Technology
AI in every room: why home appliances are getting smart
7 May
Lights flick on as you enter the hall, the air-conditioner has pre-chilled the lounge, the robot vacuum has cleaned up, and the fridge sends you a message to let you know your cheese is nearing its expiry date. The artificially intelligent fridge...[Read More]
End of an online era as Microsoft closes Skype
7 May
Skype, the once-popular video call service, has ended operations after more than 20 years. Owner Microsoft had announced the move in February, encouraging Skype users to migrate to its communications app Teams. “As we say goodbye to Skype, we want...[Read More]
Aussies prompt politicians for real action on AI rules
30 April
Most Australians want regulations on the use of artificial intelligence and almost half fear unchecked use of the technology could impact relationships, a study has found. But mandatory AI guardrails have not been raised as an issue during the...[Read More]
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
30 April
Consumers must be told why their phone or internet service has been disconnected during major outages and when they can expect it to return under stricter telecommunication rules. Providers will also have to improve the way they deal with...[Read More]
Amazon launches internet satellites, taking on Starlink
30 April
The first 27 satellites for Amazon’s Kuiper broadband internet constellation have been launched into space from Florida, kicking off the long-delayed deployment of an internet-from-space network that will rival SpaceX’s Starlink. The satellites...[Read More]
Digital literacy in retirement: embracing tech in the golden years
24 April
In today’s fast-paced world, digital literacy has become a vital skill for people of all ages—including retirees. Far from being just “young people’s territory,” technology now plays a significant role in helping older adults stay...[Read More]
Bots influencing election discussion on social media
23 April
A flood of fake social media profiles inundating political discussion and reaching millions of Australians during an election campaign has sparked warnings of a growing threat. Almost one in five accounts analysed on X, formerly Twitter, discussing...[Read More]
Call for child protections as most gamers manipulated
23 April
Almost every Australian who plays digital games has been manipulated by gambling-like tricks that forced them to hand over money or personal data, but there’s little incentive for the industry to clean up its act. Australians spend about $4...[Read More]
‘Cancer’ of cyberscam industry spreading globally: UN
23 April
Asian crime syndicates behind the multibillion-dollar cyberscam industry are expanding globally including to South America and Africa, as raids in Southeast Asia fail to contain their activities. Criminal networks that emerged in Southeast Asia in...[Read More]
‘Strongest evidence yet’ of alien life beyond earth
23 April
British researchers have found the “strongest evidence yet” of alien life beyond our planet. While studying exoplanet K2-18b, which is 124 light years away, the team found signs of chemicals that are produced on earth by simple organisms such as...[Read More]
AI and 3D technology weaponised in fight against cancer
16 April
Australian researchers will ‘print’ cancer cells in 3D and use artificial intelligence software to analyse them after receiving a $2 million grant to invest in the technology. Macquarie University and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation...[Read More]
OpenAI working on X-like social media platform: report
16 April
OpenAI is working on its own X-like social media network, the Verge reports, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter. The project is still in early stages and there is an internal prototype focused on ChatGPT’s image generation that...[Read More]
Social media and free speech: where the legal boundaries are being tested
10 April
Social media has revolutionised how we communicate, offering a global platform for individuals to share opinions, challenge authority, and connect with others instantly. However, while platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), and...[Read More]
Turning 50, Microsoft dials up AI game
9 April
Thousands of people swooned in a dark conference hall that felt more like a rock concert when a Microsoft product manager demonstrated the company’s latest feature: how to sum numbers in Excel, with the click of a button. “It was literally like...[Read More]
Hearing aids to heart monitors: tech is going healthy
9 April
Wearable gadgets did little more than count steps when they first appeared, promising to assess a user’s health depending on whether they hit 10,000 a day. But the technology, which now ranges from smartwatches and fitness trackers to smart rings...[Read More]