AI

Economic Reform Roundtable :Productivity

Australia is holding a roundtable on Productivity this month Lifting productivity is critical to growth in real wages, incomes, jobs and overall living standards. It needs to be done in a sustainable and inclusive way to ensure all Australians can benefit. Recent trends Lower growth in labour productivity has been a longstanding challenge for Australia. Australia’s average productivity growth in the 2010s was at the lowest rate in 60 years . – Reflecting this slowdown, Treasury downgraded its long-run annual labour productivity growth assumption from 1.5 to 1.2 per cent in 2022. – Even small movements in productivity growth will have large impacts on wages and living standards over time. The 2023 Intergenerational Report found that a decline from 1.2 per cent to 0.9 per cent growth per year would reduce per capita real income by more than $10,000 per person in 40 years’ time. This challenge is not unique to Australia, with labour productivity over the past decade slowing in most major advanced economies. A number of countries, including the United States, Canada and New Zealand have also downgraded productivity growth assumptions in official forecasts. Australia’s productivity slowdown has been broad based. Productivity growth in the market sector, excluding mining, has slowed over time. This has been compounded by weaker productivity growth in the non-market sector and mining industry in more recent years. Productivity growth accelerated temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic before reversing. Productivity returned back to levels observed in 2019 as employment and consumption trends normalised and the labour market recovered strongly. – During this recovery, strong capital growth still did not keep pace with growth in hours worked, resulting in a decline in the capital to labour ratio which has weighed on recent productivity growth. – Treasury and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) are monitoring the […]

Do or die: Why “transformation at scale” is now a must for Australian manufacturers

By Paul Eastwood Australian Managing Partner of global management consultancy, Argon & Co Australian manufacturers can’t survive on a BAU basis. The game has changed and it’s no longer about incremental improvements in the world of manufacturing – it’s about transformation at scale. So this is a wake-up call for CEOs: if your factories don’t have key capabilities embedded in their operating model, your business could be obsolete before the decade is out. And the reason for this relates to a number of coalescing factors. Stiff competition from countries with lower labour costs and larger industrial bases – think China, India, and Vietnam – combined with Australia’s high wages, energy costs, and regulatory burdens are creating enormous cost pressures. Only transformative changes like automation, digitisation, or shifting to advanced manufacturing can offset these pressures. Events like COVID-19 exposed Australia’s weak sovereign capabilities, and occurred at roughly the same time that sustainability demands shot up from consumers, investors, and governments. Both of these factors call for reimagined supply chains, not just optimising existing ones. And massive technology shifts caused by the rise of Industry 4.0 and innovations based in AI, robotics, IoT, and 3D printing mean the industry is evolving fast. There’s no time to watch and see. Because in just a short time, the winners and losers within the manufacturing sector will become apparent. But it’s not all doom and gloom. If you want to be a technology winner – one with an intelligent, connected and adaptive factory – there are five pillars that aren’t just operational enhancements but strategic imperatives. Below are the five key elements that separate future-ready enterprises from those still playing catch up – i.e. the losers. Master Data At the foundation of every digital transformation lies one critical asset: data. And not just any data. […]

Year13 is growing up with appointment of ex-Atlassian leadership

In a bold move to double down on becoming an AI native company and expanding globally. Atlassian’s Pirow Cronje has been appointed Head of Operations at Year13 as the youth-focused tech company moves to become 100% AI native. Cronje will lead the optimisation of Year13’s product, tech and commercial strategy, drawing on his 10 years of experience at Atlassian to disrupt the company’s operations and bring AI to the forefront. “We’re thrilled to have Pirow join the team as we are reimagining the business to have an AI-first product stack and expand our offering into global markets,” says Will Stubley, Year 13 Co-Founder and Co-CEO. “AI allows us to catapult ideas further than we imagine. We can move faster, build smarter and personalise the support we provide to truly meet students where they are and where the world’s heading. Pirow will play a critical role in implementing our vision.” Pirow spent nearly 10 years at Atlassian leading financial planning & analysis in Australia to support corporate planning, Jira product and R&D leadership in preparation for IPO. He went on to lead the implementation of various customer strategy initiatives, across analytics, program management, marketing and research teams. “I’m thrilled to join Year13 as they transition to becoming AI-native,” says Pirow. “Year13 are long-standing leaders in tech and education, and I look forward to contributing to their global development and growth.” Pirow follows in the footsteps of veteran Atlassian product and engineering alumni, Nick Menere and Mark “Chai” Chaimungkalanot, who joined Year13 in 2023. Nick and Mark are heading up company-wide efforts to rebuild their entire suite of digital tools with AI at the core, including a new AI Agent program that provides students with 24/7, personalised support, at scale, which is currently in beta testing. “Our mission is to be […]

AI hype cycle meets reality for construction industry

Study of 460 Australian Design and Make companies reveals AECO, D&M, and M&E sectors continue to grapple with challenges including cost control, talent shortages and environmental sustainability. A new report from Autodesk, Inc. reveals a shift in AI optimism and preparedness, as well as lingering concerns over cost control in Australian Design and Make industries – including construction and manufacturing – amid economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The 2025 State of Design & Make report surveyed and interviewed 5,600 global business leaders – including 460 in Australia – in industries that comprise the Design and Make category. These sectors include architecture, engineering, construction and operations (AECO), product design and manufacturing (D&M), and media and entertainment (M&E). In Australia, 2024 was defined by high cost of living pressures, exacerbated by high interest rates and inflation. This severely impacted design and make industries, with the 2025 Design & Make report revealing that 40 per cent of Australian respondents consider cost control and cost management to be the largest challenge facing their organisation. The report found that investments are down year over year, which could be reflective of high interest rates and therefore a higher cost of borrowing. However, despite slowing investments, optimism remains high, with 67 per cent of leaders saying their organisations will increase future investments. “Alongside cost-of-living, artificial intelligence dominated Australia’s attention in 2024,” said Andy Cunningham, Senior Regional Director for Australia and New Zealand at Autodesk. “However, it appears this fixation has tapered off, following the natural path of tech hype cycles. And as the report reveals, Australian organisations are feeling less confident in AI.” The report states that 68 per cent of respondents believe AI will enhance their industry, down 9 per cent from last year – this shift is in line with global findings, which show a 12 […]

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Unlock the full potential of AI with IRIS by Argon & Co’s AI Enterprise Platform, Magi

IRIS are the specialists within Argon & Co that have deep expertise in data and AI for operations. With services spanning data and AI advisory, advanced operations analytics and AI applications, underpinned by our innovation lab, we work together with clients to generate real change. Harnessing the power of AI is no longer just an advantage, it’s a necessity for businesses looking to stay ahead. At IRIS by Argon & Co, transforming how businesses deploy and manage AI with the AI Enterprise Platform, Magi – is a fully secure, global platform designed to meet the unique demands of enterprise AI solutions. The IRIS platform enables organisations to adopt cutting-edge AI solutions seamlessly, without the disruption and high costs traditionally associated with advanced technology. The platform ensures that your AI solutions remain efficient, scalable, and aligned with your business objectives by offering managed services such as model monitoring and tuning, financial operations, metering, reporting, and MLOps. Whether hosted in your secure environment or delivered as a SaaS-like service, the AI Enterprise Platform supports regional data security and management requirements, making it an ideal solution for organisations with complex, global operations. With a growing suite of AI-based solutions available on the platform, businesses can unlock new opportunities to reduce costs, generate additional revenue, and achieve their business goals faster. Learn how the AI Enterprise Platform, Magi, can simplify your AI journey and accelerate your success: https://www.argonandco.com/en/news-insights/articles/video-demo-unlock-the-full-potential-of-ai-with-our-ai-enterprise-platform-magi/?utm_source=news&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=Magi_video&utm_id=MHDDigital&utm_content=Magi

AI can boost Australian manufacturing productivity, if it’s used correctly

By Stephen Roebuck, Associate Director of Consultancy, Peninsula Australia Australian manufacturing businesses have their sights set on improving productivity to meet ever-evolving consumer demand through the utilisation of AI. Indeed, this was demonstrated by a recent CommBank report, Manufacturing 2024 Insights Report, which found that 71% of manufacturers are focusing on AI to boost efficiencies. However, with 41% of respondents to the same report identifying labour skills levels as the number one challenge for their business, raising productivity is no easy feat. This is where new and emerging technologies like AI have the potential to transform the industry – provided they are used correctly. Streamline safer processes As the Industrial Revolution proved, any technology or machinery that can automate physically demanding, tedious and manual processes is transformative for productivity. AI is enabling massive leaps in safety, efficiency, and output for manufacturing businesses around the world, reducing the reliance on human observation and labour. Therefore, AI can help reduce the risk of accidents, optimise workflows, and enhance overall operations. In fact, AI’s insights into workplace safety and identification of potential hazards are especially useful for high-risk industries like manufacturing. However, the uptake of new and emerging AI technologies that have become popular in many industries, such as the education and marketing sectors, is moving slower in the Australian manufacturing industry. This is primarily attributable to the costs involved with implementation, which are prohibitive for some businesses. However, this is likely to change as the Federal Government’s $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund funnels more financing into areas including value add-in resources and renewables. But without proper training for workers to use new equipment that is powered by AI, business owners and employers are exposed to a whole new range of risks. Train and maintain Effective training is critical in delivering on the […]

Advanced, energy efficient computing cluster speeds up science

Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, has worked with Dell Technologies to build a high-performance computer (HPC) system which will speed up scientific discoveries and help grow Australia’s industry and economy. Named Virga, the HPC system is built on state-of-the-art Dell PowerEdge XE9640 servers and is the first deployment of its kind in Australia, designed to optimise artificial intelligence (AI) workflows while also being power-efficient using direct liquid cooling. Professor Elanor Huntington, CSIRO’s Digital, National Facilities and Collections Executive Director, said Virga will provide the critical computing infrastructure needed for machine learning and AI to grow Australia’s industry and economy. “CSIRO is proud to be a steward of some of Australia’s most important pieces of research infrastructure,” Professor Huntington said. “AI is used in practically all fields of research at CSIRO, such as developing world-leading flexible printed solar panels, predicting fires, measuring wheat crops and developing vaccines, just to name a few. “High-performance computing systems like Virga also play an important role in CSIRO’s robotics and sensing work and are crucial to the recently launched National Robotics Strategy to drive competitiveness, and productivity of Australian industry.” The HPC cluster, which is housed at CDC’s Hume Data Centre in Canberra, is named Virga after the meteorological effect of rain that evaporates before it reaches the ground and was named in recognition of CSIRO’s decades of research into cloud and rain physics. CSIRO’s new, powerful and energy-efficient high-performance computer (HPC) Virga (below)is speeding up science, working alongside THE other HPC Petrichor. Dr Jason Dowling from CSIRO’s Australian e-Health Research Centre said the increase in medical imaging data coupled with the growing complexity of diagnostic techniques has led to an urgent need for advanced computational power and data processing for medical image analysis. “The new HPC facilities will allow researchers in our Australian e-Health […]

One million ‘Introduction to AI’ scholarships available to Australians

Artificial intelligence (AI) ‘scholarships’ are now on offer to one million Australians, in a bid to increase the nation’s literacy of a technology estimated to be worth $4 trillion to the economy by the early 2030s. The free ‘Introduction to Artificial Intelligence’ microskill course is provided by the National AI Centre (NAIC), coordinated by Australia’s national science agency – CSIRO, and the Institute of Applied Technology Digital (IATD). The course will provide a non-technical introduction to AI fundamentals and is designed for people at the beginning their AI literacy journey. This makes it ideal for workers seeking to upskill, individuals starting their career in AI, and small to medium business owners. With many small to medium enterprises (SMEs) grappling with the challenge of adopting AI, NAIC Director Stela Solar said the course is the perfect opportunity for business owners to build their AI understanding. “SMEs make up over 98 per cent of Australia’s economy, and ‘Introduction to AI’ is their opportunity to learn how they can use this revolutionary technology to enhance their operations, services, and market competitiveness,” Ms Solar said. Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) CEO Luke Achterstraat welcomed the introduction of the course, praising its ability to provide small businesses with the knowledge needed to unlock AI’s vast opportunities. “Small businesses are a main source of innovation in Australia – they are entrepreneurs who try new ideas, test new products and usually back themselves with their own capital. “This microskill course will help build confidence and competency for small businesses as they navigate the AI landscape.” Director of IATD Operations Helen Fremlin said the accessibility of the course will empower Australians nation-wide to advance their AI understanding. “No programming or computer science background is required for students to enrol, and the virtual nature of this course […]

Australia’s first ever AI Month launches

Australia’s inaugural Artificial Intelligence (AI) Month launches today, calling on Australians to help shape and plan for the AI future they want to see. Held from November 15 to December 15, AI Month is an initiative from the National AI Centre (NAIC), which sits within Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. The initiative will bring together leading AI organisations, entrepreneurs and researchers to showcase the country’s domestic expertise and provide a forum to discuss Australian perspectives on AI. National AI Centre Director Stela Solar said that AI Month was central to the NAIC’s mission to pave the way for a responsible and inclusive AI future for Australia. “The rapid advancements in AI this year have emphasised the need for Australia to seize the AI opportunity and accelerate its global competitiveness,” Ms Solar said. “This month we are encouraging everyone to join in the important conversations to make the AI opportunity real. Together we can shape a responsible and inclusive AI future for Australia.” More than 50 free and ticketed AI-related events hosted by over 40 organisations will take place across the country. These workshops, panel discussions, hackathons and conferences will highlight AI use cases, opportunities, best practices, and the strength of Australia’s AI industry. “AI Month is a moment to learn new things, sharpen your skills, and step into new opportunities the future.” Ms Solar said. Australia’s AI Month was officially launched by the Minister for Industry and Science, the Hon Ed Husic, at the opening of Friend or Foe – The Rise of Artificial Intelligence, a new exhibition by Australian technologist and artist Luke Millanta at Queston this morning. Get involved in Australia’s AI Month by joining or submitting an event (please email naic@csiro.au).

Digital service transformation trends

Five ways to stay competitive in 2024 and beyond The digital transformation sweeping the world is revolutionising how we live and work, fuelled by new technologies such as AI, machine learning and automation. Accounting for more than 70 per cent of GDP and 4 in 5 jobs, Australia’s service sector has become a focal point in this change, spurred on by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The University of Queensland (UQ) Business School’s Service Innovation Alliance (SIA) Research Hub is at the forefront of research in this space. Led by internationally recognised experts Professor Janet McColl-Kennedy and Associate Professor Christoph Breidbach, the SIA brought together a roundtable of 64 academic and industry representatives in November 2022, spanning finance, retail, medicine, hospitality, tourism, transportation, construction and more. So, how can leaders refine customer experiences, create service innovations, grow their businesses and effectively manage their workforce through emerging digital technologies? Contributors to the White Paper share their strategies for 2024 and beyond. #1 Maintaining humanness in the age of digitalisation SIA Research Hub Co-Lead, Professor McColl-Kennedy firmly believes that at the very core of every exciting new technology and bold digital transformation, there must beat a human heart. Preserving a human element is a key consideration for service sector organisations, one that’s critical to human and economic wellbeing. Professor McColl-Kennedy said clear boundaries and human oversight were crucial for the responsible implementation of new digital technology. “We’re arguing that humans and not AI should be at the centre of business activities; that humans need to be in charge, directing and shaping the future,” she said. As AI learns from humans by observing and repeating their actions, it can be used to perform mundane and repetitive tasks, such as answering frequently asked questions or filtering email spam, and taught to undertake dangerous or dirty activities […]

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