The Ultimate Guide to AI Agents
A curated Kiwi edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for AI Agents (Agentic AI).
What to know about AI Agents
AI agents represent a transformative area within artificial intelligence, focusing on autonomous or semi-autonomous systems capable of performing complex tasks and making decisions to enhance business operations and personal productivity.
Our recent stories highlight how AI agents are rapidly evolving across sectors—from cybersecurity and data management to customer experience and enterprise automation. Companies are integrating AI agents to improve efficiency, drive innovation, and manage security risks in increasingly sophisticated ways.
By exploring these developments, readers can gain insights into the potential benefits, emerging applications, and challenges associated with AI agent deployment. Whether you're interested in how AI agents enhance software development, automate workflows, or secure enterprise environments, this tag offers a comprehensive look at this dynamic and impactful technology.
Kiwi AI Agents News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
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.
Visa expands agentic commerce testing with NZ banks
Four of New Zealand’s biggest lenders are testing AI-driven payments as Visa moves to safeguard shopping across merchants and platforms.
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.
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.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to AI Agents
Infobip study finds CX investment gap in global brands
Tanium launches Atlas in APAC to speed IT response
Verdantix names viAct an innovator in workplace safety
Cycode launches agentic development lifecycle security
Governments eye agentic AI as security worries persist
Featured News
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.
'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.
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 Cloud CEO sets out enterprise AI agent plan
Enterprises will get one place to build, govern and run AI agents, as Google Cloud expands Gemini Enterprise across models, data and security.
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 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: 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.
Google sees retail success with agentic commerce push
Retailers are using Google’s new AI suite to speed up shopping and support, with Bunnings already live and UCP adoption starting to grow.
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.
Great Southern Grammar embraces AI to boost high-impact teaching
Battery-strapped students at Great Southern Grammar are gaining more classroom time after a Surface laptop rollout cut device downtime and boosted AI use.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
Expert Columns
AI is outpacing your data platform - what CIOs need to understand
AI shopping boom puts checkout under pressure
Is your data ready for AI? 5 steps before deploying an agent
Why runtime identity is emerging as the next cybersecurity imperative
Proof beats promise: The trust crisis AI is creating
Mythos changes everything: Is your AI agent security ready?
The autonomous SOC: A dangerous illusion as firms shift to human-led AI security
Agentic commerce and the evolution of retail purchase behaviour
The AI risk hiding in your finance team's browser tabs
5 eCommerce trends set to define 2026
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent AI Agents News
Digital twin cuts costs & emissions at Te Rua archive
The archive’s digital model kept contingency spending at 5% and helped slash emissions by 80%, easing risk on NZD $290 million project.
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.
The 5 trends that will shape the scale of AI in 2026
AI's 2026 breakthrough will hinge on power, cooling, smarter grids and skills as data centres scale to support hotter, denser workloads.
Xero sets out checklist to streamline year-end accounts
Xero launches a checklist-style year-end workflow to help small firms reconcile accounts, manage documents and cut adviser workload.
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Mastercard tests first AI agent-led payments in NZ
Mastercard and Westpac have trialled New Zealand's first fully authenticated AI agent-led payments for cinema tickets and hotel bookings.
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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.
SkillsVR unveils EVA AI assistant for unified training
SkillsVR launches EVA, an AI assistant unifying VR, mobile and web training with real-time learner guidance and automatic record tracking.
Deloitte forecasts AI, data centres & media shifts by 2026
Deloitte predicts agentic AI boom, surging data centre and sovereign compute spend, and fast-shifting media habits by 2026.
Nearly half of Kiwi online daters would date an AI
Nearly half of New Zealand's online daters would consider dating an AI, as loneliness and mistrust reshape how Kiwis seek romance online.
NZ firms lift tech spend as AI shifts from trials to scale
New Zealand firms plan bigger tech budgets as optimism grows, shifting AI from pilots to scaled deployments despite talent and cyber strains.
Microsoft cloud region powers New Zealand's AI growth
Microsoft's NZ North cloud hub is powering Aotearoa's AI push, cutting costs, boosting skills and running on 100 per cent renewable energy.
OpenAI brings group chat feature to Kiwi ChatGPT users
OpenAI has introduced a group chat feature in ChatGPT for up to 20 users, enabling shared collaboration in New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and Taiwan.
Westlaw New Zealand launches AI-powered research tools for lawyers
Thomson Reuters has launched AI-powered research tools in Westlaw New Zealand, enhancing legal research with natural language queries and secure AI features.
NVIDIA & Fujitsu expand AI push to drive innovation in New Zealand
NVIDIA and Fujitsu are boosting AI innovation in New Zealand with a new full-stack AI platform to transform industries like manufacturing and healthcare.
AI agents meet stablecoins…when money gets interesting!
Galaxy Digital's CEO predicts AI agents will soon be the biggest users of stablecoins, merging smart finance with instant digital payments in everyday life.
AI gains momentum in New Zealand workplaces amid calls for oversight
New Zealand firms rapidly adopt AI in finance and HR, but 88% stress the need for human oversight amid ethical and security concerns.
Exclusive: Lumify warns AI readiness must catch up to enterprise adoption
Amid a surge in digital transformation, ANZ companies are rapidly upskilling staff in cybersecurity and AI, adopting hybrid training to meet evolving tech demands.
Trust & AI in shopping: New Zealand consumers' views
Salesforce's report reveals New Zealand consumers are increasingly willing to embrace AI in shopping, despite a sharp decline in trust towards companies.
Exclusive: Celonis' Alex Lowe discusses how AI is transforming decision-making
Alex Lowe from Celonis reveals how AI is revolutionising decision-making, enhancing productivity by processing unstructured data more efficiently.
Working smarter not harder: Four ways AI can support your business
AI is reshaping Kiwi businesses with Meta's AI tools across Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, offering smarter solutions for marketing, customer service, and data insights.
