FutureFive Australia - Consumer technology news from the future

About Shannon

Shannon Williams mugshot photo
Shannon Williams
News Editor
Shannon is an experienced journalist and editor with a strong interest in technology and the digital world. Her career spans a wide range of sectors, including tech, politics, tourism, transport and climate change, where she brings a sharp editorial eye and an ability to translate complex issues into clear, engaging stories.

Stories by Shannon

Secure sf datacenter shield racks with postgres elephant emblem

Constructive unveils secure-by-default Postgres platform

Last week
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virtualisation
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devops
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cloud security
Constructive launches secure-by-default Postgres platform to hardwire Row-Level Security and permissions into databases from creation.
Australian office frustrated staff disconnected ai systems cables

AI agents surge in Australia, but integration lagging

Last week
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saas
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digital transformation
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martech
Australian firms race to deploy AI agents, but siloed systems and weak integration threaten hoped-for productivity gains.
Modern uk high street clothing store ai shoppers interactive screen

AI drives UK retail as shoppers embrace eCommerce tools

Last week
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data protection
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digital transformation
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cx
AI-powered tools are rapidly reshaping UK retail as most shoppers embrace chat-based assistants and retailers ramp up investment for 2026.
Young british woman unboxing valentines parcels in london flat night

Self-gifting lifts UK Valentine’s spend to GBP £2.1bn

Last week
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martech
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personalisation
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cdp
Self-gifting and friend-gifting are reshaping UK Valentine’s Day, lifting total spending to GBP £2.1 billion, Flowwow data shows.
Secured vs ungoverned ai server room in us uk corporations

Half of corporate AI agents running without oversight

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data protection
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devops
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physical security
New research warns that nearly half of over 3 million AI agents in US and UK firms run ungoverned, exposing data and systems to rising risks.
European data center campus with wind turbines solar panels ai growth

AI fuels Europe data centre boom amid power crunch

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hyperscale
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blockchain
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dc
AI is turbocharging Europe’s data centre boom, but grid bottlenecks and power scarcity now threaten to slow the next wave of expansion.
Ai code security scan software engineer modern office monitor

DryRun unveils AI DeepScan Agent for faster code risk

Last week
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application security
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physical security
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devsecops
DryRun launches DeepScan Agent, an AI tool that scans whole codebases in hours to rank real-world security risks and speed remediation.
Ai contact center multichannel voice and messaging automation scene

8x8 sees AI customer interactions surge across voice, chat

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uc
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data protection
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digital transformation
8x8 reports triple-digit growth in AI voice and messaging for CX, as contact centres scale automation beyond pilots across channels.
Cinematic uk server room glowing laptop highlighted network breach

Routine internal access, not exploits, drives cyber risk

Last week
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malware
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firewalls
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devops
Routine admin tools, not exotic exploits, let attackers race across networks, compromising over half of systems in under an hour.
Uk tech ceo investor rooftop london skyline private equity deal

UK tech leaders embrace risk, private equity & global growth

Last week
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digital transformation
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risk & compliance
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genai
UK tech, IT and telecoms leaders grow bolder on risk, eye private equity backing and global expansion despite rising cost pressures.
Uk data centre ai energy usage carbon emissions uncertainty art

UK firms lack data to prove AI’s green credentials

Last week
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dr
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data analytics
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hyperscale
Most UK IT chiefs hail AI as vital to net-zero, yet over half admit they cannot accurately measure its carbon emissions or green impact.
Dim cloud data center unlocked database locks ai brain risk scene

AI agents expose risks in insecure default databases

Last week
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firewalls
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data protection
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network security
A security lapse at AI agent service Moltbook exposes risky default database settings, raising fresh alarms over agentic system safeguards.
Accountable ai vs data privacy balanced scale shields us uk eu

Data Privacy Day highlights shift to accountable AI data use

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data protection
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supply chain
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breach prevention
Data Privacy Day spotlights a shift from privacy promises to provable controls, as AI, governance and regulation demand accountable data use.
Modern open plan uk office ai brain laptops guidance warm light

UK staff confident with AI but lack training & strategy

Last week
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uc
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digital transformation
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hcm
Confident but undertrained, UK staff are embracing AI tools at work despite patchy strategies, rollout plans and formal learning support.
Ai enabled boardroom vs legacy confusion scaling enterprise ai

C-suite leaders deploy AI, but struggle to scale it

Last week
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semiconductors
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hybrid cloud
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digital transformation
AI is deployed everywhere but embedded deeply in fewer than half of firms, as leaders warn integration and skills gaps risk a two-year setback.
Cfo worried over spilling cash from folder accounts payable loss

Xelix warns AP errors leak up to USD $53 billion a year

Last week
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manufacturing
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data analytics
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digital transformation
Xelix research warns large UK and US firms lose up to USD $53 billion a year to accounts payable errors, duplicates, missed credits and fraud.
Holiday warehouse returns piles gifts workers scanners rising costs

Holiday refunds surge, squeezing global retail margins

Last week
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data analytics
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fintech
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cx
Holiday refunds jumped 18.1% in 2025, with each USD $1 million in refunds costing retailers about USD $1.3 million once overheads are included.
Mumbai data center campus street shops tech startups evening

India budget boosts tech, data centres & MSME support

Last week
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gaming
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dr
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data analytics
India’s Union Budget backs tech infrastructure, data centres and MSMEs, signalling policy continuity and long-term digital growth plans.
Bank boardroom executives ai circuit maze over stagnant profits

Banks struggle to turn AI spending into real revenue gains

Last week
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digital transformation
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fintech
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cx
Banks worldwide pour billions into AI, but Dyna.Ai warns only a small minority are turning pilots into tangible, scalable revenue gains.
Hooded cybercriminal ai brain red attack lines singapore night

AI-driven cyber attacks surge in Check Point 2026 report

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firewalls
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ransomware
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digital transformation
AI-fuelled cyber attacks surged 70% in 2025, with Check Point warning of machine-speed, multi-channel campaigns targeting key sectors.