5 Aug 2026
The most significant shift in AI conversations during 2026 may not be the latest tools, but the growing focus on governance, assurance and responsible deployment. As AI becomes increasingly embedded in engineering practice, questions of oversight, accountability and verification are becoming just as important as capability. So how can you stay up to date?
Upcoming AI webinars and workshops
Build your AI capability, dive into some strong learning opportunities coming up over the next few months.
Engineering New Zealand webinars
Coming up in August, our fourth Panel Q&A webinar will explore Preparing for an AI Enabled Future: How Universities Are Responding to Rapid Technological Change. Five University of Canterbury lecturers will discuss how they are responding to the opportunities and challenges AI brings for engineering education, teaching and the future workforce.
In September the Electrical Engineering Group are hosting the webinar AI as a productivity tool in an electricity utility: A personal journey. Dan Martin, Chartered Professional Engineer at Essential Energy, will share practical examples of using AI to support everyday engineering tasks, including analysis, coding, reporting and asset management. He will also discuss the governance, risks and professional responsibilities that engineers need to consider when using AI in practice.
If you missed our July webinar, From Quick Wins to Bigger Projects: AI Inside a New Zealand Surveying and Engineering Firm, it is now available on our website. The session explores how AI is being used in practice inside a New Zealand business and will be especially valuable for engineers who are past the “what is AI?” stage and are now asking how to apply it in a practical, controlled and worthwhile way.
AI Forum NZ webinars and case studies
The AI Forum’s AEC Working Group continues to produce practical material for people working in engineering and the built environment.
The AI Forum is seeking feedback on how AI is being used across the architecture, engineering and construction sector. This short AI in AEC survey takes around five minutes to complete and will help build a clearer picture of current attitudes, adoption and emerging issues in practice. Responses can be anonymous and will help inform future industry insights, Knowledge Hub content and research, the survey is open until Saturday 15 August.
Future proofing your AI strategy development is the final webinar in the AEC working group AI strategy series. The session on Friday 7 August will explore how to develop an AI roadmap, make informed build versus buy decisions, measure AI maturity and prepare organisations for emerging technologies such as robotics and IoT.
Engineering and Aotearoa related AI developments
AI research moves into aquaculture and materials engineering. New Zealand researchers are applying AI and machine learning to practical challenges including aquaculture and materials science. A recent national workshop highlighted how explainable AI, evolutionary computing and data-driven methods are moving into fields with direct relevance to engineering and primary industries.
Calls grow for national rules on AI data centres. The debate over New Zealand’s growing AI infrastructure has moved beyond the proposed Southland data centre, with the Green Party calling for a one-year pause on consenting new large-scale facilities while national rules and protections are developed. The call follows concerns about electricity and water demand, environmental effects, community consultation and the benefits these developments provide to New Zealand. The Southland proposal has already attracted significant local scrutiny, while engineers have also questioned whether existing consenting frameworks are equipped to assess the long-term resource demands of hyperscale data centres. The discussion highlights the engineering, planning and policy challenges associated with the physical infrastructure needed to support large-scale AI.
New Zealand workers are using AI, but not always openly. New research suggests New Zealand businesses may be underestimating how much AI is already being used in the workplace. More than a quarter of workers surveyed said they used AI tools without their employer knowing, while many reported feeling guilty or concerned that using AI could make them appear replaceable. The findings reinforce the need for organisations to provide clear guidance, approved tools and practical training so staff can use AI openly, responsibly and with appropriate professional oversight.
AI is changing software engineering. New research suggests AI coding assistants are changing how software engineers work, with increasing effort shifting from writing code to reviewing, testing and validating AI-generated outputs. The findings reinforce the growing importance of human oversight and quality assurance as AI becomes embedded in software development.
AI trends to watch
AI agents enter the spotlight. OpenAI's disclosure that an AI agent escaped its testing environment and accessed external systems during a cybersecurity evaluation became one of July's most discussed AI stories. The incident highlights why governance, verification and safety testing are becoming as important as AI capability itself. Read more in Ars Technica.
AI governance takes centre stage. More than 1,100 AI researchers and engineers from leading AI companies signed an open letter calling for stronger governance as AI systems become increasingly autonomous. The letter highlights a growing consensus that governance, oversight and accountability must evolve alongside AI capability.
From our AI Advisory Committee
Robotics on Richard's radar
Those of you who have been following the our AI updates, may have picked up my fascination with Boston Dynamics and their Atlas Robot. As a former Automation Engineer, I find their work in this space fascinating. The story of Boston Dynamics is covered in a 30 minute video and the latest Atlas demonstrations include balance and a World Cup cameo. However not everyone is thinking about sensible applications for robotics, here is a slightly alarming trend: Robot Fighting (recreating the movie Real Steel, for those few people who saw it.
Member spotlight: Matt Ensor
Helping the profession respond to change
AI should strengthen professional judgement, not replace it. If you’re not thinking critically, you’re using it the wrong way.
Matt's a founding member of our AI Advisory Committee, and has worked across transport engineering, research and business leadership for more than 35 years. His career has included senior roles at Beca, leading government-commissioned research and developing transport appraisal methods incorporated into national guidance.
Matt now works mainly with engineering firms, boards and professional organisations through in-house workshops on the practical and responsible use of AI. He also leads Engineering New Zealand’s AI training programme, serves on our AI Advisory Committee and teaches applied AI at the University of Auckland. His focus is helping people understand where AI can improve engineering work, where it introduces risk, and how to use it without weakening professional judgement.
Update from Blake
Following our June feature on AI Advisory Committee member Blake Harkness, he's released a video sharing practical lessons on successful AI adoption. Watch it here
Let us know what you think, what you’d like to see more of, or share a success story of your own – get in touch at ai@engineeringnz.org
