AI Be Nimble, AI Be Quick

The purpose of this article is to share with Australian manufacturers and suppliers how AI is being used to move through the rapid changes toUS trade-- especially around defence (or the US spelling "defense").

Today (Thu 12 Feb 2026), I am sharing my opinion and editorial on how my team uses AI to match tier 2 and tier 2 Australian businesses with US work. The tips may be especially helpful to Western Australian businesses who want to know where to start with the US programs.

The reason I emphasise "today" is the US government's rapidly changing policies change faster than a company can plan and implement tooling, source materials, and logistics.

"Today" is where AI comes in.

The catch?

The prompting and review of AI needs to be led by a person with experience in US government programs. AI can quickly misinterpret multiple sources and mistakenly relate unrelated-documents.

Currently, my Chicagoland colleagues at SelectGlobal are working with Outpace Solutions and AI research to identify US-Australian business opportunities.

Rob Fekete from Outpace Solutions advises US and global suppliers. Rob provides "Decision as a Service" (DaaS) leveraging AI with his government contract and security experience from the US Air Force.

Within the last few months, Rob has identified US policy changes that have made the US Commercial Solutions Opening (CSO)the most practical avenue for US-Australian defence business partners to quickly supply commercial products and services. The US CSO facilitates business-to-business style contracts as opposed to the rigid US federal contracting rules of the past.

A US partner business is required for most tier 2 and tier 3 Australian businesses to tap into the US CSO contracts. This is where SelectGlobal comes in. Michael T. Edgar has decades of relationships with international businesses and municipalities inChicagoland.

In previous decades, Michael matched non-US businesses with incentives to open facilities and access funding in the Greater Chicago Area (Illinois, Michigan, Indiana, …). As the US government restricted international visas and trade, Michael tapped into AI to identify theSmall Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and DIU funding that could replace regional real estate consulting and keep Chicagoland businesses running.

The change from previous decades of  US Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) is that the US business has the responsibility of processing the SBIR funding. Previously, the global (non-US business) completed the FDI process for international banking, visas, non-US funding requirements, and regional US incentives.

In the new scenario, why does AI matter?

Using AI to monitor the frequent US policy changes, Rob Fekete and Michael identified a stable process for Australian and US companies to be CSO partners. The SelectGlobal consultants have verified the partnerships can fit the US SBIR research and development requirements.

AI has been used to brainstorm practical scenarios for a larger global network of manufacturing, warehouse, and logistics companies doing business with US businesses.

What's really impressive about AI for US foreign trade?

Rob Fekete has the experience with US government contracts to know how to prompt AI and to recognise when the AI results are inaccurate. He's been pleasantly surprised by the level of accuracy his models maintain over time.

Rob and Michael have even been amused at how their experiments with semi-autonomous AI has alerted them to official changes to the US and Australian defense (or the Australian spelling "defence") projects they are helping develop. And, yes we've had a few humorous results from our AI Decision as a Service (Daas), but all with the caring oversight of experienced international trade consultants.

Where does this leave you, the Australian business?

Whether you're a Perth manufacturer looking at Darwin logistics opportunities or a Melbourne supplier considering AUKUS partnerships, the pathway starts with understanding which US programs match your capabilities. Rob and Michael have structured their strategic alliance specifically to help tier 2 and tier 3 Australian businesses navigate these opportunities without the traditional barriers of facility investment before market validation. 

Where does this leave me?
My role in this story has been equal parts business analyst, AI experimenter, and Perth-to-Chicago translator. The fun part? Watching AI tools evolve from "helpful" to "holy cow, that actually worked" in real-time with real manufacturers and real US Department of War contracts. 

The practical part?
Rob's government contracting expertise and Michael's decades of international business relationships don't need my traditional documentation cycles anymore. AI handles the rapid policy monitoring. Their strategic alliance handles the execution. 

But here's what I've learned that matters: AI is only as good as the human asking the questions and validating the answers. 

For Australian businesses navigating US opportunities, that human expertise - knowing which questions to ask, which pathways actually work, which policy changes matter - that's what Rob and Michael bring to the table.

And me?
I'm taking these AI skills to projects that still need boots-on-the-ground business analysis. Because while AI can be nimble and quick, some things still need a human touch. 

Keep the conversation going. Connect with Rob and Michael directly if you're exploring US pathways. And if you're experimenting with AI in your own business, I'd love to hear what's working (and what's hilariously wrong) in your world.

If you're in Perth and want to chat about AI, international business, or just need a friendly face who understands the US-Australian manufacturing scene - coffee's on me. Until then, this is Perth Outpost, keeping watch on where nimble meets opportunity.