The Ultimate Guide to Generative AI
A curated Australian 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.
Australian Generative AI News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
OpenAI launches ChatGPT Work & GPT-5.6 in Australia
Australian users can now automate office tasks across apps and files as OpenAI rolls out ChatGPT Work and GPT-5.6 nationwide.
CommBank rolls out Microsoft-built customer service AI
The bank says the platform is already resolving more enquiries end to end, as it replaces legacy systems across 2 million monthly conversations.
In-house legal teams see AI returns in Legora study
AI is helping corporate lawyers answer stakeholders faster, with 97% of legal leaders in a new study citing quicker responses.
Australian firms warned over AI brand visibility race
Half of Australians now use generative AI, giving brands less than two years to shape how systems describe them to customers.
HeirWealth launches MCP server for AI wealth queries
Advice firms can now query consolidated client wealth data in plain language, as HeirWealth opens Atlas to MCP-compatible AI assistants.
UST partners Anthropic to train 20,000 staff on Claude
The deal will embed Claude across UST's client systems and internal workflows, as the services firm trains 20,000 staff worldwide on the AI model.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Generative AI
Citrix adds MCP Gateway to NetScaler for AI traffic
Financial services breach risk rises as AI adoption surges
Netcore Unbxd named Gartner Leader for search discovery
Google tops Gartner's AI infrastructure magic quadrant
Most firms hit by AI security incidents, study finds
Featured News
OnBoard says board AI policy key, but lags behind in adoption
Most boards are using AI, but formal guidelines are still missing as adoption races ahead of governance, OnBoard's survey found.
Archaic payment processes costing SMEs time and money
Australian SMEs are missing working capital gains as manual invoicing and EFTs leave payments slower and less secure.
Agentic AI creates enterprise challenge beyond LLM boom
Enterprises face rising costs and governance gaps as thousands of AI agents begin operating alongside staff across multiple systems.
AI reshaping cybersecurity - on defence and attack
Criminals are using AI to scale phishing and hunt flaws faster, forcing firms to harden defences as alert volumes and risks rise.
Marketers turn to AI as personalisation revolution arrives
Australian marketers are turning to agentic AI to keep pace with fragmented customer journeys and rising demand for personalised content.
Exclusive: Virtuozzo sees GPU clouds reshape AI infrastructure
AI demand is pushing cloud providers towards GPU-as-a-service models, with efficiency and utilisation emerging as key differentiators.
UiPath assisting One NZ on journey to become AI leaders
Strict controls are now central to One NZ's AI push as it guards customer data and avoids costly errors in billing and finance.
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.
Expert Columns
AI is rewriting the rules of dealmaking
'That's the wrong right idea!' is the smartest thing a lawyer can say
A Guide for Procurement Leaders: Why Building Your Own Sourcing AI Isn't Worth the Wait
The Essential Eight is being retired, here's what that means for your cyber programme
AI is redefining what your PC can do
Agentic AI will soon run your service desk. The real question is who controls it
Search after SEO: Anna Harrison on staying visible in the AI era
How to meet APRA's demands for improved AI security
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
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Generative AI News
Australia tops Claude usage per capita, Anthropic says
Australian users are leaning on Claude far more than expected, with Anthropic saying adoption is more than six times population norms.
The Essential Eight is being retired, here's what that means for your cyber programme
Organisations will need to widen cyber planning beyond a checklist as Australia moves to replace the Essential Eight with risk-based Essentials guidance.
Urbsurf lifts bookings with redesigned online system
Higher conversion and fewer abandoned carts are boosting URBNSURF's online sales after a simpler booking flow cut checkout time by 31%.
Australian office staff flout AI rules, study finds
Many workers are risking disciplinary action by feeding customer data and confidential files into public AI tools, the survey found.
BrightHR invests AUD $1 million in compliance tool
With Fair Work and award queries making up 27% of client calls, BrightHR is betting employers will pay for help avoiding costly compliance mistakes.
Nine signs Microsoft Copilot deal for Australian news
Australian readers will see Copilot responses grounded in Nine's mastheads, with snippets and links back to the original reporting.
AI is already running inside the enterprise. Is Australia ready?
Australian firms are using AI at scale, but many lack the visibility to stop shadow tools, agentic access and rising incidents.
Australian banks lag on strict DMARC email protection
Most customers still face avoidable phishing risk, as 59% of Australian banks lack the strict DMARC setting that blocks spoofed emails.
Marketers lag as agentic AI surges across industry
Many marketers are still unclear how to use agentic AI, even as pilots remain limited and governance questions grow across the industry.
LegalVision warns firms on single AI provider risks
Australian firms using AI for core operations risk disruption unless they secure contracts, governance and backup plans, LegalVision says.
Hays warns of AI training gap in Australia tech jobs
Only 22% of tech staff have formal AI training, leaving Australian employers exposed to skills gaps as adoption races ahead.
Australian IT leaders say data gaps stall AI scale
A lack of live data infrastructure is leaving most Australian IT leaders unable to scale AI, according to new research from Confluent.
Australian firms boost AI spend despite weak returns
One in three firms overshot AI budgets last year, yet only 8% track revenue or productivity gains, exposing weak returns.
Elsevier adds StudyFinder AI to ClinicalKey Student
Medical students in the UK, Australia and New Zealand will now get AI search with citations, as publishers try to curb unverified answers.
Agentic AI will soon run your service desk. The real question is who controls it
The shift to AI that can act, not just summarise, raises new questions over auditability, data residency and who controls operations.
Australian brands urged to rethink loyalty schemes
Strained household budgets and rising use of AI search are forcing brands to offer clearer value if they want Australians to stay loyal.
Logitech unveils workplace devices amid AI work shift
Productivity gains are lagging as Australian workers spend longer at work, prompting Logitech to pitch devices that ease mobility and presentation stress.
Adobe signs five-year RACQ AI partnership with Deloitte
RACQ's member services will be reshaped by Adobe's AI tools under a five-year deal that also gives Deloitte Digital implementation control.
Holding Redlich expands Legora AI across legal teams
The rollout could speed up contract review and deal due diligence for the firm's Property and Corporate & Commercial lawyers.
Ion files patent to block harmful AI video at source
Unsafe AI-generated clips could be stopped before playback under Ion's Australian patent filing, aimed at blocking deepfakes and other harmful video at source.
Job Moves
Kablamo appoints Troy Bebee to lead Google Cloud push
CommBank appoints first Chief AI Scientist in Australia
Cevo hires former Macquarie AI leader to head AI adoption
Willis names Leah Mooney as Pacific consulting head for cyber risk
Quanton appoints Chris Wyman to lead Australia growth push
Blue Connections IT appoints new Head of Microsoft and Cloud
Litera appoints Avaneesh Marwaha as new CEO
CI&T Australia hires new leads for data & cloud practices
