John Babic
(He/Him)
Australia, New South Wales
Covers:
Artificial intelligence, Enterprise technology, software development, product strategy, databases, cloud computing, data, analytics, ML and anything tech related
AI | Tech Leader | Innovator | Digital Transformation |Technology News | Contributor | Blog |muckrack.com/johnbabic
Articles by John Babic
Autodesk's real bet at AU 2026 isn't a product. It's an assistant that knows the project
Every AI story at Autodesk University this year eventually comes back to the same argument: capacity, not ideas, is the constraint holding architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, and entertainment back. Especially if you look at the Australian stats from the State of Design and Make report. CEO Andrew Anagnost has been making that case for two years running.
Will somebody please give AI a job site pass: Inside Autodesk AU 2026
Last year Autodesk told the industry that it should not fear AI. Just point it at the boring bits and let humans get back to the designing, engineering, and building of things. This year iTWire was on the ground in Last Vegas to see the evolution of those planted ideas. Autodesk stopped talking quite so much about what AI could do hypothetically and started showing what happens when you wire it into the entire lifecycle of a project and the endless possibilities that it can create.
Zendesk hires the person who has to make all of this actually work
Announcing a new product is the easy part. Making sure it lands properly across a region as varied as Asia Pacific and Japan is the harder one, and it's usually the part that gets far less coverage. So, it's worth pausing on Zendesk's latest move: the appointment of David Hall-Johnston as Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific and Japan, based in Melbourne. Hall-Johnston (pictured) isn't new to this kind of brief.
Zendesk just told you what "specialist" actually means
Every vendor in this space likes to say their AI is smart. Almost none of them will tell you what it's actually good at. That's the quiet admission buried under most AI customer service pitches. Usually, a chatbot trained on everything is, in practice, an expert in nothing. It can hold a conversation however it cannot always finish one. Zendesk's latest moves close that gap further, and they do it by picking a fight with the idea that one AI agent should be able to do everything for everyone.
The chatbot era is over. Zendesk just buried it.
There is a particular kind of frustration that has become the background noise of modern life. You go to your favourite brand’s website. You open a chat window. You explain your problem. The bot misunderstands you and asks you to try asking it a unique way. So, you sit and think of how you can do that. You type it again, slightly differently this time because maybe it was your fault you think to yourself. You still get nowhere. “Put me through to a human,” you ask. You wait.
Zendesk doubles down on AI with Forethought acquisition and it's a smart play
While much of the SaaS world is tightening its belt, Zendesk is doing the opposite and honestly, it's hard to argue with the logic. The company has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Forethought, a well-regarded AI agent platform, in what is shaping up to be its most significant deal in nearly two decades. It's the latest move in an aggressive M&A run that has seen Zendesk deploy close to half a billion dollars in acquisitions over the past 18 months.
Zendesk doubles down on AI with Forethought acquisition and it's a smart play
YouTubeWatch on YouTube While much of the SaaS world is tightening its belt, Zendesk is doing the opposite and honestly, it's hard to argue with the logic. The company has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Forethought, a well-regarded AI agent platform, in what is shaping up to be its most significant deal in nearly two decades. It's the latest move in an aggressive M&A run that has seen Zendesk deploy close to half a billion dollars in acquisitions over the past 18 months.
OMNI AI Film Festival puts Australia at the centre of AI cinema's global rise
Artificial intelligence has already reshaped industries from publishing to music, but nowhere is its impact more hotly debated than cinema. What was once a niche experiment in online forums is fast becoming a global movement, and Australia is leading the charge through the OMNI AI Film Festival. Founded by Aryeh Sternberg and Travis Rice in 2024, OMNI has rapidly evolved from a test screening into a global hub for AI-generated cinema.
AU 2025 from Autodesk
After twenty years working alongside builders, quantity surveyors and the tech community, I have seen firsthand how technology can change the game. The right tools can make people and projects faster, more accurate and a lot less stressful. If there is one place that is making this point loud and clear, it is at Autodesk's AU 2025 conference in Nashville this week. This week the music city became the design and make capital of the world.
OMNI AI Film Festival puts Australia at the centre of AI cinema's global rise
Whilst some people are shying around, even shunning the use of artificial intelligence in the media world, Aryeh Sternberg and Travis Rice saw the gap and has created the OMNI AI Film Festival, right here in our own backyard. Artificial intelligence has already reshaped industries from publishing to music, but nowhere is its impact more hotly debated than cinema.
Zeller takes on Stripe with enterprise-grade payments for Australian businesses
Global players like Stripe have long held the crown in developer-first payments. But when it comes to the realities of Australian business - multi-site operators, franchise networks, and fast-growing retail groups - the cracks are showing. Fragmented systems, slow settlements, and overseas support teams that don't understand local complexities are leaving merchants frustrated. Enter Zeller.
AI in retail: Aussies are adopting fast, but trust remains a missing ingredient
The Retail AI Agent Report, released this week, surveyed 500 retail leaders in Australia and New Zealand in partnership with independent research firm CensusWide. The study also gathered insights from a further 1,350 retailers globally, spanning markets including the UK, US, and Singapore.
When 45 minutes can change lives: how We Are Mobilise built a disaster response system with no-code tech
One of the clearest examples of this came during Cyclone Alfred, when nearly 300,000 homes across Brisbane lost power. Homelessness charity We Are Mobilise was suddenly inundated with calls from people needing emergency accommodation. Shelters were overwhelmed, pop-up facilities were bursting, and it became obvious that the usual manual systems of finding rooms and filling forms were not going to cut it. Someone needed to act and fast.
Zoho supercharges low-code app development with AI-driven cocreator assistant
In its latest innovation leap, Zoho has unveiled a suite of advanced AI capabilities within Zoho Creator, its low-code platform, further cementing its leadership in democratising enterprise software development. Announced today from its Australian base in Adelaide, the release from Zoho introduces , a powerful new assistant designed to slash app development timelines and elevate productivity, all without increasing costs for existing users.
Zendesk Relate 2025: A resolution revolution in AI-driven customer experience
Whether its your local café remembering your name and order, or a particular brand going the extra mile to make you feel seen, personalised service cuts through the noise. In a world saturated with notifications, endless inboxes and fleeting attention spans, that kind of standout experience is more powerful to the customer, and to the business more valuable than ever. What happens when a company is handling over 4.6 billion customer tickets and interactions a year?
Zoho unveils Projects Plus: the next evolution in AI-driven project management
In a move reinforcing its commitment to enterprise project management, Zoho has launched Projects Plus, a unified, AI-powered platform designed to streamline complex workflows and enhance collaboration. This Projects Plus expansion builds on Zoho Projects' strong momentum, boasting a 20% year-over-year growth and a threefold increase in migrations from third-party apps, with 55% of new users making the switch from Microsoft Projects and JIRA.
Meet the CL1: The first biological computer that learns like a human brain
AI just got a reality check. Cortical Labs has officially launched the world's first commercial biological computer, the CL1, and it's set to shake up everything from medical science to robotics. Forget AI - Meet SBI (Synthetic Biological Intelligence)! Unveiled at Mobile World Congress (MWC) in Barcelona, the CL1 is unlike any AI system before it - because it's alive. Yes, you read that right.
Zoho Corporation unveils Zia Agents: the next frontier in enterprise AI
They say that there are only a couple things that are certain in life. I am adding a new item to that, and it will be the rise of agentic AI. It's inevitable and it seems to be the great race of 2025 against all those that are in the technology and AI space. Zoho Corporation has taken a major leap in enterprise AI with the announcement of Zia Agents, a transformative platform designed to deliver intelligent, autonomous digital agents across organisations.
Results: Inquiry into the Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems by Public Sector Entities by the Australian government
Here are the key themes and outcomes discussed in the transcript of the Inquiry into the Use and Governance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Systems by Public Sector Entities by the Australian government: Key Themes: Governance and Oversight: A significant focus was placed on the need for comprehensive governance frameworks to ensure AI systems used by public sector entities are ethical, transparent, and accountable.
AI Agents and Multi-Modal AI: The Future Beyond Traditional Generative Models
When sifting through the multitude of LinkedIn posts about "2025 AI Predictions," two standout themes emerge: AI Agents and Multi-Modal AI. I posted about this recently. These aren't just buzzwords but represent the next big leap in artificial intelligence, surpassing the current generative AI we’re accustomed to from companies like OpenAI, Google, Meta, and Anthropic. But what exactly are AI Agents and Multi-Modal AI? How do they differ from the AI we use today?
Revolutionising logistics: Australia's Applied EV and Suzuki unveil the autonomous-only Blanc Robot
The future of logistics just got a whole lot smarter. Applied EV, an Australian pioneer in vehicle control system technologies, has teamed up with Suzuki Motor Corporation to introduce the 6th Generation Blanc Robot - a revolutionary, cabin-free, autonomous-only logistics vehicle. Set to deploy with strategic partners by mid-2025, the Blanc Robot is poised to redefine efficiency in last-mile logistics and industrial applications, tackling labour shortages and reducing emissions.
Reimagining information: elevating human potential at OpenText World 2024
Yes, OpenText has AI-and I'm totally here for it. Under the banner "Information Reimagined: Elevate Human Potential," the conference convened thousands of thought leaders, innovators, and change-makers to delve into cutting-edge advancements in multi-cloud systems, business AI, and transformative technologies. It was a gathering that not only showcased the future but also equipped business owners like myself with the tools to shape it.
Zoho amplifies Australian presence with stellar growth, new partnerships, and local investments featured
In a business landscape where adaptability and innovation are paramount, Zoho 's approach resonates with the entrepreneurial spirit inherent in Australian businesses. The company isn't just expanding; it's embedding itself within the fabric of the local business community through strategic partnerships, innovative products, and community-driven initiatives. It's a move that goes beyond mere market penetration-it's about strengthening Australian businesses from the grassroots level.
Zoho and NVIDIA AI collaboration a gamechanger for 700,000 businesses
Zoho Corporation, a global technology company renowned for its comprehensive suite of business software has today announced a significant collaboration that is shaping up to change the future of AI in business applications.
FullyRamped raises $US 2.3M to revolutionise sales training with AI-powered role-play
Imagine you just hired a brand-new business development employee. There's role playing, and there's as much documentation you can provide someone to train them, but nothing beats picking the phone up to get your dialogue dialled in. However, the risk of training on real clients is obvious and you can only try so many times. If you are in a growth phase, like I have been in before, hiring multiple business development members just compounds the issue.
Hola Health gears up for growth with key leadership appointments
The health and medical landscape is rapidly changing, especially as artificial intelligence in Australia's making significant strides in helping medical professionals diagnose and treat diseases with unprecedented speed and accuracy. From early cancer detection to improved mental health care, AI is reshaping the way Australians receive medical treatment, and it's only just getting started.
Braze unveils revolutionary AI Innovations to transform customer engagement
These advancements are poised to redefine how marketers craft personalised experiences, ensuring that businesses stay ahead in the race for customer hearts and minds. From the moment you visit Braze you understand their philosophy, and it makes sense; Customers are demanding the world, while AI is already transforming it Project catalyst: the next frontier in personalised marketing At the forefront of Braze's announcements is the introduction of their new AI agent, codenamed Project Catalyst.
Zoho unveils enhanced analytics platform, elevating Business Intelligence with AI and machine learning
In today's data-driven business landscape, the ability to harness and interpret vast amounts of information is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. Recognising this imperative global tech company Zoho Corporation has launched a new version of Zoho Analytics-its self-service business intelligence (BI) and analytics platform.
Embracing hyperscalers in your hybrid multi-cloud strategy: A CEO's guide to data and AI innovation
In today's digital landscape, data and artificial intelligence (AI) aren't just buzzwords-they're the lifeblood of modern enterprises. As CEOs, CIOs, and CTOs, we're constantly navigating the turbulent waters of technological change, striving to keep our organisations ahead of the curve. One of the pivotal decisions we face is how to architect our data and AI strategies effectively. Enter public hyperscalers and the evolving concept of hybrid multi-cloud strategies. The evolution of the "buy vs.
Epicor announces visionary AI drive during Insights ANZ 2024 conference
Epicor, a global leading provider of industry-specific ERP software solutions for over half a century, hosted its Insights ANZ 2024 conference on the Gold Cost from August 12-14. This premier event offered a deep dive into Epicor's offerings, emphasising how emerging trends like AI and automation are catalysing industry transformation. With a robust revenue of $1.25 billion, spanning operations in 150 countries and serving 23,000 customers, Epicor's influence is significant.
Zoho Corporation delivers major product announcements and Australian expansion at Zoholics 2024
In the rapidly changing world of business, where the focus has turned to optimisation and task automation, entrepreneurs and business leaders continuously seek ways to streamline operations and stay ahead of their competition. Navigating this dynamic landscape is no small feat. Enter Zoholics 2024, a landmark conference held at the Austin Convention Centre in Austin Texas, by Zoho Corporation.
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