OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, will establish its first Australian office in Sydney before the year is out. The move marks the start of a permanent footprint in one of its fastest-growing markets.
The Sydney Morning Herald reports the San Francisco-based firm has already set up an Australian entity and started hiring, although the location of the new office and staffing plans remain under wraps.
OpenAI says uptake of its tools has surged locally, with weekly active ChatGPT users in Australia growing 2.5 times in the past year. The country now ranks among the company’s top 10 markets for developers and paying subscribers.
“Australia’s government, businesses and world-class developer ecosystem are already shaping the future of AI,” OpenAI chief operating officer Brad Lightcap told Business News Australia.
“We’re excited to expand our presence and build a local team to work closely with partners, customers and the millions of Australians who use ChatGPT daily.”
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman
A hub for collaboration
The Sydney office is expected to serve as a focal point for engagement with developers, businesses, policymakers and researchers.
OpenAI plans to host events and visits from its executives throughout the year, with early recruitment aimed at technical and support roles for Australian users.
The move comes at a time when governments are weighing how to regulate artificial intelligence.
In Australia, plans for broad AI-specific legislation have been scaled back, with the federal government instead opting to lean on existing frameworks in areas such as privacy and copyright.
Meanwhile, the Productivity Commission has forecast AI could add $116 billion to the Australian economy over the next decade, provided regulation doesn’t hinder growth.
Partnerships already in play
Even without a local office, OpenAI has already made inroads into the Australian economy. Earlier this year, it signed a multi-year partnership with Commonwealth Bank, which is introducing AI tools to both customer-facing and internal operations.
Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn said OpenAI’s arrival “adds world-class capability to the local AI landscape” and would “unlock opportunities for Australian businesses.”
Other homegrown tech names, including Atlassian and Canva, have also signed on as OpenAI developer partners.
Political and policy momentum
OpenAI’s decision to expand locally follows discussions in San Francisco with senior Australian officials, including ambassador Kevin Rudd and Assistant Minister Andrew Charlton.
NSW Innovation Minister Anoulack Chanthivong welcomed the move, describing it as a “transformative opportunity” that aligns with the state’s innovation strategy.
To guide its policy engagement, OpenAI has brought on former Tech Council of Australia chief executive Kate Pounder as its Australian policy liaison.
CBA boss Matt Comyn
What comes next
With Microsoft as a backer and its products already entrenched in global markets, OpenAI’s Sydney base gives the company a foothold in the Asia-Pacific.
While the company hasn’t disclosed the size of the office or staffing numbers, it has promised more details will be shared later in the year.