Matt Yannopoulos PSM
Secretary, Department of Finance
Artificial intelligence is no longer something the Australian Public Service (APS) can treat as an emerging curiosity. It is a practical capability that is already changing how work is done across government – and it will continue to accelerate. The task for us now is to shape that change in a way that strengthens public trust, builds workforce confidence and delivers tangible benefits for Australians.
Over recent years, many agencies have explored AI through pilots and early use cases. This work has been important in helping us build foundational understanding, test the boundaries of responsible use, and identify where AI can genuinely improve the way we work. AI spans across many aspects of the APS, including policy development, service delivery and corporate functions.
But we are entering a new phase. The next step is not more isolated experimentation. It is coordinated, scalable adoption across the system, at all levels.
That is why the AI Plan for the APS sets out a clear direction for the service. It recognises that effective adoption requires a balanced approach: strong governance and trust settings, workforce capability and confidence, and access to secure tools that can be used appropriately in day-to-day work.
To help turn that ambition into reality, the Government is establishing a new whole-of-APS function led by the Department of Finance: AI Delivery and Enablement (AIDE).
AIDE is designed to help agencies move faster through promising trials to real-world impact with confidence. It will focus on shared adoption barriers and system-wide uplift – supporting priority use cases, helping agencies navigate governance and implementation challenges, sharing lessons learned across the service, and reducing duplication where we can.
Alongside AIDE, the Government is supporting the rollout of GovAI – a secure, APS-only platform to help public servants learn, collaborate and build. GovAI reflects a simple truth: capability grows fastest when people can develop skills hands-on, share what they are learning, and test ideas in a safe environment. The platform brings those elements together in one place.
We will continue to expand GovAI’s services over time, including the planned rollout of GovAI Chat in 2026. This next step will provide secure generative AI capability for all APS staff, with strong safeguards and an approach designed for public sector needs.
Taken together, AIDE and GovAI represent a deliberate shift from ad hoc exploration to coordinated, responsible adoption. This is how we build momentum while maintaining the standards Australians rightly expect of their public service.
I encourage all APS staff to engage in this collective effort: brush up on your AI skills with the GovAI interactive training, share your experiences and barriers you’ve encountered with the AIDE team, and explore how public AI tools could support your agency with low-risk OFFICIAL level work.
The future of AI in the APS will be shaped by the practical actions we take now – together – to embed safe, effective tools, build confidence, and deliver better outcomes for the people we serve.
