The Business Council of Australia has warned the country risks being left behind without a clear, government-led national artificial intelligence strategy that includes faster approvals for new data centres, plans for a skills transition and globally significant moonshot missions.

In a report, Accelerating Australia’s AI Agenda, to be published on Monday, the peak industry group highlights six key areas, including AI adoption, skills, regulation, infrastructure, data, and research and development, in which it says Australia needs a clearer vision in a bid to become a global leader by 2028.