South Australia has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with OpenAI to explore ways artificial intelligence could support government services, research, workforce skills and investment across the state.
The agreement was signed by Premier Peter Malinauskas and OpenAI co-founder and president Greg Brockman at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco. It focuses on exploring practical areas of collaboration rather than committing either party to specific projects.
The state government said the partnership would examine opportunities to improve productivity, strengthen local innovation and support research and industry in sectors including manufacturing, health, defence, energy, space, agriculture and the creative industries.
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has been expanding its international partnerships with governments, universities and businesses as interest in AI adoption continues to grow. Australian governments have increasingly been examining how AI could improve public administration while addressing privacy, security and workforce concerns.
Under the agreement, South Australia and OpenAI plan to explore support for start-ups, researchers, universities and industry through initiatives such as technical workshops, research collaboration, hackathons and access to AI resources.
The partnership will also examine AI-related cybersecurity capabilities for government technology systems, with a focus on responsible use and strengthening cyber resilience.
Skills development is another area under consideration. The two parties may explore AI training programmes for public servants, educators, workers, small businesses, not-for-profit organisations and community groups, potentially involving universities, training providers and industry partners.
The agreement also includes discussions on how AI could improve government services and the citizen experience through staff training, responsible-use guidance and agency workshops.
Another element of the MoU relates to AI infrastructure and investment, aligned with South Australia’s Data Centre Strategy. The discussions are expected to consider the conditions needed for responsible investment, including energy supply, water, planning, connectivity, workforce capability and community outcomes.
Malinauskas said the agreement was intended to provide a practical framework for examining how AI could support public services, businesses and research while ensuring any future initiatives remained subject to legal, privacy, security and procurement safeguards.
OpenAI vice president of global policy Ann O’Leary said South Australia’s strengths in public-sector reform, universities and industries such as energy, health, defence and manufacturing made it a useful setting for exploring AI applications with local economic and workforce benefits.
The announcement places South Australia among a growing number of jurisdictions seeking formal engagement with major AI developers. The effectiveness of such agreements will ultimately depend on whether exploratory partnerships translate into measurable outcomes for government services, industry capability and employment.
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