The Ultimate Guide to AI Agents
A curated Australian edition of TechDay news, analysis, interviews, reviews, job moves, and related resources for AI Agents (Agentic AI).
What to know about AI Agents
AI agents represent a transformative area within artificial intelligence, focusing on autonomous or semi-autonomous systems capable of performing complex tasks and making decisions to enhance business operations and personal productivity.
Our recent stories highlight how AI agents are rapidly evolving across sectors—from cybersecurity and data management to customer experience and enterprise automation. Companies are integrating AI agents to improve efficiency, drive innovation, and manage security risks in increasingly sophisticated ways.
By exploring these developments, readers can gain insights into the potential benefits, emerging applications, and challenges associated with AI agent deployment. Whether you're interested in how AI agents enhance software development, automate workflows, or secure enterprise environments, this tag offers a comprehensive look at this dynamic and impactful technology.
Australian AI Agents News
Regional stories with direct local relevance
Australian cloud spending to hit AUD $33.6bn in 2026
AI workloads and cost controls are set to push Australian public cloud spending up 17.9% to AUD $33.6 billion in 2026.
Exclusive: Arctic Wolf builds out agentic security
Arctic Wolf expands its Agentic SOC as AI speeds attacks and shadow AI risks, with President, Technology and Services Dan Schiappa backing human oversight.
OpenAI adds Chrome extension to Codex as Australia surges
Rising Australian demand is driving wider take-up of OpenAI's Codex, as the coding agent gains Chrome access for signed-in work across web apps.
KnowBe4 adds AI secure coding training with partner
Organisations using AI-assisted development can now get specialist secure coding training as KnowBe4 expands its library for technical teams.
Experts warn passwords no longer sufficient in AI era
Australian firms are being urged to adopt passwordless logins as AI tools and data leakage make stolen credentials easier to exploit.
Rubrik warns AI agents outpace security guardrails
Most Australian firms expect AI agents to outrun security controls within a year, as only 22 per cent say they can fully see them.
Analyst Insights
Research and market analysis connected to AI Agents
Atera offers fee-free Robin if AI misses support target
Celonis tops Gartner's 2026 process intelligence ranking
Australian cloud spending to hit AUD $33.6bn in 2026
Cognizant launches Secure AI Services for enterprises
Gartner: AI layoffs do not improve returns on investment
Featured News
Exclusive: Arctic Wolf builds out agentic security
Arctic Wolf expands its Agentic SOC as AI speeds attacks and shadow AI risks, with President, Technology and Services Dan Schiappa backing human oversight.
AI agents multiply risk, says DigiCert chief product officer
Many firms cannot see where their AI agents are, leaving identity, policy and supply-chain risks to grow as deployments scale.
'Self-learning' AI big boon for Qualtrics' CX
Companies using AI for customer experience are cutting churn and lifting revenue, with Qualtrics saying richer feedback can triple insights.
Exclusive: Denodo's Dominic Sartorio on perfect data vs the right data
Trust in enterprise AI is being undermined as Denodo research finds most firms still lack live, context-aware data for production use.
Google Cloud CEO sets out enterprise AI agent plan
Enterprises will get one place to build, govern and run AI agents, as Google Cloud expands Gemini Enterprise across models, data and security.
Google flags urgency as AI reshapes cyber threats
Patching delays now carry greater risk as Google says AI is helping attackers scale intrusions, speed up breaches and automate operations.
Exclusive: Google Cloud reshaping finance with agentic AI
Banks must move beyond isolated pilots if they want agentic AI to deliver enterprise-wide gains, Google Cloud says.
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: 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.
Google sees retail success with agentic commerce push
Retailers are using Google’s new AI suite to speed up shopping and support, with Bunnings already live and UCP adoption starting to grow.
Netskope's Tony Burnside - visibility is key to AI security
AI tools are creating hidden east-west traffic that security teams struggle to monitor, raising the risk of data leakage and compromise.
Exclusive: Celonis global banking head says AI rollout hinges on process intelligence
Banks risk wasting AI spending unless they first map how work really flows, as Celonis says process intelligence is becoming phase zero.
Great Southern Grammar embraces AI to boost high-impact teaching
Battery-strapped students at Great Southern Grammar are gaining more classroom time after a Surface laptop rollout cut device downtime and boosted AI use.
Zetifi's connectivity solutions drive fleet and worker safety
Remote crews can now stay connected and monitored through Zetifi’s multi-network system, reducing risk and unnecessary check-ins in the field.
Exclusive: Orderfox pushes into autonomous execution with Gieni ABX
Orderfox launches Gieni ABX on Microsoft Azure to push industrial AI beyond insights, automating workflows across enterprise systems with governance.
UiPath Accelerates AI in Software Development and Testing
UiPath is pushing AI deeper into software testing, promising autonomous agents that transform quality assurance and developers' roles.
Cloudera and Svitla Systems bring trusted AI to healthcare
Cloudera and Svitla team up to build trusted, clinician‑centric AI that unifies patient data while safeguarding privacy and consent.
Rise of AI Agents introduces new infosec risk: Okta
Okta warns that surging numbers of uncontrolled AI agents pose a major identity and access risk as they become the new digital workforce.
Confluent says data streaming will enable faster, better decisions
Confluent says organisations must shift to governed data streaming, with AI agents making millisecond decisions at scale.
Elastic says AI search & context now decide customer loyalty
Elastic argues that in an AI-obsessed market, robust search across messy data is the real foundation of trustworthy, profitable experiences.
'Software is not dead', says Elastic CPO Ken Exner
Elastic's Ken Exner insists “software is not dead” as the firm touts AI-powered search, context engineering and new agent-building tools.
Guidewire showcases GenAI's capabilities in insurance risks
Guidewire touts 'insurance-grade AI' as it uses generative tools to speed risk, claims and pricing decisions for cautious insurers.
Composable, process‑aware AI key to enterprise ROI
Process intelligence and composable architecture are emerging as the missing ingredients to turn fragile AI pilots into resilient, traceable value.
Reviews
Expert Columns
AI shopping boom puts checkout under pressure
Is your data ready for AI? 5 steps before deploying an agent
Your website is being read by AI - and you're probably invisible to it
The death of the backlink: Why PR is now the most powerful SEO tool you have
Digital Twins and CNC: Simulating before you vut
Spinning to success: MAAP CFO reveals growth strategy with Annexa
Why runtime identity is emerging as the next cybersecurity imperative
Proof beats promise: The trust crisis AI is creating
Mythos changes everything: Is your AI agent security ready?
The autonomous SOC: A dangerous illusion as firms shift to human-led AI security
Interviews
Interviews and video coverage from the networkRecent AI Agents News
Commerce unveils AI-led eCommerce & payments updates
Merchants are set to gain faster checkout, broader payment options and AI shopping tools as Commerce expands its platform updates.
Your website is being read by AI - and you're probably invisible to it
Australian businesses risk vanishing from search as AI tools replace blue links with one answer, cutting clicks and reshaping discovery.
Cloudwerx appoints Harsh Mishra to lead SA market expansion
Cloudwerx is chasing demand from defence, energy and government clients as it opens in Adelaide and broadens its national transformation team.
Skailed launches automated FAQ tool for eCommerce pages
Retailers with sprawling catalogues can now automate product FAQs, reducing manual content work while boosting page visibility for shoppers.
Millennials trust AI more than Gen Z, survey finds
Australians are using AI heavily, but most still want clear labelling and sourcing before they trust its search and shopping advice.
The death of the backlink: Why PR is now the most powerful SEO tool you have
AI search is turning brand coverage into a direct driver of discoverability, making earned media far more valuable than backlinks for buyers.
Digital Twins and CNC: Simulating before you vut
Avoiding costly crashes and scrap, manufacturers are using live machine data to test CNC jobs virtually before a single cut is made.
BeyondTrust expands identity security insights to Australia
Local firms in regulated sectors can now keep identity security data onshore as scrutiny over machine and AI access intensifies.
Nearly half of Australian firms hit by AI incidents
Most Australian security teams lack confidence their controls can spot a compromised AI system, even as firms push assistants beyond pilots.
Beam launches AI social services tools in Australia
Australia’s care providers could cut paperwork as Beam opens a Melbourne hub and rolls out AI tools already used by 75,000 workers worldwide.
Spinning to success: MAAP CFO reveals growth strategy with Annexa
Integrated finance and inventory systems are helping MAAP avoid operational drag as the cycling brand expands across eight countries.
Visa adds Australian banks to AI payments programme
Australian banks are now trialling AI-led purchases under Visa's controls, as the payments group seeks to protect consent and spending limits.
Training lags behind AI use in Australian workplaces
Only 21.1% of workers have had training, leaving many to rely on generative AI at work while still worrying about errors and poor output.
Retail tops Australia’s customer service contacts
Poor service is driving customers away, with 45% of Australians saying one bad retail interaction would make them avoid a retailer.
NAB creates first AI Science team, appoints George Mathews
The bank is formalising its AI push with specialist in-house skills to build and test systems safely for customer use.
Microsoft to invest AUD $25 billion in Australia AI push
The three-year spend will expand local cloud capacity, boost cyber defences and train millions of workers as demand for AI grows.
Samsung launches 2026 TVs & audio range in Australia
More Australian buyers can now get AI-powered TV features, as Samsung broadens glare-free, art-focused and ultra-large screens across its 2026 range.
AI agents set to wipe out middle managers, says Quanton chief
Australian firms may soon run with far fewer managers as AI agents take over tasks once done by lawyers and analysts.
AI search threatens Australian retailers, warns Megantic
Australian retailers risk being overlooked as shoppers increasingly use AI tools to research and buy products without visiting brand websites.
SiteMinder expands hotel platform for AI booking channels
Travellers could soon book rooms inside chatbots as SiteMinder taps AI assistants to drive live hotel rates and reservations.
Job Moves
Cloudwerx appoints Harsh Mishra to lead SA market expansion
Prophet strengthens AI team with key engineering hires
Prophet names Rachel Scott as Head of Marketing Science
VentureCrowd appoints Jesse Arundell to lead agentic AI drive
JAGGAER names first Chief Digital & AI Officer to boost platform
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