Academic warns over using AI to reduce costs of Regulatory Standards Bill
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RNZ News
2 days ago
- RNZ News
Our Changing World: The dance of the lanternfish
Spinycheek lanternfish (Benthosema fibulatum). Photo: Scott and Jeanette Johnson / uwkwaj via iNaturalist (CC BY-NC 4.0). In World War II, naval sonar operators spotted something strange: a 'false seafloor' hundreds of metres below the surface of the water, that mysteriously moved closer to the surface at night. They named it the 'deep scattering layer'. It turned out that the scattering was due to a massive concentration of marine life. Their movement is the largest daily animal migration on earth, involving trillions of critters. Now researchers are investigating the part this commute plays in controlling the oceanic food web, and in the carbon cycle. Follow Our Changing World on Apple , Spotify , iHeartRadio or wherever you listen to your podcasts It's a tough life in the ocean, says Victoria University of Wellington fish ecologist Professor Jeff Shima. "It's been described as kind of a landscape of fear. Everything's trying to eat everything else and you're trying to eat things but not be eaten yourself." Professor Jeff Shima holds up some lanternfish. Photo: Claire Concannon / RNZ His work on reef fish life cycles has led him to investigate the lanternfish family of fishes. These anchovy-sized, deep-sea fish are so-named because of their light-producing organs on their belly and sides called photophores. With about 250 species in the family, they are found in deep water across the globe, in huge abundances. They make up around 65 percent of the deep-sea fish biomass and are a main player in the deep scattering layer. To navigate the 'landscape of fear' they make a daily vertical migration. Each night they rise from the twilight zone of the ocean (200-1000 metres below) to feed near the surface on smaller prey like phytoplankton, zooplankton and tiny fish larvae. When the sun rises, they retreat to the depths, avoiding predators by matching their belly glow to the ambient light above, effectively making themselves invisible. A lanternfish in the family Myctophidae. Photo: Steven Haddock/Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute While working on reef fish life cycles, Jeff was puzzled to discover that growth rates of larval fish seemed to follow a lunar cycle. Exploring this further has led him to study lanternfish, whose migration is highly sensitive to moonlight. Passing clouds or different moon phases can influence how far lanternfish travel upward. If it's too bright, they stay deeper to avoid being seen, potentially shifting the behaviour of other species - especially the larvae of reef fish trying to return to the reef under cover of darkness. A variety of reef fish larvae and lanternfish collected in overnight nets. Photo: Alisha Gill / Niamh Smith Reef fish hatch offshore and spend their early lives in the open ocean before returning to the reefs as juveniles. These early stages are important, says Jeff. "If we can understand what's driving variation in the survival of baby fish while they're out at sea, that translates into big effects down the road in terms of the size of a fish population or the biomass of a fishery that we can harvest." He would like to figure out whether lanternfish movement and predation, determined by moonlight levels, is influencing when larvae make their return journey. To investigate this, PhD candidates Alisha Gill and Niamh Smith are conducting fieldwork in Moorea, French Polynesia. They use nets to capture and count overnight larval fish arrivals across the lunar cycle, while also keeping track of predator movement using sonar, moonlight levels using a sensor, and ocean conditions such as tides and wind. Alisha Gill and Niamh Smith in French Polynesia. Photo: Alisha Gill Because of their massive numbers, lanternfish might also play a crucial role in carbon sequestration and global climate regulation. Carbon from the atmosphere enters the ocean at the surface - including when phytoplankton photosynthesise, converting sunlight and carbon dioxide into food. By consuming carbon-rich prey at the surface and then moving downwards - where they might release waste or become prey themselves - lanternfish could help transport carbon to the ocean depths much faster than if it simply drifted downwards. Though a lot of carbon is recycled to the surface by ocean currents, if carbon-containing material reaches the seabed floor it can get buried in sediments and locked away for a long time. School of lanternfish. Photo: OAR/National Undersea Research Program (NURP) However, there's a lot of uncertainty about this process. Lanternfish are fragile and hard to keep alive in labs, making direct study difficult, says Jeff. Instead, the team is analysing the fish's ear bones (otoliths), which store daily chemical records, offering clues about their movements and metabolism. From predator-prey dynamics to climate science, the researchers hope their work will lead to better understanding of how these tiny fish are shaping our oceans. Sign up to the Our Changing World monthly newsletter for episode backstories, science analysis and more.
Techday NZ
6 days ago
- Techday NZ
Sinch launches Model Context Protocol to drive AI messaging
Sinch has launched its implementation of the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing artificial intelligence agents to initiate compliant, real-time telecommunications activities across messaging, voice, email, and verification channels via standardised interfaces. The MCP is an emerging protocol intended to standardise how AI agents interact with various systems and services. Sinch's deployment of the protocol is designed to give AI agents the ability to carry out communications tasks directly through its platform. These tasks range from orchestrating marketing campaigns to client notifications, identity verification processes, and customer service handling. AI-driven communications According to Sinch, MCP is engineered to manage AI-scale communication volumes, suitable for tasks demanding rapid, automated interaction rather than the slower cadence typically associated with human-initiated communications. The implementation supports integration with AI tools, including OpenAI SDK, Claude, and Microsoft's Azure AI, and is delivered with compliance and security protocols incorporated as standard. The company states that MCP helps support a broad transition away from traditional brand-centric applications to direct communication channels between enterprises and their customers. Sinch currently manages over 900 billion customer interactions each year for 175,000 businesses in more than 60 countries, providing messaging, voice, email, and verification services, and drawing upon its local compliance and routing expertise. Global scale and expertise Sinch customers have already begun to report outcomes claimed to result from the shift towards AI-assisted engagement. For example, a global insurer has been able to autonomously process 80% of customer enquiries across 125 languages, while a retail client achieved tripled engagement by integrating conversational AI with Rich Communication Services (RCS). The company issued data from its State of Customer Communications Report suggesting that 95% of businesses are currently using or planning to utilise AI in customer communications. Research from IDC projects that the global AI platforms market will reach USD $153.0 billion by 2028. MCP implementation details Through its new MCP server, now available in developer preview with Claude, Sinch is providing a mechanism for AI agents to understand the requirements of different communication actions. The server allows agents to determine which channel should be used, how messages should be formatted for different jurisdictions, which regulatory rules apply, and how to ensure successful delivery. Sinch notes that these capabilities are accessible via a range of tools, including development environments like Cursor and frameworks such as OpenAI Agents SDK, as well as platforms like AgenticFlow and Microsoft Azure AI Foundry. "AI is transforming how businesses communicate, and Sinch has the proven infrastructure to make it work at scale," said Robert Gerstmann, Chief Evangelist and Co-Founder at Sinch. "With MCP, we're codifying decades of communications expertise into protocols that AI agents can understand, teaching them the specific requirements, compliance rules, and best practices needed for each use case and region. What matters most happens behind the scenes; guaranteeing delivery, maintaining quality, navigating compliance, and preventing fraud. We've spent decades perfecting these operational fundamentals that make AI-powered communications actually work." Strategic partnerships The MCP protocol is part of Sinch's broader strategic approach to AI communications. Alongside established integrations with OpenAI and Anthropic, Sinch also provides routing systems and conversational AI functionality, intending to offer enterprises a comprehensive platform for deploying AI-assisted communication strategies. Sinch's partnerships span a variety of major technology companies. It is an Adobe Platinum Partner and has links with Salesforce Agentforce and Microsoft Dynamics Customer Insights, which the company reports strengthens its position within the enterprise AI communications landscape. "At Sinch we are pioneering the way the world communicates, and our MCP implementation represents the next evolution of that mission," said Laurinda Pang, CEO of Sinch. "Through the expansion of native AI capabilities and partnerships, we're equipping organizations with unprecedented capabilities to connect with customers anywhere, anytime, through any channel. We envision a world where every business, regardless of size or technical sophistication, can harness the power of intelligent communications to keep their customers engaged, informed, safe, and happy."
Techday NZ
6 days ago
- Techday NZ
AI revolution brings innovation & anxiety across global sectors
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is swiftly transforming the way businesses operate, heightening both innovation and complexity across sectors. As AI Appreciation Day brings global attention to these advances, industry leaders across the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region and beyond are urging organisations to not only recognise AI's achievements but also navigate its associated challenges with care, strategy, and inclusivity. AI - not just a tool but a vital resource Daniel Hein, Field CTO at Informatica Asia Pacific and Japan, highlights the rapid adoption of Generative AI in APAC, noting the region's ambition to stay ahead on the global stage. "AI goes beyond just a tool – it's a vital resource. It supports smarter adaptation measures, accelerates resilience planning, and fosters inclusive innovation that transcends industries and national boundaries," says Hein. He outlines the influence of Agentic AI in optimising decision-making for sectors such as energy and finance, while Generative AI is democratising problem-solving, empowering even non-technical users. However, Hein stresses that organisations must strengthen data foundations and prioritise continuous upskilling, especially in AI literacy. "Investing in strong data infrastructure and continuous upskilling is critical to fully harness AI's capabilities and future-proof organisations," he advises. AI extends beyond productivity gains AI's influence extends well beyond productivity gains. In cybersecurity, Bernard Montel, EMEA Technical Director and Security Strategist at Tenable, describes how AI is integral to modern defence strategies. Montel points to the technology's ability to analyse vast datasets, automate threat detection, and maintain secure systems. He emphasises that AI should be viewed as an augmenting tool, not a replacement for human talent. "This means designing systems where AI handles repetitive tasks, freeing humans to focus on complex problem-solving, innovation, and ethical oversight," Montel explains. Yet, as AI grows in sophistication, so do the threats. The proliferation of AI-generated deepfakes and automated malware has heightened the need for robust cyber defence strategies, including exposure management and comprehensive employee training. Montel urges organisations to embrace ethical AI development and continued vigilance to unlock the technology's full potential while protecting digital infrastructure. The benefit and risk of AI development The software development sector has also felt AI's rapid impact. Nick Durkin, Field CTO at Harness, acknowledges the increased speed of code generation delivered by AI, but warns of a wider 'blast radius' of errors if flawed AI-generated code enters production. "Generating code is easy, but getting it safely into production is the hard part," Durkin notes. He advocates for embedding AI throughout the software delivery lifecycle, not just in code writing, to support higher-quality and safer software deployments. Meanwhile, Michael Bachman, Head of Architecture and AI Strategy at Boomi Innovation Group, points to the emergence of the "Agent Economy," in which autonomous AI agents operate across platforms. With the increasing complexity and the risk of "agent sprawl," Bachman stresses the necessity for a centralised framework to govern AI agents and manage their interactions safely and effectively. AI adoption grows, but anxiety remains The legal field is no exception to AI's reach. Jennifer Poon, Legal Solutions Director at NetDocuments, observes that lawyers themselves are now leading technology adoption, recognising AI's potential to boost productivity by automating routine work. She recommends integrating AI directly into the workflows and systems lawyers already use, ensuring the technology enhances precision and security without disrupting established protocols. Model Context Protocol (MCP), described by Mehdi Goodarzi, Global Head – GenAI Consulting at Hexaware Technologies, offers a promising way to scale AI responsibly across enterprises. MCP enables large language models and agents to share context and interact "intelligently" across platforms, but Goodarzi highlights the need for ongoing development of governance and privacy standards as the technology matures. Despite the enthusiasm among business leaders, research from WalkMe has uncovered significant employee anxiety about AI adoption. Vivek Behl, VP Strategy, warns that many workers, especially from younger generations, feel overwhelmed and left behind by the swift arrival of new tools. Survey data from WalkMe and Opinium indicates that 71% of UK office workers feel new AI tools are being introduced faster than they can learn to use them, while nearly half report feeling more worried than excited about AI at work. Behl calls on organisations to focus on employee experience and support, warning that "digital adoption isn't just a nice-to-have – it's now essential to realising AI's full value." Ensuring that employees are comfortable and proficient with new tools is crucial to embedding AI successfully and mitigating risks associated with rapid technological change. Success isn't measured by innovation alone, but responsible integration As AI matures, its appreciation day serves as a timely reminder: success is not measured by technological innovation alone, but by an organisation's ability to integrate AI responsibly, support its workforce, and safeguard against new risks. The coming years will likely see even more transformative opportunities - and challenges - as businesses seek to balance AI's promise with prudent governance and a focus on human-centred values.
