Kia ora,
Is 2025 the year of the AI agent, or will their rise be just another milestone in AI’s evolution? The fast pace of innovation makes predictions risky, but one thing is clear: as AI agents move from experimental tech to practical business tools, their impact will be undeniable.
No looking back!
The ability for businesses and organisations to ignore AI vanished in late 2024. The widespread unofficial adoption of AI tools is outpacing formal governance. Without guidance on safe usage and relevant toolsets, organisations risk losing both data and intellectual property (IP) through unmanaged AI adoption. We continue to support Aotearoa New Zealand in harnessing AI responsibly to enable a prosperous, inclusive and equitable future. Revisit our existing toolkits and watch for new resources coming soon.
Executive Council news
- Welcome back: Prof Albert Bifet and Anshuman Bannerjee (Spark NZ)
- New members: Ana Ivanovic-Tongue (academyEx), Adarsh Pagolu (Google), Craig Pattison and Brandon Hutcheson (Aware Group). Brandon recently spoke about Aotearoa’s risk averse approach to AI. Read more.
- New Deputy Chair: Mahsa McCauley (Mohaghegh). Congratulations!
AI Blueprint progress
Earlier this month we released our six monthly update, reporting on our overall progress and key developments across each of our six focus sectors; AEC, agriculture, creative industries, education, environment and health.
AI and Productivity
We’re launching the results of our second research survey at events in Auckland (31 March) and Wellington (2 April). Registrations open soon.
Every six months, this independent research carried out by our partners at Victoria University captures how AI is evolving across the country – benchmarking progress, uncovering new insights and tracking shifts in how AI shapes industries and sectors in Aotearoa.
Creatives are taking over the world!
Following our landmark 2024 event on AI in Creative Industries, we’re expanding the conversation during Techweek25. Our two-day summit in Auckland and Wellington features international experts exploring AI’s impact on creative workflows, copyright implications and emerging opportunities. Plus, showcase your AI-powered creativity at our inaugural 1 minute AI film festival. Submit a short film demonstrating innovative uses of AI in filmmaking, animation and visual storytelling. We can’t wait to view your entries.
In other news:
- Ready to become an AI governance leader? Learn how.
- Entries for the NZ Hi-Tech Awards close on 3 March.
- Join TechWomenNZ and celebrate International Women’s Day on 5 March.
- Chris Mattman was a member of our 2024 Executive Council and here are a couple of his predictions for 2025:
– Universal translation goes mainstream! Has version 1 of Douglas Adam’s Babel Fish finally arrived? New AI-powered earbuds offer instant translation across multiple languages at affordable prices.
– AI-robotics convergence accelerates: as costs decrease and capabilities expand, AI -powered robots are moving beyond controlled environments and into real-world applications, signalling a new era in autonomous systems.
Save the date for our AI Hackathon
Our popular hackathon festival returns for another year. We’re creating meaningful impact and solving real-world problems with AI. Save the date 14-17 August in Auckland, Waikato, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin.
We continue to encourage AI adoption and have numerous opportunities to be involved. Help shape Aotearoa’s AI future through our seven working groups.
We’re also championing prototypes like our LLM living white paper and further developments in our AI Governance toolkits. Your expertise and involvement helps build a more inclusive AI ecosystem.
Ngā mihi
Madeline Newman
Executive Director, AI Forum NZ
Read full news here: AI agents mean business now!
