More than 80 percent of people don’t independently verify AI-generated information. As AI becomes the first place customers go for answers, that trust is creating a new challenge for New Zealand businesses.
AI is having its “peak hype” moment, but beneath the noise there is a very practical question most New Zealand business owners are asking: Will this actually help my business run better, or is it just another shiny tech distraction?
A new Kiwi software-as-a-service app is making small business ownership and success more attainable for Kiwis, regardless of business background and skillset. Afirmo is a one-stop-support-shop for small businesses and people venturing into business, and it has attracted 3500 customers in its first year. The SaaS app helps aspiring business owners (sole traders, partnerships and limited liability companies) set up a business from scratch including all the necessary business and tax registrations such as IRD, GST, NZBN, BIC, ACC Cover Plus account, as well as register as an employer and stay on top of tax obligations. The app also provides marketing tools required in the early stages of starting a business like creating a website, designing a logo and registering
The recent unintended leak of a company’s confidential source code, when a staff member used ChatGPT, is a warning to all Kiwi companies that their IP is at risk when staff use AI unchecked. Mark Presnell, managing director of Auckland eCommerce integration company Convergence, said the incident at Samsung underlines the potential perils of AI when used in a company setting. “Every company offers a point of difference because that is core to the value they add. Using AI could compromise their differentiation. “AI has seamlessly integrated into our daily work, providing solutions, speeding up processes, and aiding research. It’s a tool, much like the early mobile phones, meant to facilitate our efficiencies. However, as we once transitioned from company-monitored
New data reveals up to 132,000 Kiwi small business leaders have been targeted by cyberattacks. Now there’s a ten-part content series containing simple, low-cost insights for businesses to take action. A new study commissioned by Mastercard has unveiled the eye-opening scope of cyber-attacks among New Zealand’s small business leaders; up to 132,000 have experienced cybersecurity issues. Of those impacted, 29% claim they experienced financial losses as a result. Despite an increase in cybercrime reports last year1, over a quarter (27%) of small businesses have been forced to make cuts to cybersecurity due to rising cost pressures, with 64% claiming they are actively trying to scale down business costs amidst the cost-of-living crisis. With consumer spending declining2, small business leaders are
Hanna Metz and Tim Warren explain how AI can be employed to adapt your brand voice in just the right way. A brand voice is more than a box to tick or a guidelines pdf collecting virtual dust in a shared folder. Brand voice is a dialogue, a two-way street that forms the foundation of a lasting relationship with the audience. A brand’s voice serves as its signature tune, a melody that sets it apart in a market buzzing with diverse tunes. This voice reflects a brand’s ethos, its values, and its personality. Yet, with the drive towards personalisation, how does a brand ensure it remains authentic while simultaneously tailoring its message to resonate with diverse audiences? AI proposes a
Businesses face new challenges when building and maintaining trust in the ‘ChatGPT age’. But five key principles can help them build trust in the new technology. With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), businesses are streamlining operations, enhancing customer experiences, and even creating written and visual content that was once the sole domain of human creativity. But Kiwis are nervous about the use of AI and distrustful of companies using it. A global, 31-country survey by Ipsos in July 2023 found Kiwis are more nervous about AI and more distrustful than their global counterparts. It found only 43% of New Zealanders trust companies that use AI will protect their personal data, with a similar number (42%) saying they trust companies
Want to protect your business data? Start thinking like a cyber criminal, writes Suzy Clarke. Over the past 12 months, millions of customers around the world have been impacted by some of the biggest data breaches in history. Small businesses are particularly at risk, as they work with sensitive personal and financial information every day. October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month and a timely reminder to stay secure online. So how can you protect your business? It all starts with understanding the mindset of a cyber criminal. Who are they? What are they looking for? Why are they stealing information? And how do they get it? Who is behind a cyber attack? Despite the stereotypes, cyber criminals aren’t necessarily well-funded
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Everyone talks about the importance of business strategy, but what does it actually mean in practice? Strategy trainer Ryan Sproull cuts through the jargon to give SME owners a clear, practical framework for thinking strategically about their business.
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