New Zealand is on the edge of an AI revolution. The government’s newly released strategy “Investing with Confidence” outlines a bold vision for AI’s future in Aotearoa, including a projected $76 billion economic boost from generative AI by 2038.
While this comprehensive strategy, developed by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) highlights the immense economic potential of AI, it doesn’t shy away from the challenges ahead.
While large businesses are starting to embrace AI, many of our vital small and medium enterprises (SMEs) remain hesitant, held back by concerns around complexity, ethics, value, and skills.
At Locus, we’re thinking deeply about how AI fits into our business and the wider community. We see data as the starting point and that’s where FME comes in. With powerful data integration and transformation capabilities, FME helps remove the barriers to smart, confident AI adoption.
FME is your bridge to smarter AI adoption
The government’s strategy emphasises “smart adoption” using AI to solve uniquely Kiwi challenges in areas like agriculture, healthcare, and education. FME supports this with a practical, flexible platform that helps organisations make their data AI-ready. Here’s how:
1. Get Data Ready, Fast
AI models thrive on clean, structured data but preparing it is often the hardest part. FME connects to hundreds of formats and systems, helping you pull together data from all corners of your business into a single, AI-ready source. Whether it’s spreadsheets, databases, or cloud systems, FME simplifies the grunt work so you can focus on the insights.
2. Integrating AI into Existing Workflows
You don’t need to rebuild everything to start using AI. FME can:
- Feed clean, relevant data into AI models automatically
- Trigger AI analysis based on events or thresholds
- Distribute AI-generated insights to dashboards, teams, or databases
This means your existing workflows can become AI-enabled without disruption
3. Close the AI Skills Gap
Worried about not having AI experts on your team? FME’s low-code, visual interface empowers non-developers to build and manage complex data workflows. It’s a practical way to grow in-house capability and build confidence across your team.
4. Build Trust with Transparent AI
Responsible AI is a major focus in the strategy and rightly so. FME supports transparency with full audit trails of data transformations. You can track how data flows through your system, enhancing explainability and compliance with ethical and governance standards.
So, what does this all look like in the real world?
Here are a few possibilities:
- Agriculture: Combine data from wearable devices and pasture sensors, and use AI to improve farm productivity and environmental outcomes
- Healthcare: Securely integrate patient data across systems for AI diagnostics, all while meeting privacy and quality standards
- Land Use: Use AI to identify building outlines, then automate their integration into national datasets with FME
AI Is the Future and FME Helps Get You There
New Zealand’s AI Strategy is a clear call to action. By breaking down the barriers to adoption, the government is opening the door for innovation across sectors. FME provides the bridge, turning AI ambitions into action.
For SMEs and large enterprises alike, now is the time to lay the groundwork. With FME, you can streamline your data, empower your people, and make AI work for your business and do it all confidently and responsibly.
Learn more about FME and Locus at locusglobal.com
More Resources
New Zealand’s AI Strategy: Investing with confidence by MBIE
