待翻译：Many businesses using AI to save time, but do they know what they're doing?

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3 August 2026, 3:25pm Many businesses using AI to save time, but do they know what they're doing? Caption:Many small and medium businesses were turning to AI in the workplace. (File photo)Photo credit:J Studios Small businesses are experimenting with artificial intelligence (AI), but many are still learning by trial and error, according to technology firms HP and Xero. The companies said AI could help tackle New Zealand's long-running productivity problem, but only if firms build trust in the technology and put basic rules around how it is used. Xero's research found almost two-thirds of small and medium businesses were already using AI, while 64 percent of those using it said it had saved them time, with an average reported saving of about one working day. But the research also found businesses were still worried about privacy, security, whether AI answers were accurate, and finding the time to set up tools properly. James Bergin, Xero's executive general manager of technology research and advocacy, said small firms using AI were reporting productivity gains, even if those benefits were not yet showing clearly across the wider economy. Bergin said the research showed strong interest in AI, but many firms were still trying it out for themselves and needed practical guidance. HP New Zealand managing director Shannon Harris said businesses did not necessarily need lengthy policy documents before getting benefits from AI, but they did need simple rules covering security, governance and appropriate use. "I'm talking guardrails and frameworks over 50-page policy documentation," she said. She said clear rules should help businesses use AI rather than slow them down, particularly where they were handling sensitive customer or financial information. Bergin said businesses also needed to understand the limits of different AI tools, particularly where accuracy mattered, because some tools gave likely answers rather than verified facts. Xero called this "accountable intelligence", Bergin said, using AI to handle routine tasks and point to useful information, while business owners or advisers remained responsible for the final decision. They said getting the rules and training right mattered because productivity remained a key economic challenge for New Zealand, underpinning living standards, competitiveness and the ability of businesses to grow. Bergin said the next challenge was not simply accessing more AI capability, but turning what was already available into practical use. Harris said turning AI into genuinely useful tools required a clear understanding of the business problem and human judgement about the results. Confidence would be critical if small firms were to move from experimenting with AI to using it in ways that supported growth, Harris said. "What is going to be possible if we can remove all of this really low-value work that we're doing?" she said. "How could we use the same number of people to grow faster, reach customers sooner or build exports?" Harris said anything that helped businesses build confidence, simplify adoption and reduce low-value administrative work could be a "game changer" for New Zealand. 3 August 2026, 3:25pm More Business View all Business articles Who's feeling job market recovery? And where has downturn hit hardest? More people 'thinking twice' before borrowing for non-essentials - Centrix Demand for Singapore travel on the rise amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East Briscoe Group's sales grow for third consecutive quarter More News View RNZ homepage Oranga Tamariki office blasted over baby's death also managed Tom Phillips case Six things to know about infrared workouts – by a fitness expert No need for Luxon to apologise over Rotorua business meeting comments, mayor says MetService warns motorists of snow on roads