The Ultimate Guide to Generative AI
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for Generative AI (GenAI).
What to know about Generative AI
Generative AI is reshaping the digital landscape by powering advances across industries with its ability to create content, assist decision-making, and automate processes. From enhancing customer experience platforms and streamlining business workflows to transforming healthcare and cybersecurity, generative artificial intelligence is driving innovation and operational efficiency at an unprecedented scale.
Businesses and organisations are increasingly adopting generative AI technologies to harness its potential benefits, while also grappling with challenges such as data privacy, security risks, ethical considerations, and the need for robust governance. As generative AI solutions become core components of enterprise strategies, understanding their capabilities and implications is vital for staying competitive in today’s rapidly evolving digital economy.
Our stories explore practical deployments, emerging trends, and expert insights on generative AI’s impact across sectors, helping readers navigate its opportunities and challenges. Whether you are interested in the latest AI-driven product innovations, policy developments, or strategies for successful AI integration, this collection offers comprehensive information to keep you informed about the pivotal role of generative AI in transforming businesses and society.
Kiwi Generative AI News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
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.
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.
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.
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.
ZURU cuts product development to five months with AI
That pace could help ZURU capture fleeting social media trends before rivals, as one product heads for USD $20 million in first-year sales.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Generative AI
New AI era defined by agents, rising costs and maturity gaps
Blue Yonder unveils new AI tools for supply chains
Fortinet launches FortiSOC cloud security platform
Manufacturers turn to AI as maintenance know-how fades
The path to autonomous operations: Why observability is the reliability layer for AI
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Exclusive: Reco COO on securing the AI inside your SaaS stack
Reco COO Zoe Hillenmeyer says enterprises typically underestimate their AI agent exposure by a factor of ten and that gap is widening.
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.
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.
Dell Technologies makes all the hardware cool again
Renewed AI spending is boosting demand for Dell's secure, certified infrastructure as companies chase faster deployment and lower cloud costs.
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.
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.
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.
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: 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.
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.
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.
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.
Expert Columns
Search after SEO: Anna Harrison on staying visible in the AI era
Why ERP is not just another platform you can rebuild with AI code
Your proprietary data is a powerful PR asset you're not using
AI fluency: A skeptic's guide to the skill that snuck up on product teams
Why organisations in Asia Pacific are rethinking their AI deployment strategies
How AI can be the biggest accelerator for SMBs
Why data governance is a core IT responsibility in the AI era
Is Google dead? How AI is rewriting the rules of search, and what it means for NZ businesses
AI is compressing legal work but increasing the value of divergence
Why business ambition is running ahead of AI readiness
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Generative AI News
AI is outpacing your data platform - what CIOs need to understand
CIOs face rising risk as agentic AI moves into production faster than most data platforms can govern, retrieve and act on reliably.
Deloitte warns NZ firms to redesign work for AI era
Deloitte says NZ firms must redesign jobs and systems for the AI era as robotics, cyber risk and labour shortages reshape work.
New Zealand faces widening innovation gap, TUANZ warns
Technology leaders say the country risks falling further behind as AI adoption, cyber threats and rising costs outpace progress.
Lancom joins AWS Anthropic reseller programme for Bedrock
Customers across New Zealand and Australia can now get broader access to Claude models through Lancom, as AI projects shift from trials to live use.
Avanade expands in New Zealand on rising AI demand
More Kiwi firms are moving beyond AI pilots, prompting Avanade to bolster local delivery in New Zealand as demand for implementation grows.
Microsoft expands AI skills drive across New Zealand
The expansion follows early uptake of Microsoft’s previous pledge, as demand for AI training rises across business, schools and community groups.
Microsoft says NZ contribution hits NZ$9.4bn in FY25
Local firms and agencies are using Microsoft’s AI and cloud tools to lift productivity, as the company’s NZ impact reaches NZ$9.4 billion in FY25.
Google adds restaurant bookings to AI Mode in Search
Diners in New Zealand can now skip several booking sites as Search surfaces tables with live availability and links straight to reservations.
Tuanz warns New Zealand of widening digital safety gaps
Schools, households and agencies face uneven access and safety online as TUANZ urges a national rethink over AI, curriculum and mobile coverage.
Google expands Search Live to New Zealand in AI Mode
Kiwis can now use voice and camera prompts in Google’s AI search tool, which is rolling out across more than 200 countries and territories.
NZ faces legal and sovereignty risks as EU AI rules take effect - experts
Experts warn NZ could surrender AI sovereignty in health, justice and education unless it matches tough new EU rules with its own law.
'Shadow AI' misuse emerges as key cyber threat in NZ
'Shadow AI' misuse by staff has surged as a top cyber threat for New Zealand firms, fuelling rising losses and extortion pressures.
If AI can't quote you, do you exist? The new reality for communications
As AI becomes a sleepless gatekeeper of reputation, communicators must feed the machines or risk vanishing into background noise.
The Optimisers launches in Auckland to target AI search
Auckland's The Optimisers debuts as a digital agency helping brands win visibility in AI-led search, summaries and autonomous agent results.
Safeguarding personal reputations: Women leaders' edge in AI-driven tech communications
Women tech leaders harness AEO and EEAT to shield reputations from AI deepfakes, turning bias-fuelled vigilance into a strategic edge.
Automating the repeatable, humanising the exceptional: Delivering real AI value with an ontology‑led approach
Lancom champions an ontology‑led AI approach, automating repeatable tasks while elevating human expertise to deliver real business value.
AI is changing who succeeds in tech. Are we preparing women for that shift?
As AI reshapes tech careers, New Zealand faces a pivotal chance to draw more women into the sector before they are shut out of its future.
AI scribe tool being used in emergency departments
New Zealand rolls out AI scribe in all emergency departments, boosting productivity but raising fresh concerns over patient privacy.
Why AI search is reshaping how Kiwis see businesses
As Kiwis increasingly 'ask AI' before buying, leaders must learn to shape algorithm answers or risk losing control of their brand story.
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Pead launches GEO service to shape AI brand answers
Auckland agency Pead launches GEO service to help brands influence how AI tools like ChatGPT, Copilot and Gemini answer consumer queries.
