Microsoft Envision AI roadshow: Unveiling generative AI's impact in NZ

The recently held Microsoft Envision AI Roadshow in Auckland delved into the swiftly growing popularity of generative AI, its impact so far, and what the future holds for this technological revolution. The event took place from 10th to 12th April at Auckland's Crowne Plaza Hotel and was well-attended by hundreds of business executives eager to understand how this disruptive technology could be integrated into their day-to-day operations.

The distinctive edge that generative AI holds over other technological revolutions was aptly summarised by Microsoft's Director of Product Management, Aaron Bjork, "If we'd invited you to hear about it just 18 months ago, no one would have come. No one would have heard of ChatGPT. Now we have a full house."

Situating AI at the core of diverse business use-cases from chatbots and image analytics to even determining how much blue cheese customers left on their plates, New Zealand businesses are piloting the effective application of Copilot fundamentally. Bjork continued, "The ability to summarise lots of information has been particularly game-changing, all without having to learn a new programming language or buy any new technology – because AI is coming to the technologies we already use".

The testimonies delivered by key Kiwi enterprises indicated the broad application and potential of generative AI. Fonterra, Mitre 10, and Genesis Energy shared their experiences of early adoption of this technology. Genesis Energy elaborated on the promising results yielded by incorporating Copilot for Microsoft 365 into several work areas, resulting in each team member saving between 1 and 5 hours each week.

The company's Service Provider Outcomes Manager, Josh Mackenzie, highlighted a practical application of Copilot. A task requiring the analysis of more than 100 data tables to validate discounts for customers that traditionally involved a couple of weeks by the data team could be accomplished by a new worker within a day by merely typing a question.

The keynote speaker, Vanessa Sorenson, emphasised the potential of Copilot to level the playing field by enabling digital technology access to more New Zealanders who previously might have perceived such technology as beyond their reach. She commented optimistically on AI's potential to address not just productivity challenges but also social inequities.

The significant partnership between Microsoft's Straker AI and media organisation Stuff, which facilitated news content translation into Te Reo Māori at scale, was highlighted as a bright example of using AI for social advancement. With the arrival of the convergence of generative AI and Microsoft's local data centre this year, the stakeholders affirm that this is merely the beginning of the AI revolution.

Sorensen concluded with a forward-looking statement, calling on all attendees to embrace the future: "My key message to everyone here is – don't miss out. This isn't going away."