OpenAI has announced a major national workforce initiative in partnership with three of Australia’s largest employers — Commonwealth Bank, Coles and Wesfarmers — committing to upskill more than 1.2 million workers and small businesses in artificial intelligence.
Under the program, OpenAI’s experts will co-develop tailored AI learning modules for each organisation using OpenAI Academy, the company’s AI-literacy and training platform. Coles and Wesfarmers will provide customised training to their entire workforces, while Commonwealth Bank will make its AI learning modules available to more than one million small business customers.
OpenAI Chief Strategy Officer Jason Kwon said the collaboration comes at a pivotal time for the country.
“Australia is 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 in ensuring their people are equipped for an AI-powered future,” he said. “We’re proud to help millions of workers and businesses harness the potential of this once-in-a-generation shift.”
“Australia is 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 in ensuring their people are equipped for an AI-powered future,” he said. “We’re proud to help millions of workers and businesses harness the potential of this once-in-a-generation shift.”
CommBank’s partnership with OpenAI, announced earlier this year, includes joint engineering work on enhanced fraud detection and personalised banking services. Thousands of staff are already using ChatGPT Enterprise, and the bank will now launch a national AI skills program for its business customers.
“Small businesses are the backbone of Australia’s economy, but many tell us they don’t have the time or confidence to explore how AI could help them,” CEO Matt Comyn said. “We want every small business to feel confident using digital technologies such as AI, whether they’re starting, running or growing their business.”
“Small businesses are the backbone of Australia’s economy, but many tell us they don’t have the time or confidence to explore how AI could help them,” CEO Matt Comyn said. “We want every small business to feel confident using digital technologies such as AI, whether they’re starting, running or growing their business.”
With 115,000 team members nationwide, Coles is the first major Australian retailer to deploy GPT-5-powered tools to its corporate teams. The company and OpenAI are also exploring new applications for AI to reshape the shopping experience from planning to checkout.
“AI is quickly reshaping how we work and communicate,” CEO Leah Weckert said. “Building AI and digital skills across more Australians is about inclusion and opportunity. For many of our team members, this program will open new skills and increase their confidence in using AI.”
“AI is quickly reshaping how we work and communicate,” CEO Leah Weckert said. “Building AI and digital skills across more Australians is about inclusion and opportunity. For many of our team members, this program will open new skills and increase their confidence in using AI.”
Wesfarmers — parent company to Bunnings, Kmart, Target, Priceline and Officeworks — will bring OpenAI Academy training to its 118,000 employees. The group already uses AI for forecasting, product design, customer experience and conversational commerce.
“Australia needs to adopt AI-driven solutions to remain globally competitive,” Managing Director and CEO Rob Scott said. “Providing OpenAI training will strengthen skills across the Group, helping our teams work smarter and deliver better customer experiences.”
“Australia needs to adopt AI-driven solutions to remain globally competitive,” Managing Director and CEO Rob Scott said. “Providing OpenAI training will strengthen skills across the Group, helping our teams work smarter and deliver better customer experiences.”
The rollout of co-designed OpenAI Academy courses will begin in 2026, forming one of the largest coordinated AI-skilling programs in Australia. The initiative is a core pillar of OpenAI for Australia, a nationwide strategy that also includes an MoU with NEXTDC to develop sovereign AI infrastructure, the opening of OpenAI’s first Australian office in Sydney, a national startup support program with free API credits and technical mentoring, and the launch of an annual OpenAI Founder Day.
