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ASX Companies Mention Artificial Intelligence in Results Calls Despite Not Using AI

The Australian Financial Review

ENRICHED

Details

Date Published
9 Sept 2026
Priority Score
1
Australian
Yes
Created
9 Sept 2026, 08:00 am

Authors (1)

Description

Chief executives were quick to reference “AI” when talking to investors and analysts in reporting season, but short sellers say this could be a sign to bet against the stock.

Summary

This report examines the trend of Australian listed companies 'AI washing' during earnings calls to appeal to investors, noting that 60% of the ASX 200 referenced AI in August 2026. While the article highlights corporate hype, it underscores the lack of substantive technical implementation or safety guardrails in many organizations claiming to adopt frontier technologies. From a governance perspective, this indicates a gap between executive rhetoric and the actual deployment of robust AI systems, which could complicate efforts to implement mandatory safety standards if firms are not transparent about their capabilities. The focus remains on financial market behavior and short-selling rather than direct mitigation of catastrophic AI risks.

Body

MarketsEquity MarketsInvestingPrint articleAlex GluyasMarkets reporterSep 9, 2026 – 4.00pmInvestors listening in on earnings calls over the past month would have been inundated with management eagerly spruiking their company’s pivot towards artificial intelligence – regardless of whether the business actually uses it.About 60 per cent of Australia’s 200 biggest companies referenced AI when talking to analysts and investors during the August earnings season, according to Goldman Sachs.Loading...SaveLog in or Subscribe to save articleShareCopy linkCopiedEmailLinkedInTwitterFacebookCopy linkCopiedShare via...Gift this articleSubscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? LoginLicense articleRead MoreInvestingHedge fundsShort-sellingBreville GroupAIFetching latest articles