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
Youth unemployment at 'crisis level' and AI may mean recovery is tough, NZIER says
Recovery alone may not ease youth joblessness, with 15 to 19-year-olds facing 25.3 percent unemployment and AI adding uncertainty.
Securecom goes live on Snowflake's New Zealand instance
The local launch gives New Zealand customers in regulated sectors in-country hosting, faster AI queries and tighter governance over sensitive data.
Westpac New Zealand replaces 26 HR systems with Workday
Westpac says the platform has cut leaders' admin by about two hours a week and improved trust in workforce data, freeing time for customer work.
Xero wins Canstar small business award for eighth year
Customer backing for Xero's software stayed strong as it secured Canstar's 2026 small business accounting award in New Zealand for an eighth year.
Kara Smith lands Recruitment Leader of the Year final
The finalist nod comes after Talent New Zealand lifted management profit 3,691% as Smith diversified the business beyond traditional recruitment.
academyEX flags AI tension as systems grow autonomous
Worries are growing that autonomous systems could deepen loneliness, disrupt schooling and force governments to curb AI use.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Artificial Intelligence
FedEx study sees Asia Pacific semiconductor expansion
Smart Communications boosts AI migration for enterprises
Smartsheet named Gartner leader as it expands AI tools
Keeper passes 100,000 customers amid AI security push
SentinelOne named Leader in IDC endpoint security study
Featured News
Logitech makes largest B2B move yet with Rally Bar 2
The Swiss group is betting on extra processing power and AI-ready features to keep enterprise meeting rooms usable for longer.
Organisations need a strategic approach to skills in the AI world
Companies are missing out on returns from AI and other new tools because staff training and change management are lagging behind.
AI workloads & modern facilities driving Honeywell growth
Data centre operators are under pressure to supply their own electricity, opening the door for Honeywell to add on-site power and utilities.
Logitech blends style, work practicality with Zone Vibe Pro
Hybrid workers will soon be able to effortlessly swap between calls and music without changing headsets, as Logitech's new model lands in October.
AI demands network agility and better operational governance
Governance gaps are leaving most organisations exposed as AI traffic surges and networks struggle to keep pace with machine-speed demands.
Interview: Cloudera says open-ended AI spending is over
Enterprises are now demanding proof of value and tighter controls as AI budgets face scrutiny over compute costs and deployment choices.
Zscaler takes zero trust beyond the corporate network
Critical infrastructure operators are using cellular links to secure distributed assets as outages and spoofing raise the stakes for resilience.
Workiva: The secret compliance and reporting arms race
Driven by improved tooling, finance teams are meeting higher standards as regulators and analysts scrutinise disclosures faster.
Exclusive: ABBYY says AI build costs will drive buying
Enterprises could cut AI spend by up to 80% by shifting document workflows away from custom builds and into standard platforms.
Exclusive: ABBYY brings zero-shot document AI to Vantage
Enterprises can now extract data from unseen document types without templates, as ABBYY rolls out zero-shot capabilities in Vantage.
ABB: Renewables usage puts NZ in data centre sweet spot
Renewables are leaving New Zealand well placed for data centres, but ABB says grid upgrades and smarter use of existing assets are needed.
Why businesses need more than technology to scale AI
Only 19 per cent of enterprise AI use cases hit most or all goals, as Infosys urges firms to pair technology with data, training and governance.
Interview: Cloudera bets on hybrid AI growth in JAPAC
Banks and large enterprises in Asia-Pacific are rethinking cloud-first AI plans as costs, sovereignty and regulation favour hybrid deployments.
Genetec: Open platforms key as physical security evolves
Businesses are prioritising hybrid, open security systems to protect existing hardware investments while adopting cloud and AI tools more gradually.
Docusign's next move: Own the contract, not just the signature
Rapid adoption as Docusign's IAM platform cuts contract delays and turns signed agreements into AI-driven workflows.
AI transforming physical security into enterprise data solution
AI and cloud tools are turning cameras into live operational data sources, helping firms cut costs, spot errors and manage fleets centrally.
Future of AI is distributed infrastructure built on open source
Rising AI demand is exposing cloud bottlenecks, as firms eye in-house open source systems to cut costs and limit vendor lock-in.
AI transforms CX to go beyond the chatbot
Consumers now expect faster, more automated support as AI agents handle complex customer journeys, though many firms still struggle to prove ROI.
Open source is powering the next generation of frontier AI
Rising inference demand and custom hardware needs are pushing AI infrastructure beyond standard cloud setups, boosting open source tools.
Governance controls are crucial for AI adoption and modernisation
Trusted partners and tighter guardrails are becoming essential as AI agents expand the attack surface and put data sovereignty on the line.
Datadog targets enterprise risk with AI and automation
Australian enterprises are under pressure to tame AI-driven complexity, compliance risk and rising technology costs as Datadog broadens its platform.
The internet times are a'changing Fastly
Bot traffic is forcing Fastly to adapt its edge cloud tools as publishers and AI firms battle over caching, access and data protection.
Rimini Street offers AI magic without the forced ERP migration
CIOs can keep existing ERP systems and still adopt agentic AI, as Rimini Street pitches a cheaper path away from vendor-led migrations.
Customers at the centre of Adobe's new AI evangelist role
Adobe is using the post to help customers navigate AI adoption while feeding regional priorities back into its global product strategy.
Jamf launches AI Governance to enhance visibility, security
IT teams can now track AI models on Apple fleets to curb data leaks and token spend as businesses wrestle with shadow AI.
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AI models expose new attack surfaces through misconfiguration
Misconfigured models are giving attackers a fresh route into cloud systems, raising the risk of data theft and service compromise.
Zendesk's outcome-based pricing balances AI with human touch
Businesses will pay only for closed support cases under Zendesk's new model, as the software group ties AI automation to human fallback.
Cvent says event success lies in genuine human interaction
Hybrid formats are helping organisers broaden reach without losing the in-room relationships that still drive trust, leads and donations.
Thermomix moves HQ to Melbourne to capture Aussie kitchens
The shift will bring the appliance maker closer to eastern customers, as Australia and New Zealand now account for most of its sales.
AI will fade, says Dell Technologies' ephemeral Chief AI Officer
Dell says agentic AI should shift routine tasks below the machine line, freeing staff for expert work while making the role temporary.
Schrodinger's ERP both dead and alive, says Rimini Street
Businesses can avoid costly ERP rip-and-replace projects by layering AI and automation onto existing systems, Rimini Street says.
AI adoption races ahead of governance in businesses
Only one in six staff are getting enough AI training, leaving firms exposed to poor decisions, shadow tools and weak returns.
Network segmentation - you can't attack what you can't see
Fast-moving exploits are shrinking patch windows to hours, making network segmentation vital for protecting cameras, medical devices and other connected assets.
ClickHouse customer base soars on back of AI demand
AI agents are driving a sharp rise in demand for the real-time data platform, which added 1000 customers early in 2026 to top 4000.
Smart stuff in Dell's simplified approach to the venerable PC
Businesses need not necessarily rush to replace working PCs for AI, as Dell says those with accelerators can still handle workloads.
SUSE targets Australia's industrial edge to drive growth
Australian miners, shippers and utilities could be next to benefit as SUSE pushes edge computing and AI inference beyond data centres.
Pead: AI search transition reshaping corporate reputation
AI-generated answers are already shaping public perceptions, forcing firms to manage reputation across trusted third-party sources instead of search rankings.
SAS Innovate: New era of scams requires novel solutions
Australians are losing billions as AI-driven fraud pushes banks, telcos and platforms to share scam data faster and stop payments earlier.
Fresh perspective: New Gentrack CTO on AI-driven utility future
AI tools could cut utility costs and reduce customer friction as Gentrack's new Chief Technology Officer pushes a more proactive service model.
Check Point CTO on AI's double-edged sword
AI is shrinking the gap between vulnerability disclosure and real-world exploitation to hours, forcing security teams to adapt fast.
Meet the man behind the Saas-Pocalypse: Emergent's Mukund Jha
The new cash will help Emergent broaden from coding tools into an operating system for small and medium businesses as demand surges.
SonicWall boosts endpoint security for SMBs and mid-market
SMBs and mid-market firms facing AI-driven attacks are set for tighter device controls as SonicWall prepares a new endpoint security product.
Resilience over prevention as AI reshapes security landscape
Rising ransomware speed is pushing ANZ firms to increase spending on recovery strategies as AI gives attackers new ways in.
Check Point: Be the best, or get out the way
Rising AI-driven attacks are compel security buyers to cut vendor sprawl, though Check Point warns over-consolidation can still raise risk.
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Check Point: Hackers are already in. Act accordingly
Hackers are exploiting vulnerabilities in hours or minutes, leaving many organisations compromised before defenders spot the breach.
Future of enterprise software is agentic apps, says Oracle
Oracle is targeting a common blocker to AI adoption by adding governance, human checks and audit trails to its agentic app builder.
Reviews
Hands-on review: Samsung Z Fold8
Hands-on review: Google Fitbit Air
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)
Expert Columns
Youth unemployment at 'crisis level' and AI may mean recovery is tough, NZIER says
AI will cost some jobs. Poor change management will cost more
Microdramas are booming. AI could make it even harder to stop binge‑watching
From Clean to Trusted: Rethinking Healthcare Data Quality
Seven Cyber Controls Businesses Can No Longer Afford to Overlook
Building Infrastructure for an AI World in Motion
SOCtoberfest Kickoff: The 7 Deadly Sins of Cybersecurity Meet CISA's Core Steps
Why AI-Written Phishing Is Outpacing the Native Filters Built to Stop It
Building B2B Websites for AEO, GEO, and SEO
When the breach becomes the brag
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Artificial Intelligence News
EY revenue hits USD $57 billion as AI demand surges
AI-related work helped push EY's annual revenue to USD $57 billion, with clients shifting from trials to wider business use.
Microsoft revamps Copilot with Home, Code & Autopilot
The overhaul aims to cut app switching and let businesses govern AI spend as Microsoft folds chat, coding and Office tools into one interface.
Build Paperless opens construction platform to AI agents
Access to building records is now being offered to AI assistants, with human sign-off still required for contract changes and variations.
Tanium relaunches Security Operations to counter AI attacks
The update aims to help security teams spot and stop AI-driven intrusions that use stolen credentials and trusted tools rather than malware.
Dell launches Windows AI PCs with NVIDIA & Microsoft
Creators and enterprises can run larger AI models locally as Dell's new Windows PCs and workstations bring NVIDIA's chips into office environments.
Animoca partners on AI agents for verified shopping
The pilot aims to let shopping bots prove user eligibility for discounts and benefits while keeping personal data hidden from merchants.
Adobe adds Claude Motion hand-off to Firefly Video Editor
The new hand-off lets animators move short Claude Motion clips into Adobe's editor for timing, audio and colour tweaks, plus extra footage.
11:11 Systems buys IBM VMware customers in eighth deal
The acquisition gives 11:11 Systems more enterprise accounts as Broadcom narrows VMware partners, but no financial terms were disclosed.
Stakk completes USD $63 million ParaScript acquisition
The enlarged group now serves more than 300 enterprise customers and processes over 110 billion digital interactions a year across four regions.
Docusign launches PDF editor to streamline contracts
The new desktop app lets legal and sales teams edit PDFs, redacting data and reordering pages before sending contracts for signature.
Beyond Now launches platform for AI telecoms revenue
Telecoms operators could speed new AI offers to market, as Beyond Now's platform aims to cut friction in pricing, billing and partner settlement.
Insurers race towards autonomous AI, Sapiens survey finds
Two thirds of senior insurance professionals expect AI to become fully autonomous within three years, despite patchy adoption and governance gaps.
Sapiens launches AI foundation for insurance platforms
It is designed to curb hallucinations and model drift by grounding insurer workflows in decades of sector-specific data, code and documentation.
Agoda promotes Kris Suebjaklap to Senior Vice President and Global Marketing Chief
The promotion hands a decade-long Agoda veteran control of brand and performance marketing as the travel platform leans further into AI and local campaigns.
MSCI launches SignalLab to unify investment signals
Investment teams can now test and deploy more than 600 daily signals in one environment, easing data fragmentation across vendors.
Turnitin says Clarity cuts AI-written student work
Australian and New Zealand students using Turnitin's monitored writing platform were about 40% less likely to submit work flagged as mostly AI-generated.
Most ANZ firms still fail to scale AI beyond pilots
Only 5.2% of organisations in Australia and New Zealand have scaled AI beyond pilots, with structure and workflows proving the biggest barriers.
CIOs shoulder AI workforce redesign as governance lags
Most CIOs now oversee workforce redesign rather than infrastructure, as 88% say AI is outpacing governance and accountability remains unclear.
80% of ANZ firms hit by cyberattacks, Claroty says
Operational downtime and safety risks are mounting, as Claroty says ANZ organisations lost an average USD $2.04 million per cyberattack last year.
Netskope launches AgentSkope marketplace for teams
The new marketplace lets customers manage AI agents in one console, easing procurement bottlenecks and helping overstretched security teams triage alerts faster.
Job Moves
Ingram Micro names Becs Paterson to New Zealand role
Equinox IT appoints Victoria MacLennan as director
Inde appoints Nish Sudhakaran as AI & data director
Microsoft appoints Nick Walton as NZ Managing Director
One New Zealand names CFO, CTO in executive succession
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Tax Traders appoints Chloe Kyrke-Smith as Head of Product
Dentsu Aotearoa launches technology practice with Knox
HP New Zealand appoints Daniel Roberts as Head of Enterprise
Spectrum Consulting names Darryl van Rensburg for AI drive
