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
ZEITARC launches Lineora app for printable photo activities
Families and teachers can now turn photos into printable colouring pages and puzzles, with Lineora offering cloud-based exports on iOS and Android.
Digital inclusion starts with listening to young people
Research shows digital inclusion must go beyond internet access, as rangatahi say they need skills and a real say in AI safety.
Young engineers find automation careers in horticulture
A shortage of visible pathways is pushing mechatronics graduates into horticulture automation jobs that are reshaping New Zealand's post-harvest sector.
Assurity Consulting puts quality at core of AI push
Reliable AI adoption is becoming a competitive issue, with the consultancy warning firms that quality checks must be built in from the start.
Division Zero launches continuous cyber testing platform
New Zealand firms are under pressure to spot vulnerabilities sooner as cyber attacks accelerate and annual audits leave long gaps unchecked.
Enlighten Designs becomes New Zealand's first Claude partner
For New Zealand organisations, the partnership offers a local Claude specialist with certified support for putting AI into everyday workflows safely.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Artificial Intelligence
PagerDuty launches Paige AI agent & PD Labs in ANZ
Infrastructure Flexibility Becomes A Competitive Advantage As Uncertainty Mounts
Kantata launches AI business intelligence for services
AI isn't the next cloud. Don't let it outgrow IT
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Drumbeat CEO: PR was never broken, just out of reach
Featured News
AI success takes more than a promising pilot project
Without stronger governance and clear accountability, most AI pilots will struggle to reach production or deliver real business value.
Palo Alto Networks: AI hunting vulnerability in legacy systems
Critical infrastructure operators are being urged to merge IT and OT security as AI speeds up attacks on ageing industrial systems.
Sectigo targets ANZ growth as certificate lifespans shrink
Shorter certificate lifespans are pushing Australian and New Zealand firms to automate renewals, or face higher security and outage risks.
CU Medicine's Philip Chiu: Surgery goes digital, but the surgeon stays
CU Medicine Dean Philip Chiu says AI and robotics will take surgery from analogue to digital, with embodied AI assisting the surgeon.
Transform your business with Telstra Adaptive Networks
Businesses facing outages and surging demand can now reroute traffic, scale bandwidth and cut IT admin as Telstra's network adapts in real time.
Float: Exposing the hidden costs of insurance premiums
Policyholders could save thousands as Float says hidden commissions of 15% to 25% and admin-heavy renewals are inflating premiums.
Scaling AI means reinventing how work gets done
The shift could reshape hiring, audits and pay as firms move from AI pilots to automated workflows that rely on new guardrails.
Workday is a Fortune 500 startup reborn for the AI era
Its AI-first overhaul has cut layers, sped product cycles and left the company betting that startup-style speed can still serve Fortune 500 customers.
GitHub: Developers aren't disappearing. They're leveling up
AI is pushing software teams into higher-value roles, with GitHub saying developers are moving from coding to orchestration and business alignment.
The future of successful HR will use AI with human oversight
AI could free HR teams from routine admin, but Workday says sensitive hiring decisions need deterministic guardrails and explicit human oversight.
AI attacks demand operational change in the post Mythos era
Only 5% of Australian companies are ready for AI-driven attacks, leaving most exposed as threat actors move at machine speed.
UST: Businesses must rethink how AI returns are measured
Australian firms risk spending increasing resources on AI pilots that ultimately fail to prove gains in revenue, efficiency or customer service.
Data sovereignty is a strategic imperative in the AI era
AI is pushing boards to weigh local control against cloud convenience, with 80% of respondents saying sovereignty matters more in vendor selection.
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.
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
AI agents will multiply your inference bill. Is your enterprise ready?
Digital inclusion starts with listening to young people
Security Learnings from the Open Source Front Line
Digital sovereignty in practice: three examples of balancing control with global reach
Could AI enable successful socialism? Eliminating the fatal flaw
Cyber security now starts at the job interview
Cybersecurity Awareness: The Importance of Getting the Basics Right
AI Investment in Australia and New Zealand Drives Data Focus
From AI That Answers to AI That Acts
When AI Grades Student Work, Who Checks the Feedback?
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the network
AI success takes more than a promising pilot project
Palo Alto Networks: AI hunting vulnerability in legacy systems
Sectigo targets ANZ growth as certificate lifespans shrink
CU Medicine's Philip Chiu: Surgery goes digital, but the surgeon stays
Transform your business with Telstra Adaptive Networks
Recent Artificial Intelligence News
DJI launches new Dock 4 with 25-second battery swap
The automated dock cuts turnaround between flights from about 30 minutes to 25 seconds, aimed at public safety and inspection crews.
Apple adds Siri AI app intents in 27.3 developer betas
The update broadens Apple's AI push, letting Siri handle tasks in core apps as the company tests new watch, Health and Safari features.
IB summit in Istanbul spotlights AI & student voice
Teachers' role in the classroom was put centre stage in Istanbul as IB schools weighed AI's growing influence on learning and assessment.
Honeywell AI to cut cooling demand at Singapore resort
The trial could trim energy use at a site that welcomes about 17 million visitors a year, while helping meet its 2030 carbon-neutrality target.
Melbourne cheaper than Sydney for data centre build
A global index shows Sydney and Melbourne still trail Asian hubs, though Melbourne’s indicative build cost is slightly lower at $10.58 per watt.
APAC B2B tech lags global benchmark on partner revenue
A nine-point revenue gap means regional software firms are missing out on higher-value deals as partner channels stay underused across APAC.
CrowdStrike to buy Fiddler AI & Dreadnode in AI push
The moves underline how security vendors are racing to control AI agents as businesses widen their use of automated software across operations.
Tanium joins OpenAI cyber programme for threat research
The limited access will help its hunters and engineers turn OpenAI models into detections, vulnerability work and stronger platform defences.
Snowflake launches free AI data training for users
Companies can now tap free, role-based AI and data training from Snowflake, with 30 days of hands-on labs included worldwide.
Lumen & Microsoft expand AI network tie-up for Azure
Enterprises grappling with AI rollouts should get simpler access to Azure-linked networking as the pair widen support across hybrid and multi-cloud estates.
Snowflake adds always-on AI bots for CoCo & CoWork
The update widens enterprise access to background automation, with recurring AI tasks now able to run continuously and seek approval only when needed.
Snowflake launches autonomous data tools & live analytics
Businesses using AI agents can now automate pipeline checks and query live data in one governed Snowflake platform, cutting manual work.
EonFibre adds 400G Trans-Tasman link for data demand
The upgrade gives data-heavy customers more capacity across the Tasman as AI and cloud traffic drives demand for faster links between New Zealand and Australia.
Legora to connect with iManage MCP Server for lawyers
Law firms using the tools will be able to pull governed iManage documents and past matter knowledge into Legora without weakening access controls.
meshIQ & Treehouse Software boost mainframe data streaming
Enterprises could cut manual work and outage risk as the deal links mainframe data flows more tightly to Snowflake and AWS analytics systems.
Google Cloud adds Claude models to Antigravity tools
Google Cloud users can now tap Anthropic's Claude models in Antigravity for coding tasks, broadening model choice across its AI tools.
Zywave adds AI tools for brokers & loss data access
Insurance brokers and carriers can now use Zywave's updated AI platform to personalise outreach, query loss data and automate prospecting workflows.
ArmourCode launches Zero to cut vulnerability backlogs
ArmourCode says the agent-based tool can shrink thousands of alerts into fewer verified fixes, easing pressure on security teams.
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Australia & New Zealand firms struggle to prove AI ROI
Most companies in Australia and New Zealand still cannot show AI has paid for itself, with 68% saying it has not justified the spend.
Google launches Gemini training bundles for finance, law
Free courses on Google Skills aim to help finance and legal staff use Gemini for tasks from bond issuance to contract review.
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
