Global tech

US tech is kicking up a stink about the Australian government’s plan for them to pay local media

- December 24, 2025 4 MIN READ

Reactions to the government’s consultation paper on the proposed news bargaining incentive have begun trickling in — and US tech lobby groups aren’t happy. Several Washington-based trade associations have warned the incentive is inconsistent with Australia’s free trade commitments with the US, and one lobby group has warned US President Donald Trump could be moved… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

How scammers use crypto and fake fundraisers to profit from the Bondi terrorism tragedy

- December 23, 2025 2 MIN READ

Grifters and scammers are trying to cash in on the Bondi Beach terrorist attack by launching speculative cryptocurrencies and fake fundraisers, even celebrating when the value of a coin using the likeness of the 10-year-old victim of the mass shooting spiked after launching. As is typically the case around any major news event, opportunistic people… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

How AI played a central role in spreading misinformation about the Bondi terrorist attack – thanks to a fake news site

- December 16, 2025 5 MIN READ

Hours after the Bondi terrorist attack, while many Australians slept, a myth was generated and laundered through artificial intelligence. The sole bright spot from Sunday’s atrocity targeting Jewish Australians that left 15 dead and 29 injured was the heroics of bystander Ahmed al-Ahmed, who was filmed fearlessly tackling and disarming one of the alleged gunmen.… Read more »

Annika Wells and Anthony Albanese
Life hacks

While the Australian government says the u16s social media ban is vital for mental health, experts and new research suggests otherwise

- December 10, 2025 4 MIN READ

Warning: this article contains mention of suicide. Ten months after Australia’s teen social media ban passed parliament, Communications Minister Anika Wells brought together 20 of the country’s top mental health groups to talk about the law at a roundtable. “Today was a useful step for mental health organisations, peaks and government to get together and… Read more »

AI/Machine Learning

Australia’s national security boss used Microsoft’s Copilot to write counter-terrorism speeches and government communications

- November 13, 2025 5 MIN READ

Australia’s top national security bureaucrat used an AI chatbot to ghostwrite speeches and messages to his colleagues, internal documents show. As Finance Minister Katy Gallagher announces a significant government-wide AI plan to promote its use in the public service, Crikey has used freedom of information (FOI) laws to reveal how a government employee is already using the nascent… Read more »

Global tech

Google-backed Waymo’s looking at testing its self-driving taxis in NSW

- October 29, 2025 3 MIN READ

Waymo is talking to local regulators about trialling the company’s self-driving taxis in Australia, as the autonomous vehicle company begins lobbying governments around the country. Owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, Waymo describes itself as the “world’s first autonomous ride-hailing service” and says its vehicles have completed 10 million driverless rides in five US cities,… Read more »