Only 14 per cent of Australian organisations have a formal AI strategy, according to the 2026 Thomson Reuters Future of Professionals study. The organisations that do have one are achieving double the revenue growth of those that do not.
The study, published by Thomson Reuters Managing Director Vishal Bali, frames AI return on investment across five dimensions rather than the traditional measure of cost and time savings alone. Those five dimensions are financial return, risk management, talent development, innovation capacity, and societal impact. The argument is that businesses treating AI as a cost reduction exercise are capturing only a fraction of the value available to them.
For Australian businesses, the talent dimension stands out. With 30 per cent of assessed occupations facing national shortages according to the Jobs and Skills Commission, the competition for people who can work effectively alongside AI tools is intensifying. The businesses investing in preparing their teams now are not just improving productivity. They are building a retention and recruitment advantage that compounds over time.
The report also draws a distinction between general purpose AI and professional grade AI. In regulated industries such as law, finance, and compliance, the standard for trustworthy, auditable AI is higher. Businesses in these sectors need AI systems that meet professional standards, not consumer ones.
The broader message is clear. 2026 is the year AI has to prove itself beyond the hype cycle. The businesses that treat it as a strategic capability, invest in their people, and measure value across all five dimensions will be the ones that pull ahead. The technology is ready. The question is whether the people and the strategy are ready too.
Via Thomson Reuters Legal Insight Australia
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