10 Takeaways from McKinsey’s State of AI Report 2025
McKinsey’s 2025 State of AI report is one of the clearest signals yet of how quickly AI is moving from experimentation to transformation. Below are 10 insights from the report and what each one means for KiwiSaver providers and wealth-management firms navigating the shift to AI-enabled operating models.
How NZ Wealth Managers can stop clients from leaving
I recently read a case study looking at a US$18B wealth management firm that used AI to identify clients at risk of leaving, then intervened earlier. The result: a 15% reduction in churn. The interesting part isn’t that AI predicted churn. Many models can do that. What mattered is who owned the AI project.
Martec’s Law and the future of AI in KiwiSaver
Technology is moving faster than organisations can absorb. This tension is at the heart of digital transformation, and it shows up clearly in the financial services industry. KiwiSaver providers are responsible for managing billions of dollars in retirement savings, yet many still rely on manual processes and legacy systems. At the same time, artificial intelligence (AI) is creating opportunities to transform customer service, compliance, and member engagement.
How Open Banking can help KiwiSaver providers deliver better advice and retain members
As open banking takes shape in New Zealand, KiwiSaver providers are standing at the edge of a quiet revolution. By securely accessing consented banking data through APIs, they can finally see a more complete picture of their members’ financial lives — not just contributions and balances, but day-to-day income, expenses, and saving patterns. This deeper visibility opens the door to more personalised advice, smarter engagement, and stronger retention.
Becoming AI-Native: What Wealth Managers Can Learn from Cuvva
Some organisations treat AI as an add-on: a way to make existing processes faster, cheaper, or more automated. That’s useful. But the real transformation comes when you ask: if we built this industry from scratch in an AI world, what would retirement savings look like?
Build, Buy, Boost: Choosing the right path for KiwiSaver providers
In my conversations with KiwiSaver providers, one question comes up repeatedly: should we build, or should we buy? The choice depends on capacity, capability, and goals, and in reality, there’s a third path – boost.
Tackling the Resourcing Challenge
All KiwiSaver providers recognise the benefits of AI. It improves turnaround times, consistency, compliance, and member outcomes. Yet many organisations hesitate to take the first step. A significant barrier is resourcing. Teams already face heavy workloads, and another large project often feels ill-timed.
Is now the right time for KiwiSaver providers to invest in Agentic AI?
AI has become a strategic imperative, but the conversation is shifting. We have moved beyond basic automation and narrow tools. The next wave is agentic AI, which is a system that can take action on our behalf across complex processes with minimal human input.
Rethinking Innovation: Misuse, Refusal, Inversion
Innovation is usually framed as invention, something new, shiny, and never-before-seen. But often, the most powerful breakthroughs come from something much simpler: using what already exists in an unexpected way. Here are three lenses I’ve found useful when trying to build something different.
The Sevaka AI Maturity Spectrum: A practical framework for KiwiSaver providers
As AI continues to reshape industries, KiwiSaver providers are increasingly looking to adopt it. Opportunities lie in streamlining operations, enhancing member engagement, and reducing costs. But without a clear roadmap, it’s hard to know where to start, what to prioritise, or how to scale. That’s where the Sevaka AI maturity spectrum could help
The AI hype cycle is over
In the last few years, Generative AI has been riding a wave of intense hype, with companies across industries rushing to integrate AI into their operations. From chatbots to automated marketing tools, financial institutions worldwide experimented with AI-driven solutions, often with mixed results.
KiwiSaver providers and the AI shift: Who will lead, who will resist, and how to make it work
AI adoption is not about technology. It’s about people. The biggest challenge is not whether AI can enhance customer service, compliance, or operational efficiency. The real challenge is how your teams will react to AI and how you can guide them through this transition.
Preparing for the AI of tomorrow: A call to KiwiSaver providers
KiwiSaver providers must prepare today for the AI of tomorrow to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving financial landscape. Declining inference costs, stronger security, and the rise of small language models are reshaping the industry. Those who adapt early will be the leaders of the future.
Five principles for KiwiSaver providers to effectively harness AI
KiwiSaver providers are at a crossroads. With increasing member expectations, regulatory demands, and operational pressures, COOs and General Managers of Operations are challenged to do more with less. Having spoken with several leaders in the industry, one thing is clear: while many recognise the potential of AI, the KiwiSaver industry is still in a learning phase when it comes to AI.
Why KiwiSaver providers are perfectly placed to benefit from GenAI
A recent case study by Sevaka explores how AI can help KiwiSaver providers improve customer service by automating routine tasks, offering personalised support, and ensuring compliance. The case study also highlighted how large financial institutions globally have saved millions by integrating AI into their operations, cutting costs, speeding up service, and improving scalability in the process.