Advice

Philanthropist MacKenzie Scott, who was married to the world’s richest bloke, just gave away $5.5bn. Here’s what we can all learn from her actions

- December 18, 2020 3 MIN READ

The author and philanthropist MacKenzie Scott announced on Dec. 15 that she had given almost US$4.2 billion to hundreds of nonprofits. It was her second announcement of this kind since she first publicly discussed her giving intentions in May of 2019. In July 2020, Scott revealed that she’d already given away nearly $1.7 billion to… Read more »

Data

The battle at Google over biased algorithms and unaccountable AI shows even the people designing them have deep concerns

- December 11, 2020 3 MIN READ

Artificial intelligence (AI) is no longer the stuff of science fiction. In the form of machine learning tools and decision-making algorithms, it’s all around us. AI determines what news you get served up on the internet. It plays a key role in online matchmaking, which is now the way most romantic couples get together. It… Read more »

Cyber security

Turns out many cybercriminals are just poorly paid workers stuck in a dead-end job

- December 7, 2020 4 MIN READ

New research is questioning the popular notion that cybercriminals can make millions of dollars from the comfort of home — and without much effort. Our paper, published in the journal Trends in Organised Crime, suggests offenders who illegally sell cybercrime tools to other groups aren’t promised automatic success. Indeed, the “crimeware-as-a-service” market is a highly… Read more »

Tesla
Politics

Why taxing electric vehicles is an important next step in government policy

- November 30, 2020 4 MIN READ

The South Australian and Victorian governments have announced, and New South Wales is considering, road user charges on electric vehicles. This policy has drawn scorn from environmental advocates and motor vehicle lobbyists who fear it will slow the uptake of less-polluting vehicles. But, from a longer-term transport policy perspective, a distance-based road user charge on… Read more »

Data

How Australia can reap the benefits and avoid the pitfalls of the Internet of Things

- November 10, 2020 4 MIN READ

The Internet of Things (IoT) is already all around us. Online devices have become essential in industries from manufacturing and healthcare to agriculture and environmental management, not to mention our own homes. Digital consulting firm Ovum estimates that by 2022 Australian homes will host more than 47 million IoT devices, and the value of the… Read more »

The Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco
Politics

After winning the US Presidential election Joe Biden now has to fight the one thing Americans agree on: the nation’s deep division

- November 8, 2020 4 MIN READ

A timeless tradition in political journalism is trying to find a narrative that explains an electoral outcome. A widely accepted narrative to explain Barack Obama’s win over John McCain in 2008 was that Americans wanted to embrace the “change” candidate who appeared the most dissimilar to then-President George W Bush. The narrative four years later… Read more »

Melbourne
Business

FREE MELBOURNE: Shops, restaurants, and pubs reopen this Wednesday as lockdown laws ease

- October 27, 2020 3 MIN READ

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews yesterday announced the most significant easing of Melbourne’s coronavirus restrictions since the state went into “stage 3” lockdown on July 9. From 11.59pm on Tuesday night, retail, restaurants, cafes and bars will finally be able to open up in Melbourne. Gatherings of up to ten people outdoors are now allowed from… Read more »

Business

Commonly asked questions about what you can and can’t do in Melbourne and Victoria right now

- October 21, 2020 4 MIN READ

Victoria recorded one new case of COVID-19 on Monday, another fantastic result that suggests the coronavirus outbreak there is now being well controlled. Premier Daniel Andrews said on Tuesday the state was “well placed this weekend to be able to make very significant announcements about a further step to opening”. Yesterday there were 3 new… Read more »

Global tech

Is releasing the new iPhone 12 without a charger really a smart waste-reduction move, or clever cash grab by Apple?

- October 19, 2020 4 MIN READ

Apple has released its new smartphone, the iPhone 12, without an accompanying charger or earbuds. Users have harshly criticised the company for this move and will have to purchase these accessories separately, if needed. While some see it as cost-cutting, or a way for Apple to profit further by forcing customers to buy the products… Read more »

Advice

Facebook boss Sheryl Sandberg’s advice for women to ‘lean in’ and be more confident doesn’t help – and the data shows it

- October 17, 2020 3 MIN READ

  “Just be more confident, be more ambitious, be more like a man.” These are the words of advice given over and over to women in a bid to close the career and earnings gaps between women and men. From self-help books to confidence coaching, the message to “lean in” and show confidence in the… Read more »

Global tech

Google’s self-driving car project, Waymo, has launched its autonomous taxi in the US

- October 15, 2020 3 MIN READ

The age of the driverless taxi has arrived – at least in parts of Phoenix, Arizona. Self-driving car company Waymo, owned by Google’s parent company Alphabet, announced its autonomous vehicles are now available to the general public (or at least paying customers). The service is only available in a limited area for now, both because… Read more »