Business giants get to grips with AI
OpenAI has partnered with Commonwealth Bank, Coles and Wesfarmers to deliver AI training to 1.5 million Australians through bespoke learning modules.
Artificial intelligence juggernaut OpenAI and three of Australia’s largest employers will team up to make AI training available to 1.5 million Australians.
Under the initiative to be unveiled on Friday, Commonwealth Bank, Coles and Wesfarmers will team up with OpenAI to deliver “bespoke learning modules tailored to real-world Australian use cases”.
Using OpenAI’s Academy platform, Coles and Wesfarmers will roll out “foundational AI skills” training programs to their workforces – 115,000 and 118,000 respectively – and Commonwealth Bank will launch a training program for its 1.3 million small business clients.
OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, has greatly increased its footprint in Australia in the past few months – opening its first Australian office in Sydney and then creating a program to provide free access to its products to start-ups backed by leading venture capital firms.
Commonwealth Bank chief executive Matt Comyn said the training met a need among the bank’s small business clients.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Australia’s economy and the engine of our communities, but too many small business owners tell us they simply don’t have the time or confidence to explore how AI could help them,” he said.
“We want every small business to feel confident using digital technologies such as AI, whether they’re starting, running or growing their business.”
It is an expansion of the bank’s collaboration with OpenAI – the companies have already announced they would work together on using AI to strengthen scam and fraud detection and to deliver more personalised services.
Coles chief executive Leah Weckert said the collaboration would help its workforce. “AI is quickly reshaping how we work and communicate,” she said.
“Building AI and digital skills across more Australians, whatever their background or experience with technology, is about inclusion and opportunity.
“For many of our 115,000 team members, this program will open new skills and help them use AI with greater confidence in their future careers and in their personal lives.”
Wesfarmers chief executive Rob Scott said Australian adoption of AI was critical to “remain globally competitive and to help deliver growth in the long term”.
“We’re really pleased to be providing access to OpenAI training for all our team members across the group,” he said.
“Strengthening AI and technology skills will help our teams work smarter and faster, lifting productivity and delivering better customer experiences.”
The Albanese government this week outlined a light-touch approach to AI regulation, satisfying business demands.
OpenAI chief strategy officer Jason Kwon said Australia was “uniquely positioned to lead the world in AI”. “Education will be central to unlocking the full opportunity ahead, and major employers have a critical role to play in ensuring their people are equipped with the skills to thrive in an AI-powered future,” he said.
“We’re proud to stand alongside these iconic Australian organisations to help millions of workers and businesses harness the full potential of this once-in-a-generation shift.”
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