From AI Sovereignty to AI Agency

The Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) set out to define the ambiguous concept of AI sovereignty and take stock of Australia’s AI capability—to understand where Australia’s strengths lie, where dependencies exist, and what true autonomy looks like in a global AI landscape.

The TPDi discussion paper proposes replacing the concept of AI sovereignty with a clearer idea called AI agency. The paper defines AI agency as the capacity for a nation to maintain access, control, choice and leverage across all parts of the AI ecosystem. This reframing is intended to support more precise policy design and more realistic national planning.

What TPDi introduces

TPDi has developed a draft AI Agency Tool. The tool maps and measures 101 AI capabilities across six layers: infrastructure and resources, data assets and lifecycle management, models and applications, innovation and adoption, skills and governance. The tool includes five components: the capability typology, a national stocktake, an agency spectrum, a power score and an opportunity score. Together, these components provide a method for assessing national AI capability, national agency and areas for future development.

Key findings from the Australian Stocktake

TPDi applied the tool to produce an initial view of Australia’s AI capability. Findings include the following: 

  • Strong foundations in infrastructure, data assets and certain model development areas such as computer vision

  • Emerging capability in public sector computing, responsible data sourcing and model safety and alignment

  • Uneven adoption across sectors and varied capability in assurance, risk management and regulatory capacity

  • High agency in areas linked to infrastructure and adoption, and lower agency in accelerator production and some model development functions

  • Several capability areas with limited or no available evidence

These findings are presented as preliminary and will be refined through further consultation.

ACS involvement

ACS supported the project and contributed expert review. The paper acknowledges ACS as a funder and includes participation by ACS representatives in the consultation and peer review processes.

How you can get involved

TPDi is inviting feedback on the draft AI Agency Tool and the initial findings from Australia’s AI Stocktake. ACS members are invited to take part by reviewing the discussion paper and responding to the consultation questions. Feedback will help refine the tool before its final release in early 2026.

Submissions close at 10 am AEDT on Monday 15 December 2025. 

The consultation aims to involve a wide range of voices, including industry practitioners, researchers, civil society, First Nations communities, younger professionals and multilingual contributors. TPDi encourages practical, evidence-based input on where the framework is accurate, where it needs adjustment and where further capability insights are required.

Consultation Questions

  1. Does the Typology capture the full range of AI capabilities, or are any missing or inaccurately represented?

  2. Are there any existing studies or assessments that could improve the Stocktake’s evidence base?

  3. Does the maturity assessment reflect Australia’s current capability, or are any areas rated too high or too low?

  4. Does the Agency Spectrum reflect Australia’s real level of agency in each capability?

  5. Does the Agency Spectrum correctly capture the balance between international access, domestic control, resilience and export leverage?

  6. Are there specific capabilities or use cases where Australia should have stronger AI agency?

  7. Are any capabilities more or less globally scarce than currently indicated?

  8. Is it more or less feasible or desirable to increase capability in certain areas than the draft suggests?

  9. Do the scoring systems for AI Power and AI Opportunity accurately reflect these concepts?

  10. How could the Tool be made more inclusive, more accessible or more useful for your community or sector?

     

ACS members can provide feedback directly via techpolicy.au/ai-agency.

 

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