Technology
Governments warned not to hold back AI, tech start-ups
27 May
Australia is well-positioned to take advantage of the global boom in artificial intelligence but governments and regulators need to get the policy settings right so they don’t stifle start-ups. That’s the message from two of the country’s...[Read More]
Climate agencies to ask AI to predict future disasters
20 May
Australia’s leading climate authorities plan to deploy artificial intelligence to help forecast natural disasters, including what might happen if a tropical cyclone hit a major city. But they warn early attempts to expand predictions using AI will...[Read More]
Canberra embraces AI data crunch for medicines to tax
13 May
Artificial intelligence will be deployed across the federal government for everything from evaluating medicines to identifying tax fraud in a bid to boost the nation’s productivity. A long list of AI trials were named in the federal budget on...[Read More]
Watchdog puts bite on ‘finfluencers’ deceiving Gen Z
29 April
Dodgy financial advice provided by social media influences is facing a crackdown, with Gen Z exposed to the misleading offers. The Australian Securities and Investments Commission has issued warning notices to four finance influencers, also known as...[Read More]
Young Australians turning to AI for mental health help
15 April
More than a quarter of people aged under 24 are using artificial intelligence to bolster their mental health as the cost of professional help bites. A survey of more than 2300 young people in NSW found mental health and cost of living pressures are...[Read More]
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
25 March
Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road,...[Read More]
AI crocodile detection system comes with warning
25 March
An AI detection system is hoped to make a splash by dramatically improving safety at swimming spots and boat ramps across Australia’s crocodile-infested northern waterways. But its creators warn it can only identify crocodiles above the waterline...[Read More]
High-power pit stop: quantum batteries could rev up EVs
18 March
Next-generation batteries Australian researchers are developing could potentially recharge electric cars faster than petrol vehicles fill up and top up smartphone instantaneously. The CSIRO’s quantum battery research team made the predictions on...[Read More]
Scientists make Parkinson’s drug from plastic bottles
18 March
Scientists have discovered a way of making a drug for Parkinson’s disease from used plastic bottles, saying it shows how waste materials can be “reimagined as valuable resources”. Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the...[Read More]
Limiting screen time not enough to protect kids: study
11 March
Any measure limiting the use of digital platforms by children, including a social media ban, is worth considering to protect mental health, a study has found. The review of global evidence from more than 360,000 young people found higher use of...[Read More]
Breaking the social media addiction cycle as adults
25 February
Like children, many adults are also struggling with the urge to endlessly scroll and feel like they can’t escape the pull of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms. Some experts are comparing social media addiction to casinos, opioids and...[Read More]
Not a real doctor: AI struggles to treat human patients
11 February
Just because artificially intelligent chatbots can pass medical exams does not mean they should operate as doctors, a study warns, as they can provide deadly medical advice. In one case, two men who asked an AI tool about a brain bleed received...[Read More]
What’s for dinner? Aussies cook up fresh uses for AI
28 January
Australians are using artificial intelligence tools to impress their boss and cut hours from their working week but the technology is also creeping into the kitchen and renovation plans. Preparing special meals for friends and family has emerged as...[Read More]
The chatbot will see you now: why AI is tackling health
28 January
Before seeing a doctor about a rash, sleeping issue or chronic heart condition, have you considered asking a chatbot for advice? It is the suggestion of leading artificial intelligence company OpenAI, which has flagged plans to launch a dedicated...[Read More]
Space weather a growing risk for air traffic
7 January
A software safety fault that forced the grounding of dozens of passenger planes across Australia has been branded by experts as “a warning shot for the future”. The glitch was triggered by space weather, a phenomenon increasingly impacting...[Read More]