Technology
Australians to tap into world-leading ID verification
14 August
People will be able to choose how much personal information they share with businesses or services under a form of digital-ID verification. Government Services Minister Bill Shorten will tell the National Press Club on Tuesday a “world leading”...[Read More]
Vital new technology saving lives after heart attacks
14 August
If an off-duty doctor didn’t know a nearby school had a defibrillator, Steven Simpson thinks he might not have made it through a recent heart attack. Mr Simpson had just made son Liam a coffee on June 28 when he went into cardiac arrest, leaving...[Read More]
Cracking coffee code may lead to new Australian brew
7 August
A major breakthrough by a team of international scientists could help deliver a new Australian brew of coffee. The team has been pouring its efforts into mapping the genome of Arabica beans – the world’s most widely consumed type of coffee. The...[Read More]
Star search busting one of the biggest myths in science
7 August
Scientists spend a lot of time busting myths and work is under way to smash one of the biggest of them all – what those scientists look like. A nationwide search is on for the next generation of women and non-binary science communicators,...[Read More]
Aussie founders combine to supercharge AI design tools
31 July
World-leading visual communications company Canva is joining forces with a generative artificial intelligence start-up to put the latest tools in the hands of millions of would-be designers. Australia’s largest privately held technology company...[Read More]
‘Teething issues’ to linger after global IT outage
24 July
Sectors affected by the global IT outages could take weeks to get back to normal, the home affairs minister has warned. The outage, caused by major cyber security firm CrowdStrike deploying a software update, left industries ranging from banks,...[Read More]
Medical devices at risk under 3G closure, inquiry told
24 July
Vulnerable people who use emergency medical devices connected to 3G data may slip through the cracks when the ageing mobile network is switched off in coming weeks. It is not known how many 3G-reliant medical devices, such as personal cardiac...[Read More]
‘Dystopian scenario’ of AI music over human tunes
24 July
One day soon, AI-driven algorithms could be directing music fans towards AI-generated tunes, in preference to songs written by human musicians. This possibility has been sketched out for a parliamentary inquiry looking at Australia’s live music...[Read More]
Love & AI: the artificial intimacy of being understood
17 July
With artificial intelligence quickly seeping into everyday life, health experts question whether the popularity of mental health chatbots and digital lovers will alter the way people connect. Digital companions such as the ones on California-based...[Read More]
Doctors call for AI rules to prevent medical mistakes
17 July
Australian doctors are using AI tools, including ChatGPT, to deal with patients every day despite a lack of guidelines or oversight from the nation’s medical regulator, an inquiry has heard. Healthcare experts revealed the issue at the Senate’s...[Read More]
‘Use every lever’ to limit social media damage on youth
10 July
Social media companies fail in their responsibility to protect children from online harm, says a safety advocate renewing calls for age verification. Mandatory and enforced measures such as age verification are a way to crack down on platforms over...[Read More]
Dingoes share pure genes with 3000-year-old ancestors
10 July
Dingoes may look like man’s best friend but genetics prove otherwise. New research shows dingoes have kept their rare genetic ancestry by not breeding with domestic dogs in the 3000 years since arriving in Australia. The Queensland University of...[Read More]
Watchdog warning ends Google deal with Telstra, Optus
3 July
Australia’s two biggest telcos will be restrained from accepting further payments by Google for pre-installing software on their smartphones after a warning from the competition watchdog. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission revealed...[Read More]
Would you show Facebook your ID? The govt wants to know
3 July
Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat could be asked to participate in the Australian government’s age-assurance technology trial to assess whether it would stop teenagers from accessing social media and pornography. But communications...[Read More]
Aussies feel social media fails to stop ‘scam war’
26 June
Australians are concerned social media platform giants are failing to stop scams and even encouraging the online phenomena. The Australian Banking Association released research on Wednesday revealing 39 per cent of Australians believe Meta – the...[Read More]