplied by Microsoft.
Microsoft ties AI growth to national skills and cyber resilience
Microsoft’s A$25 billion investment through to 2029 – its largest technology investment in Australia to date – will expand AI supercomputing capacity, strengthen national cyber security through the Microsoft–ASD Cyber Shield, and equip 3 million Australians with workforce-ready AI skills by 2028. It builds on Microsoft’s 2023 commitment, which grew its Australian data centre footprint to 29 sites across three Azure regions.
‘Australia has an enormous opportunity to translate AI into real economic growth and societal benefit,’ says Satya Nadella, Chairman and CEO, Microsoft.
‘That is why we are making our largest investment in Australia to date, committing A$25 billion to expand AI and cloud capacity, strengthen cybersecurity, and expand access to digital skills across the country.’
Australia’s advantage for AI investment
Together, these commitments reflect the strength of Australia’s offer to global AI investors: a deep talent pool, a research base spanning more than 160 institutes, evolving green data centre infrastructure, and a policy approach that aligns investment with the Government’s proposed Australian Standards for AI.
That offer is already drawing further investment. IREN’s planned 800 MW data centre campus near Bundey, South Australia is one of the largest data centre developments announced in the Asia-Pacific region. It sits away from urban development, at the intersection of major transmission infrastructure, in a state grid targeting 100% net renewable energy by 2027.
Its transmission connection agreement also supports the case for upgrading South Australia’s interconnection to the National Electricity Market, helping unlock further renewable, storage and transmission investment in the state.
Learn more about Australia’s advantage in the age of AI.
How Austrade can help
The Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade) supports foreign investors to establish and expand operations in Australia. Our experts in Australia and around the world can help you through every stage of your investment journey.
We offer the latest industry insights, connections with key stakeholders and decision-makers, and virtual or physical site visits to Australia. Thousands of foreign businesses have worked with us to tap into the Australian market.
For information on investment opportunities in Australia, contact an Austrade investment specialist.
Go further, faster with Austrade
Subscribe to the Investment Update newsletter to find out about new investment opportunities, insights and investor success stories across Australia.