Australia joins OECD working group on agentic AI in government

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has announced that Australia is joining the new OECD Working Group on Agentic AI in Government, bringing together international counterparts to share insights and explore emerging approaches. The DTA says its role will be to contribute the Australian Government’s practical experience to support the responsible use of agentic AI across the public sector.

Agentic AI has significant potential to reshape how governments operate, deliver services and support public servants. As these systems become capable of planning and acting with greater autonomy, governments are considering how to make use of these capabilities while maintaining appropriate oversight, accountability and control.

Established under the OECD Working Party of Senior Digital Government Officials, the working group brings together digital government leaders from participating countries, including Australia, Canada, Estonia, Japan, Singapore, South Korea, Israel and the United Kingdom. Members will share experience and lessons learned across different operating environments, as they explore how agentic AI can be safely used and governed across the public sector.

Navigating new AI capabilities

Unlike traditional AI tools that primarily analyse information or generate content, agentic AI systems can plan, reason and act with greater autonomy to achieve defined outcomes. While people continue to set goals and guardrails, these systems can determine and carry out actions with less direct human involvement.

For governments, this could support more responsive services, help address complex operational needs and reduce administrative burden. However, it also raises important questions about how these systems should be governed as their capabilities develop.

As autonomy increases, so does the importance of effective oversight and control. Governments need to establish clear boundaries and appropriate safeguards for how these systems operate, while ensuring people remain accountable for the outcomes they enable.

“Agentic AI presents governments with new possibilities, but it also raises the bar for how we govern AI,” said Chris Fechner, Chief Executive Officer, DTA. “As systems take on greater autonomy, we need to be clear about the boundaries within which they operate and where responsibility ultimately sits.

“Strong governance gives us the confidence to explore and innovate with these capabilities while maintaining meaningful human oversight, clear accountability and the trust people expect from government.”

In May 2026, the DTA released an Agentic AI addendum to the Technical standard for government’s use of AI, building on the existing standard and complementing the Policy for the responsible use of AI in government.

“The decisions governments make now will help shape how agentic AI is used in the years ahead. Working together at this early stage gives us an opportunity to build a stronger collective understanding of what good governance looks like in practice,” Fechner added.

To learn more about the working group, visit Governing with agentic AI: when machines act on government’s behalf at OECD.AI.

Image credit: iStock.com/Aree Sarak