Adnan Khan

A couple of weeks ago, I launched Zohrab & Co. I didn't realise at the time that I was reinvigorating an old family company name. Searching Google for "Zohrab & Co", I read the Gemini AI snippet referencing the Wellington-based business, who were distributors for a scotch, gin, schnapps and also Red Bird Sauce, which came in blue glass bottles embossed with "Zohrab & Co". There are some of these bottles being traded in NZ on Trademe and local antique auction sites, which is very cool. Whilst tempted to add "Since 1874" on my credentials, I am not sure how that flies for someone specialising in data and AI tech that didn't exist a few years ago, let alone 150 years ago. But, it has inspired me to up my labelling game for my own (non data) products. My recent marmalade batches, cordials and gin (it was genetic destiny) now all sport Zohrab & Co labels. Not quite the same as having an embossed bottle, but we all have to start somewhere. And if you're wondering how the business is going: very nicely, thanks. My first client is based in Ireland. They were looking at expanding into Australia and New Zealand, but then quickly realised there was no reason I couldn't also help them with the USA, Canada and even the UK. Which reminds me of my early days of SEO consulting nearly 25 years ago where NZ wasn't ready for me, and I picked up clients in Europe more easily.

The phones are running and the emails are bouncing in, many think it's time to discuss supermarkets , the banking cartel , the electricity sham , the aviation rip off or the cost of construction and weak competition law It's really time to step up to my executive responsibilities to look after the office dog 🐕. Crikey he is cute

Meta Connect was this week, our thirteenth. I watched it live from Auckland and this was the one where a lot of what we are building came together — made better by our AI glasses going on sale in NZ the next day! One distinction I get asked constantly. An assistant answers your question. An agent does the job — you give it a goal, it holds context, works in the background and finishes it. Personal superintelligence is the bet that this belongs in people's hands, not locked in a lab! Three new device categories in one keynote, and our widest glasses lineup yet: 🇳🇿 New Zealand, finally — our AI glasses launched here yesterday, 24 September. Ray-Ban Meta Gen 3, Ray-Ban Meta Gen 2 Optics, Oakley Meta HSTN and Oakley Meta Vanguard, at meta.com/nz and in store. Gen 3 is slimmer and more comfortable, with an action button, our longest battery life yet and new Aviator and Zena frames. ✨ Muse — we launched our personal AI agent, called Muse, a few weeks ago and the momentum has been remarkable. Reach it on the Muse app, WhatsApp, the web and Mac. 🗣️ And it keeps improving — a voice mode built for long conversations, Muse Realtime Avatar, its own email address, and computer use on Mac. Best of all it's coming to our AI glasses in the coming months, hands-free, activated by your agent's name. 🔌 Connectors make that real — dozens of partners plus the whole Shopify catalogue: Walmart, Best Buy, Sephora, Wayfair, Expedia, Instacart, Notion and GitHub, with Shop Pay and PayPal at checkout. Plus a platform for developers to build their own. 👂 Hearing enhancement — a software feature cleared by the FDA that helps adults with perceived mild to moderate hearing loss hear better. No prescription, no expensive hearing aid. A mum talking about being properly present with her kids was the moment of the day. 🎵 Ray-Ban Meta Audio — our first audio glasses. No cameras meant more room to push the design — our slimmest, lightest frames with our longest battery life. Plus a new Meta Glasses collaboration with LISA, and 100+ styles by year end. 🥽 Meta VR Glasses — a private cinema, multi-monitor computer and games console at about 100 grams. Five times lighter than Quest 3, 5K micro-OLED display, battery and compute in a clip-on puck, navigated with your eyes and hands, plus photorealistic hologram calls. Lands spring 2027. The crowd went up, and honestly, so did I. 🔑 Muse Charm — the first device made for your Muse. A small device that fits on a keychain. Tap the fingerprint sensor and talk. No phone, no app. More soon: meta.com/muse-charm An agent that sees what you see beats one behind a screen — which is why the glasses and the AI aren't two stories, they're one. Proud to be part of it. And a good week to be doing this job from here, because "what does AI mean for us?" just got an answer you can walk into a store and pick up. Full keynote: meta.com/connect/#watch #MetaConnect #Muse #AI

In the lead-up to the election, we’re asking some leaders in the private and public sectors to come up with one big original idea that could make a difference in New Zealand.

In a recent marketing workshop I hosted in Dublin, one of my key messages to the sales teams was that marketing in the AI era means reaching two audiences: people (B2H), and AI systems (B2A). Whether you're in B2B or B2C, you're now marketing to two audiences at the same time, and each requires a different approach. Read my latest article https://lnkd.in/ey59BTSd, which will help you: - Understand how AI search is reshaping customer discovery - Stay ahead of competitors still optimising for yesterday's algorithms - Get a concrete playbook to implement, not just theory Are you ready for AI to be your additional audience? #AI #Marketing #DigitalMarketing #B2A

After 30 days away, it’s back to work for me. And I’m actually excited about it. 💙 I’ve always believed in the importance of taking a proper break, but this one has been a great reminder of just how valuable it is to truly switch off. Clear your mind. For the past month, I’ve travelled, celebrated a milestone birthday, spent uninterrupted time with my husband, explored new places, eaten exceptionally well, and given myself permission to completely disconnect from work. And now I feel refreshed, relaxed and ready to go. I think there’s something pretty special about being able to take a break from a job you love, and then genuinely look forward to coming back. You can only do that with an awesome team behind you. Thank you to Sarah Wood, Emma Peron, Nathan Langsford, Rachel Leadbetter, Hannah Franklin, Jess Sakey and Miranda Lee for holding down the fort while I was away. I’m heading in today with a full cup, a fresh perspective and plenty of energy as we roll into the busiest time of the year. Rest isn’t the opposite of ambition. Sometimes it’s exactly what fuels it. See you soon, team 💙🏡

Reflecting on a fantastic ANZ Partner Day in Sydney recently, it was great to spend time with our ever expanding Braze Partner network. I'm thankful to every Partner that has helped build such an engaging, energetic, and simply brilliant community around Braze. Building great products is only half the equation; our partners make the real magic happen for our customers. I want to take a moment to personally congratulate our ANZ Awards 2026 winners: ANZ Rising Star of the Year: stitch ANZ Transformation Partner of the Year: Composed Digital ANZ Delivery Partner of the Year: Composed Digital ANZ Technology Partner of the Year: Snowflake To the teams at Stitch, Composed Digital, and Snowflake—thank you for your continuous dedication, technical excellence, and relentless drive to deliver exceptional experiences for our shared customers. You've set an incredibly high benchmark, for yourselves and us, for what it means to be great Partners. We couldn't do this without you! Looking forward to breaking even more records together this year. 🇦🇺🇳🇿

Valentina Ciobanu is a spectacularly gifted, senior marketer with an amazing track record. She is also on gardening leave and struggling to find her next role. AI is not just reducing the number of entry level jobs, it is causing The Great Stay among senior marketers who don't want to risk a jump to a new role with so much constriction and uncertainty around. So great marketers like Ciobanu face something almost impossible to conceive 3 or 4 years ago: unemployment. This week's column for The Drum. https://lnkd.in/g8EFxaZy