Modern tech minerals may be hiding in extinct volcanoes
Rare earth minerals needed to fuel the transition to renewable energy and create everything from TVs to smartphones could be found inside dormant volcanoes.
technology (general)
AI-powered satellites to search for Aussie bushfires
A satellite constellation powered by artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology will launch from next year, watching the world for small fires.
X doesn’t mark the spot when it comes to Twitter fine
X Corp should not be responsible for fines issued to Twitter by the Australian eSafety Commissioner, its lawyers argued, as they are different companies.
X Corp says Twitter does not exist, fines should vanish
American legal experts have taken the stand in Federal Court as lawyers for the social network known as X argue it should not have to pay Twitter's fines.
Privacy law calls as Meta admits farming Aussie photos
Experts are calling for changes to privacy laws after Meta revealed Australian photos from Facebook and Instagram were being used to train AI tools.
Aussie companies should not be shy but careful about AI
Businesses need to monitor for bias, copyright infractions and ethical issues when using AI, a group has warned, but should not ignore the technology.
Crackdown on doxxing but hate speech law under fire
As the federal government comes under pressure on weakened hate speech laws, fresh penalties will apply for disclosing private information online.
Senator renews calls for AI ban in election campaigning
Independent Senator David Pocock has renewed calls for urgent legislation to ban generative AI in election material.
AI is coming to your smartphone but not the guardrails
Tech giant Apple is expected to launch its first iPhones with generative AI within days but experts say the technology still lacks safeguards.
Meta’s latest news ban an error but maybe not next time
Facebook parent company Meta has told an inquiry it did not intend to block news stories from its platforms in August, but it is keeping its options open.
‘Kill switch’ considered to tackle high-risk AI
Artificial intelligence has been met with both concern and hype but government guidelines could help regulate its use in high-risk situations.
No, your mobile phone is not giving you brain cancer
A review of more than 5000 studies for the World Health Organisation has sought a definitive answer on whether mobile phones are safe to use.
Brazil watchdog moves to block X after court order
Brazils telecommunications regulator has started to block access to the X social media platform after a Supreme Court ruling.
Why you can expect to see more Aussie doctors using AI
Australia doctors are increasingly using AI tools in their clinics but medical groups insist patients will not be diagnosed by technology.
Court’s landmark ‘trans women are women’ verdict lauded
The founder of a women-only app has been ordered to pay compensation for unlawfully discriminating against a transgender user as a landmark case concluded.
Australia’s Silicon Valley wins over cashed-up firms
Big-name firms including Afterpay and Cash App are moving into a precinct designated as a hub for Australian technology innovation.
Why more Aussies are letting AI organise their divorce
An AI-powered legal service is helping former couples divide marital assets and, while it will not suit everyone, organisers say it is saving users money.
Hitting the wrong note: musicians say AI will take jobs
Thousands of musicians say they will no longer be able to support themselves due to the impact of Artificial Intelligence, according to a major survey.
Snapchat rejects Aussie calls to raise social media age
Lifting the age limit for children on social media platforms would leave existing users adrift, Snapchat's safety head says, and should be a family decision.
Aussies want AI restrictions, though most don’t use it
Generative AI tools are a concern for a growing number of Australians, a report has found, even though only two in five have tried the technology.
Amazon tests AI for audiobooks but new rules are coming
Amazon is testing AI-generated voices for audiobooks in the absence of guidance, its executives say, as government officials reveal AI rules are in the works.
Cybersecurity worker shortage could put Aussies at risk
Australia does not have enough cybersecurity specialists to protect consumers from further data breaches, a report warns, amid calls for greater training.
Urgent call to pass deepfake sexual image sharing laws
Laws that crack down on the creation and sharing of non-consensual sexual images, including digitally altered deepfakes, should pass with haste, senators say.
Aussie firms urged to deploy AI but limit its emissions
Artificial intelligence technology is being blamed for rising greenhouse gas emissions but a report has identified ways to reduce its environmental impact.
Google maintains illegal monopoly over search: US judge
"Google is a monopolist, and it has acted as one to maintain its monopoly," a US judge has ruled, say the search engine illegally exploits its dominance.
Why future cars will be like ‘smartphones on wheels’
Buyers might not choose their next car for its shape, power or brand, auto experts say, but based on what its software can do.
Has the latest IT outage quietly slowed the cash crash?
The CrowdStrike outage exposed vulnerabilities in digital payment systems and shows Australia is decades away from a completely cashless society, experts say.
Fake dancing premier video sparks call for tougher laws
An AI-generated social media video of the Queensland premier dancing posted by his political rivals has led to calls for stronger political advertising laws.
AI curiosity soars, but not everyone’s comfortable
More Australians are turning to artificial intelligence technology to learn new skills, a Google report shows, but others want to identify when it's being used.
IT outage ends but sparks fears of a vulnerable system
Authorities are scrambling to understand how a simple software update caused an unprecedented IT outage that crippled companies and services around the country.
Fears of ‘knock-on’ delays after global IT outage
Companies are battling the flow-on effects from the global IT outage that downed flights, media and supermarkets.