OpenAI Australia Expansion Marks a New Phase in the Country’s AI Race

OpenAI has operated for two years as the defining force behind modern artificial intelligence, but until now, Australia has been an afterthought. That changed this week. The US$500 billion company is launching a full-scale push into the country, opening a local HQ, locking in major enterprise partnerships and signing deals that will give thousands of Australian start-ups free access to ChatGPT.

This isn't a marketing tour. It's OpenAI's attempt to secure distribution, talent and infrastructure before competitors like Google, Anthropic and DeepSeek establish deeper roots. The timing is intentional: Australia's national AI strategy. . .