In AI Today: Australian Startup Releases Free AI as Data Sovereignty Crackdown Looms

In AI Today picked up the launch of Opti Assist Free, ORCA Opti's free, sovereign AI governance assistant for Australian organisations operating in regulated environments. The piece sets the release against Australia's tightening AI and data-sovereignty regulation: the OAIC's October 2024 guidance making organisations accountable for personal information their staff enter into commercial AI tools, the ASD's recent Information Security Manual update introducing AI-specific controls, and the Australian Government's ban on DeepSeek from federal devices under Direction 001-2025.

Against that backdrop, Opti Assist Free is positioned as the practical first step. Australian-hosted, no third-party AI providers in the data path, no training on customer data, with a structured compliance gap analysis that runs against frameworks including ISO 27001, Essential Eight, DISP, NDIS Practice Standards, ISO 42001, PSPF and DSPF. Sign-up uses a Microsoft 365 work email, with no credit card and no procurement approval required.

"A DISP readiness report at this level of detail used to cost around $15,000 and take three weeks. We're giving it away for free, on sovereign infrastructure, and it takes about fifteen minutes. Every Australian organisation deserves to know where they stand on compliance."

Kathryn Giudes, Founder & Managing Director, ORCA Opti

Read the full article: Australian startup ORCA Opti releases free AI as data sovereignty crackdown looms (In AI Today)