News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs.
Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from May 4 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week

AI Sovereignty Gap

Perth, May 18: NTT DATA has released new research showing enterprise AI is facing growing pressure from data privacy and sovereignty requirements, as organisations move away from globally integrated systems toward more regionally controlled architectures.
The company’s 2026 Global AI Report found more than 95 per cent of respondents consider private and sovereign AI important, but only 29 per cent are prioritising sovereign AI in a concrete, near-term way. It also found nearly 60 per cent of AI leaders cite cross-border data restrictions as a major challenge.
Private AI focuses on protecting sensitive enterprise data and limiting exposure, while sovereign AI ensures AI systems, data and operating environments meet jurisdictional or regulatory requirements.
“As AI evolves, private and sovereign approaches are testing enterprise readiness,” said Abhijit Dubey, CEO and Chief AI Officer, NTT DATA, Inc. “The organisations that are succeeding are going beyond regulatory compliance and risk mitigation. They are building the operating foundation for AI that can perform across markets, jurisdictions and business environments. Our research shows AI leaders are pulling ahead by treating architecture, infrastructure and governance as strategic requirements.”
The report draws on two studies involving nearly 5,000 senior decision-makers across more than a dozen industries, more than 30 markets and five regions.

Rear-End Crashes Lead

Sydney, May 19: Rear-end crashes and failure to give way are Australia’s most common motor collision types, according to NRMA Insurance data from more than 69,000 motor collision claims received in 2026.
The data also found reversing mishaps, hitting stationary objects, single-vehicle accidents, animal collisions, unsafe manoeuvres and head-on collisions among the top eight collision types.
Head of the NRMA Insurance Research Centre Shawn Ticehurst said, “the safety benefits of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are well established globally.
“However, 60% of Australian drivers tell us they are actively turning off driver-assist safety features in their cars, meaning those people are missing out on realising the safety benefits – and that’s a major concern.”
IAG is conducting an Australian-first field study into how drivers use Advanced Driver Assistance Systems, with findings expected to be released mid-year.

The Pillars Turns One

Sydney, May 19: Private members’ club The Pillars has marked its first year in Sydney, attracting more than 300 members in its first eight months and building a growing waitlist.
Located at 11 Barrack Street, the club brings together founders, investors, operators, creatives and executives, with member introductions leading to new clients, strategic collaborations, early-stage investment discussions and new ventures.
The Pillars plans to expand its second-year programming across business, culture, wellness and investment, including author dinners, artist studio visits, Vivid Sydney events, World Cup activations and a founder and investor series.

World Gym Profit Surges

Taipei, May 19: World Gym Corporation recorded a strong start to 2026, with first-quarter net profit rising 344.7 per cent year-on-year to NT$219 million.
Total revenue increased 9.38 per cent to NT$2.81 billion, while earnings per share rose to NT$2.01, marking the company’s fourth consecutive quarter of significant EPS growth and a new single-quarter record since its TWSE listing.
The board also approved a Q1 dividend of NT$3.64 per share, comprising NT$1.81 per share from earnings and NT$1.83 per share from capital reserve.
World Gym said it expects continued growth from plans to open 12 to 15 new locations in 2026, the rollout of Pilates programs and the launch of an AI-driven health management platform in Q3 2026.

Dell Expands Agentic AI

Sydney, May 19: Dell Technologies has expanded its Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA with the launch of Dell Deskside Agentic AI, a new solution designed to help enterprises deploy and scale agentic AI workflows locally.
The company said the solution gives workgroups a secure and cost-predictable way to run agentic AI from deskside workstations to data centre infrastructure, reducing reliance on cloud-only approaches.
Dell said the platform combines high-performance Dell workstations, NVIDIA software and Dell Services, supporting AI models from 30 billion to 1 trillion parameters depending on the system configuration.
Jeff Clarke, chief operating officer, Dell Technologies said, “The most efficient token is the one produced closest to the data, and most enterprise data isn’t in the cloud. Dell Deskside Agentic AI gives every workgroup a secure local environment to run agents, keep costs predictable and keep IP inside the building. What works at the desk scales to the data centre. That’s a deployment model for the next decade.”
NVIDIA’s Justin Boitano said, “As enterprises reshape and scale the future of work with agentic AI, they’re seeking infrastructure that spans the full enterprise — from our desks where work happens to the AI factories where intelligence scales. With NVIDIA OpenShell across the Dell AI Factory with NVIDIA, enterprises can develop locally, scale securely and deploy agentic AI on one consistent platform.”

Pet Regret Rising

Perth, May 20: One in five Australians regret getting a pet as the costs and commitment of ownership continue to rise, according to new research from Finder Australia.
A Finder survey of 673 pet owners found 22 per cent admitted they regretted getting a pet, with holidays, rising costs and the demands of care among the main reasons cited.
The research found 10 per cent said pets made it harder to travel, while 9 per cent blamed the cost of ownership, including food, vet bills, grooming and worm prevention. Another 9 per cent cited the mess associated with pets, while 7 per cent said the time involved in caring for an animal became overwhelming.
Finder insurance expert Ceyda Erem said some Australians were struggling with the reality of pet ownership. “Many Aussies bring home a pet for the company without realising how much they change your life.”
“For some, the emotional reward outweighs everything. But for others, the ongoing costs, disruption and responsibility can quietly become too much to manage.”
Erem added that pets could also create unexpected lifestyle and household challenges. “Some pets are chewing furniture, wrecking the backyard and making holidays harder, and for a significant proportion of Australians, the dream of having a pet doesn’t always match reality.”
The survey also found 5 per cent of respondents regretted getting a pet because of damage caused to their home or yard.
Finder said pet owners could reduce costs by buying food in bulk, rotating toys, grooming pets at home and considering pet insurance to help manage unexpected veterinary expenses.