ARM Hub has welcomed the release of Australia’s National AI Plan, which outlines new funding and coordination measures aimed at supporting safe and practical AI deployment across industry. Announced today, the plan includes $29.9 million for the AI Safety Institute and more than $460 million allocated through existing national AI programs.
A key feature of the plan is a strengthened national coordination model, with the National AI Centre to oversee the AI Adopt Centre network. The Commonwealth’s $17 million AI Adopt Program will also be brought under this structure, with the intention of improving support for small and medium-sized businesses adopting AI technologies.
ARM Hub CEO and Founder Professor Cori Stewart said the framework reinforces efforts to expand AI use across industrial sectors by reducing barriers faced by smaller companies. She noted that ARM Hub currently works with industries including advanced manufacturing, medical technology, defence, clean energy and metal fabrication, as well as robotics and embedded AI.
The National AI Plan identifies three priority areas: accelerating adoption, ensuring benefits are shared across Australian industry and maintaining safety as businesses integrate AI tools. It also emphasises skills development, with a focus on TAFE-based and workforce training programs designed to build confidence among operational and production staff working in AI-enabled environments.
Sovereign capability is identified as another area of focus, with investment in local infrastructure and the GovAI framework intended to improve clarity around security requirements for companies deploying advanced technologies such as robotics and industrial AI.
The creation of the AI Safety Institute is intended to support oversight by testing and monitoring emerging AI capabilities and sharing information on associated risks. This work is expected to assist regulators as AI becomes further embedded in industrial production systems and supply chains.
ARM Hub’s AI Adopt Centre will continue providing guidance to industrial businesses, including support for data infrastructure, practical deployment and connections to national programs and partners within Australia’s broader AI ecosystem.
Download the plan here
