Is Snapchat’s My AI a safe space or a slippery slope for teens?
Snapchat’s new AI chatbot is already raising alarms among teens and parents, with poor privacy features and no access to parental guardrails without paying for a premium subscription, is this feature really as dangerous as it sounds? Also, major automakers are cancelling their upcoming electric vehicle launches in the US - what does this mean for us here in Australia? And unlike Elon Musk’s brain-computer interface, Synchron’s doesn't require open-skull surgery, and it has an OpenAI chatbot baked in. Is this a win for disability tech? Or the first step towards a Terminator-like revolution? Plus, how do you stop an AI model turning Nazi? What does the Grok drama reveal about how we train our large language models? And is there a better way to be doing it? GUESTS:Tobias Venus, technology and travel journalist Jennifer Dudley-Nicholson, Future Economies reporter for the Australian Associated Press This episode of Download This Show was made on Gadigal land and in Meanjin.Technical production by Ann-Marie Debettencour and Allyse Symons.
--------
29:07
--------
29:07
ID, please? China’s new internet rules and what they could mean for us
Big Brother is getting new powers in China with a digital ID system eerily similar to that being proposed in the upcoming teen social media ban. What are the privacy risks involved in needing your government ID to use any old website on the internet? And could this tech be seen in Australia anytime soon?Teachers have been struggling to manage student use of generative AI for years, but maybe its time teachers were taught how to use AI themselves. Microsoft, OpenAI and Anthropic are investing millions to train teachers how to use AI. Could this be the solution to teacher burnout, or just another way to reduce costs for employers?Also, could tracking your run be a risk to national security? Bodyguards using Strava revealed locations of Swedish leaders and its raised big questions when it comes to how we engage with any app with geo-tracking software. Plus, a new research centre has been unveiled that will explore how AI can help humans ‘speak’ with pets.GUESTS:David Braue, technology journalist at Cybercrime MagazineMichael Cowling, 'Professor tech', Director, Hub for Apple Platform InnovationThis episode of Download This Show was made on Gadigal, and Wurundjeri land, and in Naarm.Technical production by Tim Symonds and Allyse Symons.
--------
29:05
--------
29:05
How do we tell what's real and what's not, when the internet is flooded with AI slop?
Do you think you can tell the difference between what's real and what's made by AI? What about writing? Or even music?More AI-generated content is making its way into what we hear, read, and write and it's getting harder and harder to tell the difference. And when we can't tell who's making the things we consume, we can't tell their intentions behind it either. This is true when AI is causing more Australian job losses, and when the UN decides to use an AI avatar in place of real refugees.GUESTS:Erica Mealy, Senior Lecturer in Computer Science at the University of the Sunshine CoastSeamus Byrne, Head of Content at Byteside and a student member of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Automated Decision-Making and SocietyThis episode of Download This Show was made on Gadigal land and in MeanjinTechnical production by Tim Symonds and Marcus Hobbs
--------
28:35
--------
28:35
With 9,000 new layoffs at Microsoft, is AI set to change the gaming industry forever?
In recent years, like many other big technology firms, Microsoft has refocused its business towards developing AI, and this week the firm has announced it's slashing 9,000 jobs. A large chunk of these jobs are coming from its Xbox video gaming unit, with successful and longstanding titles like Elder Scrolls and Forza Motorport in the firing line. Why is Microsoft choosing AI over people? And what difference will this make for players of these games?Also, Nintendo has told shareholders that they're investing in virtual reality. Is Nintendo able to revive this less-than-popular tech? Or is this just another shiny promise for investors?Plus, two million people play eSports in Australia, which is more than five times the amount of Javelin throwers we have, so why is one an Olympic sport and not the other? Could the Brisbane Olympics be the chance for Australia to get in on the ground floor of elite competitive video gaming?GUESTS: Alice Clarke, award-winning tech journo and author of Press Any Button SubstackEdmond Tran, managing editor at This Week in VideogamesThis episode of Download This Show was made in Gadigal land and in Naarm. Technical production by Roi Huberman and Matthew Sigley.
--------
28:36
--------
28:36
An expert has quit over the government's planned social media ban, what now?
This week on Download This Show, we're getting up to speed with what on Earth is going on with the teen social media ban. From new standards being announced to experts quitting in protest -- it's proving to be a busy time for the people making decisions about what our teens get to see online.
Download This Show is your weekly guide to the world of media, culture, and technology. From social media to gadgets, streaming services to privacy issues. Each week Rae Johnston and guests take a fun, deep dive into how technology is reshaping our lives.
Australia