GitHub has today unveiled its predictions for how AI will reshape the way Australian organisations govern, build and realise value from software in 2026.
With the Australian government committing $460 million to AI under the new National AI Plan, the nation is poised to accelerate adoption and innovation. And despite its population size, Australia already ranks as the 19th largest developer community on GitHub globally, with over 2 million developers in Australia building software alongside a global network of over 180 million developers.
“This year, a record-breaking number of developers from Australia joined GitHub, reflecting growth trends from around the world. What’s more, 80% of these new developers are using AI with GitHub Copilot in their first week, proving that AI is now a baseline expectation for new entrants into the field. In 2026, we’ll witness another seismic shift as AI governance frameworks accelerate widespread investment and adoption, bringing ROI into the spotlight for enterprise leaders,” said Sharryn Napier, Vice President, APAC, GitHub.
Tighter AI governance will accelerate public sector agent adoption
Australia’s public sector stands at a turning point for AI agent adoption. Until now, uncertainty around risk and compliance has kept many agencies in a holding pattern, limiting AI to small‑scale trials rather than meaningful transformation. With every government department and agency now required to appoint a Chief AI Officer by July 2026, the stage is set for public sector adoption to significantly expand.
“This new direction, combined with greater AI governance, will see Australia’s public sector break its AI adoption deadlock. However, this can only come to fruition with secure, well-governed platforms, shifting AI agents from small pilots to large-scale transformation,” said Napier.
Sharryn Napier, Vice President, APAC at GitHub
With the introduction of stronger governance frameworks, public sector AI leaders will finally have the clarity, accountability and confidence needed to embrace agents more broadly, whilst balancing innovation with responsible implementation.
“This isn’t about ticking regulatory boxes. By embracing an agentic future, government agencies can also become a talent magnet. AI-powered workflows will attract developers who have long avoided the sector due to legacy systems and slow delivery cycles, unlocking a new wave of innovation and better outcomes for citizens,” Napier added.
Multi‑model neutrality becomes a board‑level policy
Throughout 2026, Australian boards will favour multi‑model neutrality, driven by the need to reduce dependence on a single model, control costs, enable flexibility, improve resilience, and empower employees with choice.
“Australian boards will play a more active role in shaping AI strategy next year. Multi-model neutrality isn’t just a technical preference, it’s a smart business policy. By diversifying their AI models, organisations can pick the right one for the job at hand, dial costs up or down, reduce operational risks, and respond faster to changing market demands. It’s about giving teams the freedom to innovate with the tools that work best for them. Ultimately, a multi-model strategy enables developers and employees to be orchestrators of multiple agents, which leads to experimentation and more innovation,” said Napier.
Boards will also require AI solutions to be centrally governed, reviewable and accountable to tame ‘agent chaos’. They will seek visibility into impact and adoption, the ability to adapt quickly to new regulatory requirements or shifts in technology, while simultaneously prioritising AI as a reliable, baseline capability across the business.
Clear, measurable ROI will turn AI from cost centre to growth engine
As IT spending climbs toward A$172 billion – largely driven by AI – CFOs will demand visibility into team-level AI spend and ROI. As a result, Australian enterprises will require transparency into AI adoption and outcomes to measure ROI. Embedding visibility and controls will help ensure AI remains both a strategic investment and a disciplined, high-value capability.
“As 2025 closes and AI investment accelerates, Australian enterprises will need crystal-clear visibility into strategic AI initiatives. Those that can clearly demonstrate transformative impact – whether through breakthrough innovations, new products, or cleared backlogs – will make ROI tangible, earning trust for larger, more strategic investments. In 2026, organisations that master this approach will set the pace for AI-led growth, turning AI from a cost centre into a catalyst for innovation, productivity, and competitive advantage,” said Napier.
About GitHub
GitHub is the world’s leading platform for agentic software development – powered by Copilot to build, scale, and deliver secure software. Over 180 million developers, including more than 90% of the Fortune 100 companies, use GitHub to collaborate, and more than 77,000 organisations have adopted GitHub Copilot.
