Telstra says the cost-benefit ratio of AI needs to be examined closely

Telstra is closely monitoring its AI investments to ensure the costs do not outweigh the benefits, as the company reported solid earnings for the first half of its 2026 financial year.

The wireless carrier has consistently positioned AI as a core part of its strategy to deliver cost and productivity benefits, telling investors today that the technology has been deployed widely across the company after identifying 380 use cases for the technology.

However, Telstra’s chief financial officer Michael Ackland also told investors at the mobile operator’s half-year results presentation that it…