Griffin on Tech: OpenAI’s Air NZ tie-up, AI search and the Singapore AI connection
We’ve all used OpenAI’s products in some capacity over the last year, probably in the form of ChatGPT prompts, or via platforms like Microsoft Azure where OpenAI’s models are available to business users.
But this week saw OpenAI forge its first direct partnership with a New Zealand customer, Air New Zealand. The collaboration apparently gives the airline direct access to OpenAI technologies and support for developing enterprise-grade AI solutions customized to its specific needs, such as Companion AI, a customized deployment of ChatGPT Enterprise, to modernise workflow and boost productivity.
Air New Zealand said it has implemented more than 1,500 customised GPTs to improve its internal processes. That likely makes it one of the most enthusiastic adopters of AI among our large companies to date and signals a desire by our national airline to improve its productivity with the help of AI.
But it also signals a shift in strategy by OpenAI, which is now collaborating directly with select governments (e.g., the UK) and major enterprises, rather than relying exclusively on Microsoft channels.
It has developed ChatGPT Gov for use by US federal agencies, and was recently in Australia touting its plan to boost AI uptake across the Tasman. In December, the University of New South Wales became the first university in the region to partner with OpenAI to deploy ChatGPT Edu.
While OpenAI’s API still primarily runs on Microsoft Azure, and the companies maintain deep ties (including revenue sharing and infrastructure agreements), there is a rising element of “coopetition”.
Getting closer to large customers like governments and national airlines allows it to capture more of the value from AI innovation and OpenAI has been moving to reduce its reliance on Microsoft infrastructure to run its AI. Last month it signed a US$30 billion deal for data centre services with Oracle.
I can see similar partnerships emerging here and abroad, which isn’t a bad thing as our businesses seek to implement AI more deeply in their operations. But it certainly changes the dynamic in the tech world with a major AI player moving from a behind-the-scenes role to featuring front and centre in IT services delivery. That’s from a company that doesn’t appear to have a local subsidiary set up here yet.
Singapore AI research tie-ups
Meanwhile, the Government has kept the advanced technology announcements coming with $24 million in funding this week committed via the Catalyst Fund to AI and biotech collaborations with Singapore. The island state has quite cleverly created a front door to its AI research efforts in the form of AI Singapore, which our universities will partner with on a series of interesting AI-related projects including:
AI-Assisted interRAI assessment – University of Otago will enhance aged care assessments by integrating AI to improve efficiency and personalisation.
AI-Driven risk score for dementia – University of Auckland will build an AI tool to help clinicians identify individuals at high risk of progressing to dementia.
AI-augmented cognitive health monitoring – Victoria University of Wellington will develop a remote monitoring platform using speech analysis, cognitive games, and caregiver input.
Other research projects funded are in the future foods space looking at “hybrid meat” production and bio-fermentation, in collaboration with Singapore’s Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR). Doubling down on existing research collaborations with Singapore is a smart move given the country’s strengths in both AI and biotech, and its ability to harness capital.
AI search changing how we find stuff
Finally, research out this week from the US Pew Research Centre and surveying 900 US adults confirmed what search engine optimisation expertis have suspected - Google search users are less likely to click on result links when visiting search pages with an AI summary compared with those without one.
“Users who encountered an AI summary clicked on a traditional search result link in 8% of all visits. Those who did not encounter an AI summary clicked on a search result nearly twice as often (15% of visits),” Pew researchers noted.
“For searches that resulted in an AI-generated summary, users very rarely clicked on the sources cited,” Pew found. That shows how pivotal Google’s AI Overviews, and similar products embedded in AI search engines like Perplexity, are to how internet search works. It is rapidly changing how web content is created and causing headaches for businesses trying to stay visible in the world of AI-driven search, an issue I delved into last year on The Business of Tech podcast with Atlas Digital’s Ryan McMillan.
