2026 will be a watershed year as AI efforts shift from experimentation to value-based investments. As the technology continues to evolve, CIOs will need to pivot and ensure that they are aligned with the changing board and executive positions.
AI in government is no longer experimental. It is strategic, regulated, and now mandated. CIOs who act early have the opportunity to lead and shape a more capable and more innovative Australian public sector.
As AI technology continues its rapid pace of evolution, adopt a posture of cautious optimism to manage the risks in AI-based technology investments.
AI projects often fail not because of the technology, but because of misalignment with strategy, poor data foundations, and low organisational readiness. To succeed, IT leaders must shift focus from hype to value, build robust data ecosystems, and foster cross-business collaboration.
Boards and executives must ask targeted questions to bridge their AI knowledge gap, ensuring responsible adoption and effective governance.
Robodebt shows the need for governance to assess a project’s fitness for purpose, not just its budget and timelines.
AI is being progressively adopted in Human Resources functions, with or without organisational awareness. CIOs need to partner with their HR peers to ensure a disciplined approach to solution selection, implementation, and oversight.
Robust AI governance is a strategic necessity to navigate new risks, ensure compliance, and build stakeholder trust in an AI-driven landscape.
As AI is progressively being adopted across every industry, organisations need to be more transparent with their stakeholders on how they collect, process and protect their private information.
