AI shifts from novelty to infrastructure, firms say

Middlebank Consulting Group has urged companies to focus on practical business outcomes from artificial intelligence in supply chains and logistics. Inspira Enterprise and Vetric have highlighted parallel shifts in cybersecurity and data strategy as AI becomes more deeply embedded in operations.

Ahead of World AI Appreciation Day, industry leaders are framing AI less as a novelty and more as infrastructure for decision-making, security and operational resilience.

Alan Win, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Middlebank Consulting Group, said organisations are now grappling less with whether to adopt AI and more with how to embed it in day-to-day processes. He described a landscape in which logistics operators are experimenting with agentic AI, predictive analytics and automation in areas such as forecasting and planning.

"The conversation around AI is shifting from adoption to application, as organisations look for practical ways to improve business performance. In supply chains and logistics, capabilities such as agentic AI, predictive analytics, automation and intelligent systems are improving forecasting, planning and operational visibility. At the same time, it is becoming increasingly clear that technology is only part of the equation. Reliable data, sound governance and operational expertise remain essential if organisations are to realise AI's full potential. Those that apply AI with a clear business purpose will be better equipped to make informed decisions and build more agile, connected and resilient operations," said Alan Win, Founder and CEO, Middlebank Consulting Group.

Win's remarks reflect broader concern that many firms invest in AI tools without making matching investments in process change and governance. His firm has advised companies across New Zealand, Australia, Asia, the United States and the Middle East on logistics and value chain projects over several decades.

In cybersecurity, executives see AI reshaping how defences operate in real time. Chetan Jain, Managing Director at Inspira Enterprise, said AI is now embedded across digital infrastructure and is playing a growing role in threat detection and incident response.

"AI is getting embedded in our digital infrastructure across sectors, contributing to increased production, accelerated innovation, maximized operational efficiency, and enhanced cybersecurity, among other capabilities. While AI Appreciation Day allows us to recognize the benefits and progress made by businesses with artificial intelligence, we also have a collective responsibility to leverage it wisely. In the cybersecurity domain, AI-driven security operations represent a strategic transformation in how organizations safeguard their digital ecosystems. At Inspira Enterprise, we use AI as a growth accelerator that enhances human capabilities, driving organizations to make quicker, faster, and more secure decisions. From automated threat detection, mitigation, response, and resilience, AI is the future of enterprise operations. It is all the more critical for government and enterprises to promote AI-driven innovations that are built on ethical principles, optimized for operational excellence, and socially conscious. As AI continues to evolve, Inspira's commitment stays focused on building intelligent solutions that empower organizations, safeguard digital ecosystems, and create lasting value for society," said Chetan Jain, Managing Director, Inspira Enterprise.

Security specialists warn that malicious actors have moved quickly to integrate AI into their own operations, driving a rise in automated social engineering, impersonation and large-scale fraud attempts using generative tools.

Amit Shuster, Vice President of Product and Engineering at Vetric, said the underlying data layer is the decisive factor in the contest between attackers and defenders.

"AI Appreciation Day tends to celebrate the models, but the real workhorse of the AI era is the data underneath them. An AI-powered fraud or threat detection system is only as sharp as the public data feeding it - and while defenders debate adoption, attackers have already embraced AI to impersonate executives, automate scams, and scale abuse. The best way to appreciate AI is to make sure the good guys' AI is seeing more of the open web, faster, than the bad guys' is," said Amit Shuster, VP, Product and Engineering, Vetric.