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Andrew Irvine in conversation with Matt Garman CEO of AWS - NAB
24 August 2026
Business Banking
Garman's message to Australian small businesses on AI was clear: start small, experiment often and learn by doing.
Australian businesses should see artificial intelligence as an opportunity to grow, innovate and become more productive, according to Matt Garman, CEO of Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Speaking with NAB Group CEO Andrew Irvine at the NAB Business Summit in Melbourne, Garman said businesses don't need to build their own AI models to benefit from the technology. Instead, the biggest opportunity lies in how they use it.
“Most of the value going forward is going to be businesses built on top of these models.”
Garman said AI is already helping organisations work smarter, improve customer experiences and unlock new growth opportunities.
He emphasized the urgency of acting now, given the pace of change.
“It delivers such an outsized gain for those that really learn what’s possible and start through that transformation. This is not a thing where you wait three or four years and see how it pans out.”
NAB Managing Director and Group CEO Andrew Irvine
Garman also offered practical advice for businesses unsure where to start.
“Whether you’re a two person start up or a century old organisation, nobody begins with a grand scale AI transformation. Everyone starts by experimenting.”
The conversation also touched on the future of work, with both leaders discussing how AI is changing the way people approach their jobs.
While some roles will evolve, Garman said he's optimistic about the future for workers who are prepared to learn new skills and adapt.
"There are going to be plenty of jobs for people out there in the world. You're going to have to learn. You're going to have to be willing to lean into new technologies."
"The thing that made you great at your job four years ago may not be the thing that makes you great at your job two years from now.
Read the full transcript between NAB CEO Andrew Irvine and AWS CEO Matt Garman. (PDF, 213KB)
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