AI Is Starting to Pay Off for Australian Organisations, but Accountability Gaps Are Growing

Australian organisations are reporting stronger returns from artificial intelligence, according to Deloitte's 2026 State of AI in the Enterprise report, which surveyed 3,500 leaders across 25 countries. In Australia, 27% of organisations reported revenue gains from AI, up from 20% in January. Efficiency or productivity benefits were reported by 75%, up from 66%, and 66% named revenue growth as the benefit they most expect in future.

The report also points to a shift in how AI is used, with systems moving from supporting decisions to carrying out actions in business workflows. Deloitte found 38% of Australian organisations allow AI to execute decisions or actions without human approval to a moderate degree, though none do so to a significant degree. However, 18% of respondents said accountability is unclear when an AI system produces a negative outcome, which highlights governance and risk challenges as autonomy increases.

Looking ahead, 73% expect AI to handle most routine knowledge work within three years, and 62% expect the same in customer-facing service, support and sales. IT and cybersecurity is the most advanced function in Australia, with 62% running AI at scale compared with 54% globally. Other areas, such as strategy and operations, are mostly still piloting or experimenting.