The Ultimate Guide to Artificial Intelligence
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Artificial Intelligence (AI).
What to know about Artificial Intelligence
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, reshaping business operations, enhancing customer experiences, and driving innovation across sectors globally and in Australasia. From the surge in AI-driven cybersecurity threats and the adoption of AI in cloud infrastructure to the integration of generative AI in customer service, marketing, and financial sectors, this dynamic field demands close attention.
Experts emphasise the critical role of robust data management and infrastructure in successfully leveraging AI technologies, while organisations face challenges including skill gaps, ethical considerations, and regulatory developments. As AI adoption accelerates, businesses must balance innovation with security, sustainability, and human-centric strategies to thrive in this evolving landscape.
Readers exploring this tag will gain insights into the latest AI trends, practical applications, organisational strategies, technological advancements, and the collaborative efforts shaping the future of AI. Understanding these developments is essential for anyone interested in the impact of artificial intelligence on business, technology, and society.
Kiwi Artificial Intelligence News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
Your bottle cooler knows more than your data team: Here's how it unlocks agentic AI
Connected coolers are becoming a key source of real-world data, helping bottlers predict failures and dispatch repairs before sales are lost.
Deloitte New Zealand wins AWS value realisation badge
Clients are increasingly demanding proof that cloud and AI spending is lifting productivity, revenue or cost control, not just adding systems.
One New Zealand expands Rimini Street Oracle support
Support for core Oracle and billing systems is freeing One New Zealand to shift staff and budget towards AI work without major upgrades.
Tech Users NZ calls for long-term digital strategy
A cross-party plan is being urged to give businesses and public services certainty over digital investment, skills and online safety beyond election cycles.
Xero finds New Zealand small business productivity lags
New data show Kiwi small firms generating less per hour than peers in Australia and the UK, as rising costs squeeze margins.
The GRC cheat code: Why we stopped auditing from scratch and started mapping the gaps
By reusing one certified control set, Spectrum cut duplicated audit work and is now targeting faster SOC 2 Type II and ISO 42001 checks.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Artificial Intelligence
New AI era defined by agents, rising costs and maturity gaps
HP unifies collaboration tools in hybrid work push
Jamf launches AI governance for Mac fleets in enterprises
Teramind warns of AI governance gap at enterprises
Zato hails AI agents for accountants amid staff squeeze
Featured News
Defence Australia puts data at core of national security
Sovereign AI is becoming vital to mission readiness as Defence Australia builds a connected data ecosystem for faster decisions.
Banks face AI balancing act as regulation tempers uptake
Australia's banks are steadily increasing their use of artificial intelligence, but regulation and data security fears are tempering adoption.
Data-driven transport: The future is here
Australia's truck driver shortage is set to triple by 2029, pushing fleets towards data tools that could make autonomy viable.
How the 'human hour' mentality influences the future of tech
AI pilots are faltering where firms still judge success by hours saved, leaving customer value and workforce design unresolved.
Tech reinvent as Hejaz teases 'Wahda' superapp launch
Weeks before a planned August debut, the app aims to entice more than 2 billion Muslims with chat, video and faith-based AI tools.
'Strong partnership': Canva, OpenAI team up for hackathon
Hundreds of admin hours are draining staff time from lifesaving, research and STEM work at Australian nonprofits.
Trane Technologies drives huge energy and cost saving
Data-centre operators face rising power bills as Trane's HFO shift and liquid-cooling push cut emissions and HVAC costs.
Samsung AI push focuses on proactivity, personalisation
Devices that anticipate routines could cut friction for New Zealand users as Samsung extends hyper-personalised AI across phones, wearables and the home.
Hype growing - but SMEs still face barriers to AI adoption
Small firms risk falling behind unless they adopt AI for practical gains, as SMEC AI says many are still confused by the technology.
'Smart people changing': How humans and agentic AI co-exist
Governance fears and skills gaps are pushing businesses to deploy agentic AI in secure systems while protecting staff from disruption.
Exabeam: Ruthless efficiency can make agentic AI malicious
Behavioural analytics is becoming essential as AI agents can pursue tasks so efficiently that they may cause damage without any malicious intent.
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Digidentity helping companies navigate AI fraud challenges
AI-driven fraud is pushing healthcare, government and carmakers to tighten identity checks as remote transactions spread worldwide.
New Zealand 'ingenuity' driving Lightspeed's global success
Auckland's engineers are shaping Lightspeed's products worldwide, as the company expands AI tools and keeps key leadership in New Zealand.
Companies wildly unprepared for new era of security threats
Many firms are exposing sensitive data as shadow AI and weak controls leave them open to breaches, hallucinations and unauthorised access.
No blind spots: Reolink unveils dynamic, AI-powered range
The new OMVI range could cut costs for homes and businesses by replacing multi-camera setups with one device that tracks subjects in 360 degrees.
Visibility can shield you against $15k/min downtime
Blind spots in monitoring are pushing outage bills higher, with Splunk estimating average downtime now costs USD $15,000 a minute.
How Invetech and McGrathNicol modernised with SAP S/4 HANA
The move has cut month-end work and lifted invoice processing, while avoiding costly customisation and easing future upgrades.
Marvell targets AI connectivity bottleneck with NVIDIA boost
AI data centres are hitting copper limits, pushing Marvell and Nvidia towards optics as clusters grow larger and more distributed.
Workday GO offers growth potential for mid-sized enterprises
Australian and New Zealand mid-sized firms will gain faster deployments and real-time people, payroll and finance insights from Workday GO.
Clean Core and governed AI enable SAP success
Australian firms can avoid costly upgrade pain and AI risks by pairing Clean Core with governed data and trusted partners.
Check Point Technologies: On vigilance, Mythos and beyond
AI-driven vulnerability scanning is forcing firms to rethink complacency as Check Point says existing defences still help against Mythos.
Dext: Transformative AI made easy for accountants and bookkeepers
Accountants could cut errors and save time as Dext AI Assist brings prompt-based automation to bookkeeping workflows.
Earn the commute: Premium offices turn mandates into magnetism
Well-designed offices are helping firms attract staff back by pairing prime locations, amenities and flexible spaces with higher productivity.
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'Didn't believe it': Dayforce optimising people management
Payroll headaches eased at Retail Apparel Group as Dayforce linked time and attendance with pay, cutting manual fixes and boosting morale.
Riverbed says go from ticket queues to zero disruption
AI-driven support tools could cut employee downtime, as Riverbed argues that fewer tickets may still hide unresolved problems.
Samsung launches interactive, connected 2026 TV range
Kiwi football fans will get stadium-style sound and smarter home control as the new line-up adds AI Football Mode Pro and Vision AI.
The AI challenge - balancing governance and innovation
Many projects remain stuck at proof of concept as businesses wrestle with data governance, security and agent oversight before scaling AI.
Dell numbers the days for hyperconverged infrastructure
Rising hypervisor costs and AI demand are pushing customers towards disaggregated systems, as Dell says HCI is becoming too expensive and inflexible.
Catchpoint acquisition by LogicMonitor 'makes a lot of sense'
The deal could help customers move from reactive IT monitoring to predictive AI-driven automation by combining two different data sets.
Guidewire: Modernising insurance with accountability
Regulators are warning insurers to keep humans accountable as AI speeds up claims work and other busy tasks, Guidewire says.
Deputy are shaping future of shift work administration
Managers in retail, hospitality and healthcare could save hours as the AI tool automates rosters and timesheets while flagging breaches.
HPE assisting IT teams navigate complex challenges
HPE Networking says AI, zero trust and SASE are reshaping network security as remote work and connected devices make threats harder to control.
Cloudera hackathon highlights enterprise AI data challenges
Only seven per cent of organisations are data ready, raising doubts over whether enterprise AI can move from prototypes to production.
From airlines to packaging: How Gurobi optimises workflows
Gurobi clients are experiencing significant, compounding benefits from the utilisation of effective optimisation.
TeamViewer utilising AI to cut costly digital friction
A survey of 4,000 workers found digital friction is fuelling burnout, tears and staff turnover as TeamViewer automates routine IT tasks.
Vanyar primed for success with Uriah Jacobs at the helm
A shortage of skilled partners is slowing wider adoption of Palantir Foundry and AIP, creating an opening for Vanyar in the commercial market.
Upwind Expands to Sydney: Real Time Cloud Security for APJ
The Sydney move follows a USD $250 million funding round as the cloud security firm bets on real-time protection for fast-growing AI workloads.
AI agents multiply risk, says DigiCert chief product officer
Many firms cannot see where their AI agents are, leaving identity, policy and supply-chain risks to grow as deployments scale.
Sage Intacct builds explainable AI into accounting
Accountants facing staff shortages may gain faster workflows, as Sage Intacct’s new agent exposes its calculations, sources and audit trail.
'Self-learning' AI big boon for Qualtrics' CX
Companies using AI for customer experience are cutting churn and lifting revenue, with Qualtrics saying richer feedback can triple insights.
Sage branding itself on trust in AI world of 'big voices'
Trust is emerging as a selling point for finance software as Sage warns that opaque AI can leave CFOs answerable for costly errors.
Exclusive: Denodo's Dominic Sartorio on perfect data vs the right data
Trust in enterprise AI is being undermined as Denodo research finds most firms still lack live, context-aware data for production use.
Google flags urgency as AI reshapes cyber threats
Patching delays now carry greater risk as Google says AI is helping attackers scale intrusions, speed up breaches and automate operations.
Exclusive: Google Cloud reshaping finance with agentic AI
Banks must move beyond isolated pilots if they want agentic AI to deliver enterprise-wide gains, Google Cloud says.
Exclusive: Google Cloud on the road to autonomous SecOps
The new tools could cut analysts’ manual threat-response work from days to minutes as Google Cloud pushes SecOps towards an autonomous SOC.
Exclusive: Google Cloud accelerates shift to agentic data
Enterprises may soon design data systems for AI agents rather than staff, as Google Cloud adds real-time context, automation and cross-cloud access.
Exclusive: Adobe ANZ chief on AI adoption trends
AI is increasingly moving into live use across Australia and New Zealand, as regulated sectors test deployments while CEOs chase productivity gains.
Exclusive: Google sees success with niche AI playbooks
Enterprises are under pressure to prove AI returns as Google pushes reusable, sector-specific playbooks into production across 19 industries.
Kia Ora New Zealand: Microsoft AI Tour delivers a dose of He Tangata
Microsoft is betting on AI training to ease workplace fears, after pledging to skill another 200,000 people in New Zealand.
Exclusive: Grafana Lab's Jen Villa on targeting the AI observability gap
The new tools aim to help firms spot faulty AI outputs and data risks sooner as production deployments outpace monitoring methods.
Netskope's Tony Burnside - visibility is key to AI security
AI tools are creating hidden east-west traffic that security teams struggle to monitor, raising the risk of data leakage and compromise.
Exclusive: Celonis global banking head says AI rollout hinges on process intelligence
Banks risk wasting AI spending unless they first map how work really flows, as Celonis says process intelligence is becoming phase zero.
Affirmo: Could AI make a reality of IoT dreams?
AI could help unlock the long-promised value of IoT, as Singapore-based Affirmo pushes real-time tracking into manufacturing and logistics.
TrendAI: Evolving the cybersecurity value proposition
New research shows two-thirds of Australian business and IT leaders feel pressured to approve AI projects while overlooking security risks.
Atturra's Chris Rae: Choose the happy path (or, why 'perfect' automation fails)
Western Australian mines have cut HR processing time by 80% after a new SAP-linked system let workers self-serve compliance records.
Diligence the watchword as oversight lags AI governance
Most boards are using AI for routine tasks, but only 3% have woven it into risk oversight, leaving organisations exposed to fresh hazards.
Scale By Avec says strategic hiring is the key in the age of AI
AI is forcing firms to rethink hiring, as Scale By Avec says training and human skills matter more than simple headcount cuts.
Milestone turns video data into AI-driven intelligence
Demand for real-time security insights is pushing airports and public spaces towards AI tools that can analyse hundreds of cameras at once.
Zetifi's connectivity solutions drive fleet and worker safety
Remote crews can now stay connected and monitored through Zetifi’s multi-network system, reducing risk and unnecessary check-ins in the field.
Exclusive: Orderfox pushes into autonomous execution with Gieni ABX
Orderfox launches Gieni ABX on Microsoft Azure to push industrial AI beyond insights, automating workflows across enterprise systems with governance.
'Human Risk' takes centre stage - Mimecast CEO
Mimecast chief warns human risk is now cybersecurity's 'eighth layer' as malicious insiders overtake negligence in Australian attacks.
UiPath Accelerates AI in Software Development and Testing
UiPath is pushing AI deeper into software testing, promising autonomous agents that transform quality assurance and developers' roles.
Reviews
Hands-on review: Apple Creator Studio earns its keep
Game review: Pragmata (PC)
Hands-on review: Pocket AI Notetaker handy, not revolutionary
Hands-on review: Samsung Galaxy A57 5G smartphone
Hands-on review: Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra refined flagship
Hands-on review: Avast Deepfake Guard and Scam Guardian
Game review: Taxi Chaos 2 (Xbox Series X)
Hands-on Review: Dell Pro 13 Premium laptop
Hands-on Review: Norton 360 Advanced security suite
Expert Columns
Your bottle cooler knows more than your data team: Here's how it unlocks agentic AI
The GRC cheat code: Why we stopped auditing from scratch and started mapping the gaps
Why ERP is not just another platform you can rebuild with AI code
Cyber hygiene 101: The big fundamentals
Your proprietary data is a powerful PR asset you're not using
Quantum computing isn't just a crypto problem - it's a money problem
Proving personalisation works: Tooling, metrics, and the real role of AI
Elon Musk sells the future, not the product. Founders should copy the craft and fear the rest
What separates the personalisation leaders in media and entertainment?
Audiences are cycling, not stacking: The new retention equation in media and entertainment
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Artificial Intelligence News
Taiawa Tech Hub adds $14.4 million to Wellington GDP
The hub's second year delivered a 21% rise in output, with independent analysis showing it supported 148 jobs across Wellington.
Quantum computing isn't just a crypto problem - it's a money problem
Banks, payment networks and governments may face the same post-quantum migration as crypto, with trust and coordination now at stake.
AI could drive advances that solve the problems it brings, computer scientist suggests
Higher electricity demand from artificial intelligence could be eased if it speeds up more efficient solar panels, batteries and chips.
New Zealand businesses shift from recovery to resilience
Confidence among New Zealand firms is being driven more by productivity and investment than hopes of a return to pre-pandemic normality.
The modern MSP is a continuous improvement engine not a helpdesk
Continuous improvement, not ticket handling, is becoming the measure of value as firms expect managed services to keep pace with fast-changing IT needs.
Cortell Australia & CorPlan win IBM Asia Pacific award
Clients across Australia and New Zealand stand to gain from a boost in planning tools after Cortell and CorPlan were named IBM partners of the year.
realestate.co.nz launches AI image search for homes
Buyers can now find New Zealand homes by image details such as weatherboard exteriors or pools, after realestate.co.nz added AI search.
Hectre wins two NZ Hi-Tech Awards for agritech innovation
The win underscores growing demand for imaging tools that cut fruit waste and help packhouses make faster, more accurate sorting decisions.
Xero's Claude integration gives only read-only summaries
Accountants cannot yet use Claude to pull invoices or amend records, as Xero's new link is limited to read-only financial summaries.
Spectrum Consulting names Darryl van Rensburg for AI drive
Growing concerns over data sovereignty and AI governance are likely to shape more technology spending in New Zealand as Spectrum bolsters its sales push.
Optimal launches AI-moderated surveys for deeper feedback
Product teams can now gather richer user feedback at scale as Optimal adds spoken responses and automated follow-up questions to surveys.
IAB New Zealand launches Wellington industry council
The new body gives Wellington's government-heavy digital ad market a formal voice in IAB New Zealand's national standards and privacy work.
Blackpearl hails 114% ARR growth as AI debate shifts
Blackpearl's latest update shows investors are rewarding application-layer AI plays as annual recurring revenue climbed to USD $26.8 million.
One NZ calls for long-term telecom investment policy
Rising demand and tighter economics are squeezing network spending, with One NZ warning New Zealanders could feel slower progress in coverage and resilience.
At the crossroads: building the next phase of payments in Aotearoa
Fragmentation could slow Aotearoa's payments overhaul unless industry and government align on standards, identity and resilience.
iPayroll warns firms over AI data risks in payroll
Payroll teams face growing privacy risks as software providers increasingly reserve rights to use salary data to train AI models.
One NZ says trust now decides New Zealanders on AI
Confidence is lagging behind AI use in New Zealand, with most users still wary and many saying they would walk away over misuse.
New Zealand businesses ramp up AI & automation push
Pressure to lift margins is pushing New Zealand firms to target AI and automation at energy use, reporting and admin tasks.
New Zealand SMEs embrace AI but want clearer rules
Most New Zealand SMEs now use AI tools, but many want firmer safeguards and training before widening adoption.
Gentrack buys Factor in NZ$24m energy software deal
Rising pricing complexity in volatile power markets has pushed retailers towards software that can model tariffs more accurately.
Job Moves
Spectrum Consulting names Darryl van Rensburg for AI drive
Inde appoints Matthew Flatt as Technical Director of Data
EY New Zealand appoints Willett & Bremner to tech roles
TenPeaks appoints Whineray as Independent Chairman
Airwallex names Sir Bill English chair of New Zealand board
moomoo boosts New Zealand push with hires, premium tier
Gallagher Security names Josh Arnold Chief Product Lead
DLA Piper appoints Edward Eisdell-Moore as NZ tech partner
Paul Littlefair appointed Chair to lead TUANZ strategic future
