Latest news with #MarkCallander
NZ Herald
28-07-2025
- Business
- NZ Herald
AI Month: How 2degrees will put AI tools in the hands of every employee
You may be polishing your office memos with ChatGPT and drafting emails with Microsoft Copilot. But is AI actually making you more effective at your job? The only way to find out is to spend hands-on time with AI tools – and for more than finding a few productivity hacks for admin tasks. The Government's newly released Strategy for Artificial Intelligence suggests our economy can be boosted to the tune of $76 billion by 2038 through the effective use of AI. But the strategy also flagged the need to raise awareness and build confidence to address a 'lack of perceived value' in AI. Many Kiwi organisations are dabbling with AI, but haven't yet progressed to applying the technology to unlock true productivity gains based on high-quality company data. Many business leaders surveyed in the 2025 2degrees Shaping Business Study reported a lack of digital skills as a major obstacle to adopting AI and other advanced technologies. The challenge is twofold: not only is there a shortage of skilled technology professionals, but businesses also struggle to find the time and resources to upskill their existing workforce. Taking AI use to the next level 2degrees was an early adopter of AI and has put it to work to achieve dramatic results in areas like customer service and marketing. But in August, the country's third-largest telecommunications provider will conduct a company-wide experiment with AI, taking its use to the next level. 'People need to start thinking deeply about AI and not be fearful of it,' says Mark Callander, 2degrees' Chief Executive Officer. 'Using AI isn't about eliminating jobs. We're trying to flip it on its head and ask: how can you use AI in your area of work to make your job easier, more productive, and more impactful? That's how we get the real productivity gains.' For four weeks, each of 2degrees' 1600 employees, from network engineers to marketing staff, legal teams to customer service representatives, will participate in a series of AI training sessions, workshops, and hands-on experiments. The initiative is not just about learning new tools. It's about creating a cultural shift where AI becomes an integral part of daily work. A month-long prompt-a-thon With that in mind, even 2degrees' management and board of directors will go deep on AI, using the tech to draft board reports, analyse financial performance and forecast future trends. The aim is to compare AI-driven analysis with traditional human-led insights, highlighting new opportunities and potential blind spots. 2degrees' AI Month is structured around four themed weeks and is supported by the telco's technology partners, including AWS, Ericsson, Microsoft, Nokia, Salesforce, ServiceNow, Snowflake, and TechMahindra, who all now offer extensive AI tools. The programme, run nationally, will see employees receive training tailored to their roles, from prompt engineering to understanding unconscious bias in AI. Technical teams will deepen their use of tools like GitHub Copilot, while non-technical staff will learn how to integrate AI into their workflows. Build-Your-Own-AI workshops will enable staff to put no-code AI agents to work on the real tasks they most want to automate. For example, a marketing team member recently used an AI tool to analyse mobile sign-up processes across competitors' websites, uncovering actionable insights in just 15 minutes, a task that would previously have taken hours. 2degrees employees are invited to share their discoveries and successes in internal forums, fostering a culture of curiosity and collaboration. Callander says the central theme of AI Month is transparency and openness to change. 'You can't write a three-year AI strategy at the moment because everything is moving so quickly,' he says. 'You can set your culture right, so you can embrace opportunities as they arise with AI.' The shift every business needs to make This cultural shift, says Callander, is essential for the long-term success of 2degrees. As AI evolves rapidly, organisations must be agile and ready to adapt. By empowering employees to explore AI and embed it into the fabric of the organisation, 2degrees hopes to unlock new levels of productivity, innovation, and customer value. As Callander puts it, 'Whatever it is, we'll hopefully do it smarter, faster, and cheaper. We might make mistakes and go down some dead ends, but we'll learn together and build our confidence in using AI across 2degrees.' In September, 2degrees will report back on the outcomes of AI Month, sharing key lessons, successes, and areas for growth with staff, partners, and the wider business community.
Scoop
22-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Stop The Pings: Half Of Kiwis Overwhelmed By Notifications
Press Release – 2Degrees NO-tifications is the latest initiative from 2degrees Fairer Phones Project, as part of its ongoing commitment to support healthier relationships with phones. The telco is calling on Kiwis to take action. Every day, New Zealanders are bombarded by a relentless flood of notifications. Social media, emails, and app alerts disrupt focus, invade downtime, and fragment attention. Research commissioned by 2degrees now reveals that 50% of Kiwis feel overrun by notifications. For Gen Z, the first generation to grow up entirely online, the impact is even greater, with 38% regularly feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious due to the sheer number of notifications they receive. Research from Common Sense Media in the US revealed that teenagers receive an average of 237 notifications per day. The mental load is mounting, and it's taking a toll on productivity, relationships, and wellbeing. NO-tifications is the latest initiative from 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project, as part of its ongoing commitment to support healthier relationships with phones. The telco is calling on Kiwis to take action. 'Phones are powerful tools for connection, but when notifications dictate our attention, we're not using them on our terms,' says Mark Callander, Chief Executive of 2degrees. 'We're calling on Kiwis to take control of their notifications before notifications take control of them.' According to Kathryn Berkett, neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert, notifications trigger dopamine, making them addictive. 'We think we're good at multitasking, but in reality, we're task-switching, which drains our energy and reduces focus. It also disrupts our real-world interactions – our attention is physically pulled away the moment we hear or see a ping,' says Berkett. Berkett highlights the impact of excessive notifications: They distract us – making it harder to focus and complete tasks efficiently They affect our relationships – pulling attention away from real-life interactions They disrupt our sleep – keeping us up at night and impacting wellbeing They physically alter brain development – cells that fire together, wire together The Impact of Notification Overload A 2degrees-commissioned survey uncovered that for Gen Z: 46% say they receive far too many or too many notifications 38% regularly feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious by the number of notifications received 40% find it difficult to concentrate due to the number of notifications they receive, leading to constant phone checking Biggest culprits: Social media (65%) and email (60%) Across all age groups (16+): 50% received too many notifications 37% feel overwhelmed, panicked or anxious 30% struggle to concentrate due to the number of notifications Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe, New Zealand's online safety organisation, backs the initiative. 'At Netsafe, we're seeing growing concern about how constant connectivity and screen time affect young people's focus and their overall wellbeing. 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project initiative taps into an important conversation – how we can all be more intentional in our digital lives. Encouraging people to pause and reflect on their phone habits is a valuable step toward building healthier, more balanced relationships with technology.' To regain control, 2degrees suggests: Say No – When apps ask to send notifications, be selective. Only allow the ones that genuinely require your attention. Tidy Up – Regularly review your notification settings and mute unnecessary alerts. Plan Ahead – Set specific times to check notifications rather than reacting to them all day.
Scoop
21-04-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Stop The Pings: Half Of Kiwis Overwhelmed By Notifications
Every day, New Zealanders are bombarded by a relentless flood of notifications. Social media, emails, and app alerts disrupt focus, invade downtime, and fragment attention. Research commissioned by 2degrees now reveals that 50% of Kiwis feel overrun by notifications. For Gen Z, the first generation to grow up entirely online, the impact is even greater, with 38% regularly feeling overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious due to the sheer number of notifications they receive. Research from Common Sense Media in the US revealed that teenagers receive an average of 237 notifications per day. The mental load is mounting, and it's taking a toll on productivity, relationships, and wellbeing. NO-tifications is the latest initiative from 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project, as part of its ongoing commitment to support healthier relationships with phones. The telco is calling on Kiwis to take action. 'Phones are powerful tools for connection, but when notifications dictate our attention, we're not using them on our terms,' says Mark Callander, Chief Executive of 2degrees. 'We're calling on Kiwis to take control of their notifications before notifications take control of them.' According to Kathryn Berkett, neuroscience and digital wellbeing expert, notifications trigger dopamine, making them addictive. 'We think we're good at multitasking, but in reality, we're task-switching, which drains our energy and reduces focus. It also disrupts our real-world interactions - our attention is physically pulled away the moment we hear or see a ping,' says Berkett. Berkett highlights the impact of excessive notifications: They distract us - making it harder to focus and complete tasks efficiently They affect our relationships - pulling attention away from real-life interactions They disrupt our sleep - keeping us up at night and impacting wellbeing They physically alter brain development - cells that fire together, wire together The Impact of Notification Overload A 2degrees-commissioned survey uncovered that for Gen Z: 46% say they receive far too many or too many notifications 38% regularly feel overwhelmed, panicked, or anxious by the number of notifications received 40% find it difficult to concentrate due to the number of notifications they receive, leading to constant phone checking Biggest culprits: Social media (65%) and email (60%) Across all age groups (16+): 50% received too many notifications 37% feel overwhelmed, panicked or anxious 30% struggle to concentrate due to the number of notifications Sean Lyons, Chief Online Safety Officer at Netsafe, New Zealand's online safety organisation, backs the initiative. "At Netsafe, we're seeing growing concern about how constant connectivity and screen time affect young people's focus and their overall wellbeing. 2degrees' Fairer Phones Project initiative taps into an important conversation - how we can all be more intentional in our digital lives. Encouraging people to pause and reflect on their phone habits is a valuable step toward building healthier, more balanced relationships with technology." To regain control, 2degrees suggests: Say No - When apps ask to send notifications, be selective. Only allow the ones that genuinely require your attention. Tidy Up - Regularly review your notification settings and mute unnecessary alerts. Plan Ahead - Set specific times to check notifications rather than reacting to them all day.
