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
Australia lags on AI governance as adoption races ahead
Only 22% of Australian organisations say they are ready to govern AI safely, as spending and use surge across daily operations.
Professor Girish Dwivedi wins WA Pearcey entrepreneur award
The accolade highlights Western Australia's growing health-tech sector, with his AI cardiac diagnostics work spanning hospitals, universities and start-ups.
Bailey Abbott lands AI deal with three Adelaide councils
Residents could see faster council services as three Adelaide local authorities test AI under a four-year partnership with Bailey Abbott.
Robotic Marketer launches all-in-one marketing platform
By tying strategy to revenue outcomes, the platform aims to help mid-sized firms prove marketing's return and cut tool sprawl.
Australian clinicians use AI to cut paperwork load
Paperwork is driving rapid adoption, with most Australian clinicians using AI daily and many doing so without formal guidance.
Australia creates Office of AI under Prime Minister
The new framework puts AI policy at the centre of Canberra's productivity and security agenda as businesses brace for tighter governance.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to Generative AI
Gartner forecasts AI spending to hit USD $64bn in 2026
Google named Gartner conversational AI leader again
NTT DATA named market shaper in Gartner physical AI
Deepfake fraud attacks rise 180% as identity checks fail
SnapLogic launches SnapCode for Claude Code integration
Featured News
Meet the man behind the Saas-Pocalypse: Emergent's Mukund Jha
The new cash will help Emergent broaden from coding tools into an operating system for small and medium businesses as demand surges.
SonicWall boosts endpoint security for SMBs and mid-market
SMBs and mid-market firms facing AI-driven attacks are set for tighter device controls as SonicWall prepares a new endpoint security product.
Resilience over prevention as AI reshapes security landscape
Rising ransomware speed is pushing ANZ firms to increase spending on recovery strategies as AI gives attackers new ways in.
Check Point: Be the best, or get out the way
Rising AI-driven attacks are compel security buyers to cut vendor sprawl, though Check Point warns over-consolidation can still raise risk.
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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
Networks take the wheel as AI moves from hype to reality
AI deserves our appreciation, but only if we're honest about what we're appreciating
5 Data & AI governance trends every CDO should be watching in 2026
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
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent Generative AI News
Indeed launches AI career scout for Australian jobseekers
Australian jobseekers are being given free AI guidance as tougher labour market conditions leave many unsure which roles they can land.
Microsoft backs Australian Government AI framework
Backing from a major tech investor strengthens Canberra's push for central AI rules as businesses seek clarity and Australians weigh safeguards.
AI reshapes data & cyber risk for Australian firms
Boards are being pushed to rethink data platforms and cyber controls as AI adoption exposes Australian firms to faster attacks and stricter governance demands.
Zip finds Australians use AI to guide shopping choices
Nearly half of Zip's Australian customers now use AI to compare and research purchases, but most still want to make the final call themselves.
Audible announces Marc Fennell AI series on human impact
The six-part series explores how artificial intelligence is reshaping grief, love and identity through human stories rather than technical debate.
OpenAI runs AI workshop for public servants in Canberra
Public servants tested ChatGPT and Codex on drafting and research, as agencies weigh whether AI can speed up routine work without losing human oversight.
ESGAgent.ai raises seed funding to automate compliance
Rising reporting and safety demands are creating demand for software that can replace spreadsheets and consultants in heavy industry.
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.
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.
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
