Technology
Scam alert: Personal loan scams
2 April
What’s happening Scammers are setting up fraudulent websites offering personal loans. They are also posting online advertisements for their services on social media platforms. Once your application for a loan is approved, you’ll receive an...[Read More]
‘Unfair’ subscription traps to be banned in new rules
1 April
Unfair trading practices such as subscription traps and drip pricing will be banned under reforms designed to bolster protections for consumers. The Albanese government introduced laws to parliament on Wednesday to put an end to tactics used by...[Read More]
Bumpy path predicted for self-driving cars in Australia
26 March
Autonomous cars could slash transport pollution by driving more efficiently, avoiding traffic snarls and reducing the need for car parks. But with the wrong policy settings, the technology could undo those savings by putting more cars on the road,...[Read More]
AI could devalue your degree, federal government warns
18 March
A university degree might become less valuable for securing a job in the age of artificial intelligence, posits an influential member of the government’s economics team, as financial workers worry that AI might steal their jobs. Rather than formal...[Read More]
High-power pit stop: quantum batteries could rev up EVs
18 March
Next-generation batteries Australian researchers are developing could potentially recharge electric cars faster than petrol vehicles fill up and top up smartphone instantaneously. The CSIRO’s quantum battery research team made the predictions on...[Read More]
Scientists make Parkinson’s drug from plastic bottles
18 March
Scientists have discovered a way of making a drug for Parkinson’s disease from used plastic bottles, saying it shows how waste materials can be “reimagined as valuable resources”. Developed by a team at the University of Edinburgh, the...[Read More]
Why AI’s beginning doesn’t mean the end of your career
12 March
Natalie MacDonald was six weeks back from maternity leave when a group email landed at 1am saying she’d been made redundant. After seven years at global tech company LinkedIn, the 36-year-old Sydney mum’s role as a senior news editor was one of...[Read More]
Limiting screen time not enough to protect kids: study
11 March
Any measure limiting the use of digital platforms by children, including a social media ban, is worth considering to protect mental health, a study has found. The review of global evidence from more than 360,000 young people found higher use of...[Read More]
Social media ban study to track thousands of families
4 March
The internet watchdog will track thousands of Australian families to assess the impact of the world-first social media ban on teenagers. The evaluation, led by the eSafety Commission’s research team, aims to understand how the law which kicked in...[Read More]
AI chatbots no substitute for human friends
25 February
Artificial intelligence companions might alleviate loneliness in aged care, but they can’t offer the vital physical touch or address social isolation, experts warn. Research from Monash University argues new AI ‘digital companions’, marketed...[Read More]
Breaking the social media addiction cycle as adults
25 February
Like children, many adults are also struggling with the urge to endlessly scroll and feel like they can’t escape the pull of Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat and other platforms. Some experts are comparing social media addiction to casinos, opioids and...[Read More]
Instagram chief rejects idea of social media addiction
18 February
The head of Meta’s Instagram has testified during a landmark social media trial in Los Angeles that he disagrees with the idea that people can be clinically addicted to social media platforms. The question of addiction is a key pillar of the case,...[Read More]
Australian social media ban both a success and failure
11 February
When Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez revealed plans to ban children younger than 16 from social media, he did so based on a precedent set in Australia. His announcement at the World Governments Summit came two months after an Australian law...[Read More]
Not a real doctor: AI struggles to treat human patients
11 February
Just because artificially intelligent chatbots can pass medical exams does not mean they should operate as doctors, a study warns, as they can provide deadly medical advice. In one case, two men who asked an AI tool about a brain bleed received...[Read More]
Top 10 legal issues facing Australian business owners in 2026
5 February
Running a business in 2026 presents numerous legal challenges as regulations evolve alongside technological advancements and global economic shifts. For business owners, navigating these complexities requires understanding key legal issues and...[Read More]