AI Use Among Australian Public Servants Jumps to 71%, Survey Finds

AI use in Australian public services has expanded sharply, according to The Mandarin’s 2026 Frank and Fearless Survey. The survey reports that 71% of respondents use AI in their jobs, compared with 28% in 2024. The findings point to a significant change in workplace practice across the public sector and may be relevant to companies assessing demand for tools and services that help government personnel use AI responsibly. They are survey results, however, not evidence that any agency has approved a purchase or issued a requirement.

Adoption differs by level of government. Commonwealth public servants reported a 74% usage rate, while respondents from state public services reported 66%. That gap may help vendors consider whether product messaging, training, and support should be tailored to agencies at different stages of adoption. The figures do not establish why adoption differs, which technologies respondents use, or what controls and capabilities their organizations currently have.

The survey also flags concerns about whether workplace AI is being used safely and effectively. For government contractors, that concern suggests potential areas of interest—including AI governance, workforce education, risk management, and assurance—but it should be treated as a market signal rather than a defined buying need. The reported net-positive workplace sentiment was 42.7%, while the source material does not provide further detail on the distribution of responses or the specific safety issues respondents identified.

No solicitation, contract, award, procurement schedule, funding amount, or agency-specific requirement is described in the survey coverage. Suppliers should therefore use the adoption data for market awareness and account planning, not as confirmation of near-term revenue or an active opportunity. Contractors tracking Australian government technology demand can monitor future agency announcements for formal strategies, procurement notices, or funding decisions that translate broad interest in safe AI use into actionable requirements.

• 71% of survey respondents said they use AI at work in 2026, up from 28% in 2024.
• Reported adoption was 74% among Commonwealth respondents and 66% among state respondents.
• The survey identifies concerns about using AI safely and effectively, but does not specify particular risks or agency controls.
• Respondents’ reported workplace sentiment toward AI was net positive, at 42.7%.
• Potential supplier areas to monitor include AI governance, workforce training, risk management, and assurance services.
• Vendors may consider differentiated engagement for Commonwealth and state agencies, while avoiding assumptions that the adoption gap reflects different requirements.
• The survey does not establish agency demand, approved funding, a procurement timetable, or a solicitation.
• Treat the findings as market intelligence and watch for subsequent public-sector strategies or procurement notices.