FutureFive New Zealand - Consumer technology news & reviews from the future

2026 Stories

Global Stories

2026 stories

Persistent wins 2026 Google Cloud supply chain award
Manufacturing

Persistent wins 2026 Google Cloud supply chain award

Manufacturers and retailers could get clearer inventory and logistics visibility as Persistent's Google Cloud work wins a 2026 partner award.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • Last week
Gartner sees AI spending hit USD $2.59 trillion in 2026
DataCentre infrastructure

Gartner sees AI spending hit USD $2.59 trillion in 2026

Infrastructure demand and vendor spending will drive most of the surge as AI outlays are set to jump 47% next year.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last week
PropellerAds flags cloaking in 2026 ad safety report
Malware

PropellerAds flags cloaking in 2026 ad safety report

Cloaking drove 68.1% of account suspensions in the quarter, showing how fraudsters are hiding banned ads from moderators on the platform.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 3 min read • This month
Gartner: AI layoffs do not improve returns on investment
Digital Transformation

Gartner: AI layoffs do not improve returns on investment

Higher AI returns appear to hinge on redesigning jobs and skills, as Gartner found layoffs alone did not boost investment performance.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • This month
The Gentlemen becomes second most active ransomware group
Malware

The Gentlemen becomes second most active ransomware group

Check Point Research says a better affiliate payout is helping the gang spread fast, with more than 320 claimed victims since mid-2025.

By Sean Mitchell • 4 min read • Last month
Check Point tops Miercom hybrid mesh security benchmark
Malware

Check Point tops Miercom hybrid mesh security benchmark

The vendor’s 99.8% score signals stronger protection for hybrid networks as Miercom found it blocked 100% of phishing URLs and 99.9% of AI malware.

By Mark Tarre • 3 min read • Last month
ShareGate survey says AI exposed data at 29% of firms
Data Protection

ShareGate survey says AI exposed data at 29% of firms

AI tools have surfaced customer records and other sensitive files at 29% of firms, highlighting weak Microsoft 365 governance.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Last month
Forrester maps AI shift from digital into physical use
Robotics

Forrester maps AI shift from digital into physical use

Consumers are set to encounter AI in robots, transport and personalised shopping, as Forrester says business returns will arrive sooner than expected.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Last month
US AI megadeals drive global VC to USD $331 billion
Semiconductors

US AI megadeals drive global VC to USD $331 billion

A handful of US artificial intelligence megadeals pushed global venture capital investment to USD $330.9 billion in the first quarter, KPMG said.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Last month
Gain Theory says insight gap is cultural, not technical
Data Analytics

Gain Theory says insight gap is cultural, not technical

Marketers are missing out on growth as 54% of business-to-consumer decision-makers say their teams’ insights are not actionable.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Last month
FE fundinfo flags five shifts in asset manager compliance
Fintech

FE fundinfo flags five shifts in asset manager compliance

Compliance teams face a 2026 squeeze as new UK, EU and Asia-Pacific rules force faster disclosure changes and tighter AI oversight.

By Karen Joy Bacudo • 4 min read • Tue, 31st Mar 2026
Gartner sees explainable AI boosting model oversight
DevOps

Gartner sees explainable AI boosting model oversight

Greater scrutiny of generative AI is set to push observability spending up as companies seek to prove outputs are accurate and traceable.

By Joseph Gabriel Lagonsin • 4 min read • Tue, 31st Mar 2026
How cybersecurity partner programs are evolving in 2026
Firewalls

How cybersecurity partner programs are evolving in 2026

SonicWall overhauls SecureFirst for 2026, shifting to firm-level skills, role-based training and services to boost partners' recurring revenue.

By Allison Clarke • 5 min read • Tue, 24th Mar 2026

Stories from Other Regions

2026 stories

Cyber-attacks top risk for professional firms in 2026
Data Protection

Cyber-attacks top risk for professional firms in 2026

Insurers say the threat could trigger business interruption, regulatory scrutiny and client claims, as 65% of firms rank cyber-attacks first.

By Sean Mitchell • 3 min read • Last month
VinciWorks named Solid Performer in Fosway digital learning
Software-as-a-Service

VinciWorks named Solid Performer in Fosway digital learning

The ranking gives the compliance training provider a foothold in Europe’s crowded digital learning market as buyers seek adaptable courses and tools.

By Kaleah Salmon • 3 min read • Last month
Singapore founder Mia Hoang wins TiE women global pitch
Entrepreneurship

Singapore founder Mia Hoang wins TiE women global pitch

The win gives AirXCarbon S$100,000 in equity-free funding and puts a Singapore founder on top of a global women-led startup field.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 3 min read • Thu, 26th Mar 2026
Sumitomo Heavy & NEC to automate site near-miss reports
Data Analytics

Sumitomo Heavy & NEC to automate site near-miss reports

Sumitomo Heavy and NEC will build an AI system to spot near-miss incidents from excavator data and auto-generate safety reports by 2027.

By Mark Tarre • 4 min read • Wed, 25th Mar 2026
UK card spending falls as missed payments stay high
Risk & Compliance

UK card spending falls as missed payments stay high

UK credit card spending drops in January while missed and repeat payments rise, signalling persistent strain on household finances.

By Sofiah Nichole Salivio • 4 min read • Mon, 23rd Mar 2026