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
FNZ deepens FirstCape partnership with platform shift
FNZ and FirstCape expand New Zealand tie-up as the wealth group becomes an early user of FNZ Select for platform migration.
FMG goes live with Workday HCM for core people systems
FMG replaces legacy people systems with Workday HCM, payroll and absence tools as the New Zealand insurer targets faster reporting and compliance.
Aimer Farming wins NZD $600,000 for AI pasture tools
Aimer Farming lands NZD $600,000 of government backing to expand AI pasture software for New Zealand farms and launch a chat-based assistant.
Gaze launches workplace intelligence tool in New Zealand
Gaze Commercial's new AI and sensor platform aims to show New Zealand firms where offices sit empty, amid hybrid work and rising lease costs.
Visa expands agentic commerce testing with NZ banks
Visa brings major New Zealand banks into programme testing AI-led payments, aiming to support secure agent-driven transactions across platforms.
New Zealand faces widening innovation gap, TUANZ warns
New Zealand's digital progress is stalling as AI reshapes work, cybersecurity risks rise and TUANZ urges bold action to close the innovation gap.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Artificial Intelligence
Sapiens named in Everest Group's top 50 insurance lists
Cognizant launches Secure AI Services for enterprises
Strike Graph launches Trust Chain for supplier risk
Gartner: AI layoffs do not improve returns on investment
CrowdStrike leads Gartner cyberthreat intelligence quadrant
Featured News
TeamViewer utilising AI to cut costly digital friction
TeamViewer says AI tools are easing workplace tech frustration, while smart glasses are helping aged care and Mercedes AMG Petronas.
Vanyar primed for success with Uriah Jacobs at the helm
Jacobs sees a gap in Palantir consultancy as Vanyar targets enterprise demand beyond defence, with early projects set to showcase its edge.
Upwind Expands to Sydney: Real Time Cloud Security for APJ
Upwind Security opens a Sydney base to serve APJ customers with real-time cloud and AI workload protection, backed by a USD $250 million funding round.
AI agents multiply risk, says DigiCert chief product officer
DigiCert's Chief Product Officer Deepika Chahuan says organisations must gain visibility over AI agents, or risk chaos as deployments accelerate.
Sage Intacct builds explainable AI into accounting
Sage Intacct's Jon Fasoli says its AI uses a “glass box” model, exposing data, permissions and audit logs to boost confidence.
'Self-learning' AI big boon for Qualtrics' CX
Qualtrics says AI is helping businesses cut churn, boost revenue and uncover richer customer feedback by analysing calls and surveys.
Sage branding itself on trust in AI world of "big voices"
Sage courts trust in AI with its 'glass box' pitch, as Steve Hare says finance chiefs still need human accountability in the boom.
Exclusive: Denodo's Dominic Sartorio on perfect data vs the right data
Denodo's Dominic Sartorio warns businesses accelerating artificial intelligence deployments that cloud migrations alone do not make data ready for real-time AI.
Google flags urgency as AI reshapes cyber threats
Google warns AI is turbocharging cyber attacks as Sandra Joyce says firms must patch fast, while Gemini boosts threat detection and analysis.
Exclusive: Google Cloud reshaping finance with agentic AI
Google Cloud says banks need governance-led platforms to unlock agentic AI at scale, with tens of agents set to reshape compliance, fraud and risk.
Exclusive: Google Cloud on the road to autonomous SecOps
Google Cloud rolls out three AI agents for SecOps to automate detection engineering, threat hunting and context gathering as it eyes autonomous SOCs.
Exclusive: Google Cloud accelerates shift to agentic data
Google Cloud is betting on AI agents as the main users of enterprise data, unveiling new tools for context, automation and cross-cloud access.
Exclusive: Adobe ANZ chief on AI adoption trends
Adobe ANZ chief says AI is moving into production as customers in regulated sectors balance caution with rapid deployment and productivity gains.
Exclusive: Google sees success with niche AI playbooks
Google is tailoring AI playbooks for 19 industries as enterprises shift from pilots to production, with faster rollouts and ROI now the focus.
Kia Ora New Zealand: Microsoft AI Tour delivers a dose of He Tangata
Microsoft steps up New Zealand AI push with 200,000 more people to be trained as chief technology officer Sarah Carney says the real challenge is winning trust.
Exclusive: Grafana Lab's Jen Villa on targeting the AI observability gap
Grafana Labs unveils new AI observability and CLI tools as enterprises grapple with monitoring and controlling production AI systems at GrafanaCON 2026.
Netskope's Tony Burnside - visibility is key to AI security
Netskope's Tony Burnside warns AI agents are creating hidden east-west traffic, calling for omni-directional controls and smarter DLP to stop data leaks.
Exclusive: Celonis global banking head says AI rollout hinges on process intelligence
Banks are slowing AI rollouts as they prioritise process visibility, with Celonis arguing execution depends on understanding how work flows today.
Affirmo: Could AI make a reality of IoT dreams?
Affirmo's Lip Sing Tay says AI can unlock smarter real-time location tracking, as the Singapore firm targets tougher IoT use cases.
TrendAI: Evolving the cybersecurity value proposition
TrendAI urges stronger AI governance as it shifts cybersecurity from fear-based selling to platformised risk reduction for Australian firms.
Atturra's Chris Rae: Choose the happy path (or, why 'perfect' automation fails)
Atturra's Chris Rae says successful automation starts with the happy path, as a new AI platform cuts mining HR compliance workload by 80%.
Diligence the watchword as oversight lags AI governance
Boards lag on AI oversight as Diligent survey finds most directors use the tools, but few have embedded governance or risk controls.
Scale By Avec says strategic hiring is the key in the age of AI
Scale By Avec urges firms to rethink hiring in AI era, backing training, human skills and entry-level pathways over headcount cuts.
Milestone turns video data into AI-driven intelligence
Milestone Systems' Project Hafnia uses AI video language models to turn CCTV streams into real-time, multi‑modal security insight.
Zetifi's connectivity solutions drive fleet and worker safety
Wagga Wagga-based Zetifi blends smart antennas, AI cameras and APIs to keep remote fleets connected while quietly boosting worker safety.
Exclusive: Orderfox pushes into autonomous execution with Gieni ABX
Orderfox readies Gieni ABX, an autonomous execution layer to turn its industrial AI insights into completed tasks across enterprise systems.
'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.
Strong growth for Irish tech imports across Australia and New Zealand
Irish tech exports to Australia and New Zealand have surged nearly 60% in five years, with Enterprise Ireland backing rapid sector growth.
Cloudera and Svitla Systems bring trusted AI to healthcare
Cloudera and Svitla team up to build trusted, clinician‑centric AI that unifies patient data while safeguarding privacy and consent.
Rise of AI Agents introduces new infosec risk: Okta
Okta warns that surging numbers of uncontrolled AI agents pose a major identity and access risk as they become the new digital workforce.
Confluent says data streaming will enable faster, better decisions
Confluent says organisations must shift to governed data streaming, with AI agents making millisecond decisions at scale.
Elastic says AI search & context now decide customer loyalty
Elastic argues that in an AI-obsessed market, robust search across messy data is the real foundation of trustworthy, profitable experiences.
Platform consolidation the path to strategic compliance value - Workiva
Consolidated GRC platforms are turning box-ticking compliance into strategic value, says Workiva, as AI raises the stakes on data quality.
AI may sound human...but whose values does it reflect?
Harvard research finds “human-like” AI mirrors Western liberal values, raising concerns over cultural bias as it spreads worldwide.
Grafana: Turning data chaos into developer efficiency and CFO savings
Grafana leans on AI-powered observability and Adaptive Telemetry to sharpen developer insight while slashing cloud bills by up to 50%.
The hidden data costs threatening enterprise AI plans
Hidden cloud data, egress fees and GPU 'double bubble' bills are quietly turning many enterprise AI ambitions into costly, slow ordeals.
Guidewire showcases GenAI's capabilities in insurance risks
Guidewire touts 'insurance-grade AI' as it uses generative tools to speed risk, claims and pricing decisions for cautious insurers.
Beyond silicon: AMD evolves AI processor performance, makes play for investment trillions
AMD shifts its AI pitch from raw silicon to open software and cloud access as it targets developers and a share of looming trillions.
Why Australian leaders are losing faith in IT spend
With 88% of Australian tech leaders doubting IT ROI, IT financial management emerges as the missing link between spend and value.
Composable, process‑aware AI key to enterprise ROI
Process intelligence and composable architecture are emerging as the missing ingredients to turn fragile AI pilots into resilient, traceable value.
Reviews
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
Hands-on Review: Acer Predator Helios Neo 16S AI
Hands-on Review: Apple AirPods Pro 3
Expert Columns
The Death of the Firewall
AI shopping boom puts checkout under pressure
Why trust is the bottleneck for AI-driven operations
Why workplace AI is creating a quiet legal risk most businesses haven't caught up with yet
Digital identity: How it powers APAC's fintech boom
Is your data ready for AI? 5 steps before deploying an agent
Energy for AI, AI for energy: designing AI-ready data centres
Why "strong passwords" can't save you from AI
Data quality charter vital for lasting business gains
The real-time data solution to the AI energy problem
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Artificial Intelligence News
AI adoption lifts NZ business revenue, study finds
NZ businesses using AI could be earning far more, with Deloitte Access Economics finding sizeable revenue lifts and rising spending on the technology.
Lancom joins AWS Anthropic reseller programme for Bedrock
Lancom gains AWS Anthropic reseller status to help customers deploy Claude models through Amazon Bedrock with stronger security and compliance controls.
From scramble to certainty: rethinking tax time for Kiwi small businesses
New Zealand small firms are being urged to join up systems and security year-round, as 42% say tax season is their most stressful period.
Girls shaping the future of AI: Why inclusivity matters now
Women urge early AI literacy and more diverse leadership, warning that bias scales when girls are shut out of design conversations.
Kia Ora New Zealand: Microsoft AI Tour delivers a dose of He Tangata
Microsoft steps up New Zealand AI push with 200,000 more people to be trained as chief technology officer Sarah Carney says the real challenge is winning trust.
2.5 tonnes of e-waste removed for large NZ logistics company
Inde helps major supply chain group clear 21 pallets of e-waste from warehouse, freeing space and boosting CO2 savings with Greenbox.
Inde appoints Matthew Flatt as Technical Director of Data
Inde has tapped Matthew Flatt to head its Data, Intelligence and Architecture practice, as New Zealand firms sharpen focus on governance and AI-readiness.
Avanade expands in New Zealand on rising AI demand
Avanade steps up New Zealand presence as businesses move from AI pilots to full-scale delivery and local partners race to meet demand.
Microsoft expands AI skills drive across New Zealand
Microsoft to train another 200,000 New Zealanders in AI and digital skills by 2028 as demand surges and businesses chase productivity gains.
Microsoft says NZ contribution hits NZ$9.4bn in FY25
Microsoft's latest New Zealand impact report says its tech drove NZD $3.4 billion in productivity gains, with AI adoption spreading fast across sectors.
New Zealand firms seek energy certainty to boost investment
New Zealand businesses say stable power prices and supply would unlock investment, as Schneider Electric research flags energy uncertainty as a brake on growth.
WitFoo opens 100 million-record cyber attack dataset
WitFoo and University of Canterbury unveil a 100 million-record open cybersecurity dataset built from live 2024 attack traffic for AI research.
Areto founder Jacqueline Comer wins global AI safety award
Areto founder Jacqueline Comer wins inaugural global AI safety prize as the New Zealand moderation firm expands its fight against online harm.
Google adds restaurant bookings to AI Mode in Search
Google adds restaurant bookings to AI Mode in Search for New Zealand users, linking diners to live table availability from OpenTable and Wowapps.
EY New Zealand appoints Willett & Bremner to tech roles
EY New Zealand bolsters technology transformation push with senior hires as firms chase practical AI gains and better returns from existing systems.
The hidden risk in New Zealand's digital transformation
New Zealand organisations are urged to tighten controls on third-party access and identity management as digitisation and AI reshape risk.
Datacom finds New Zealand firms lack cyber recovery plans
Datacom survey finds New Zealand firms are confident in cyber defences but lag badly on recovery plans, raising outage risks.
New Zealanders fear online fraud & AI-driven scams
New Zealanders fear online fraud as Experian survey finds rising scams, with identity theft and AI-driven attacks among the top concerns.
TEKEVER & EPE join forces on NZ autonomous systems
TEKEVER partners with EPE New Zealand to boost uncrewed and autonomous defence systems, targeting maritime and land missions nationwide.
Scentian Bio raises GBP £5.5 million for food sensor
Scentian Bio raises GBP £5.5 million as it prepares to ship a handheld AI biosensor that can spot food quality problems earlier.
Job Moves
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
Kordia appoints Willo Chapman Head of Sales for cyber & cloud
