Tech Mirror

The nature of work and jobs is being reshaped by artificial intelligence. Is it the building block to a worker utopia, or a more bleak, disruptive reality? In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver sits down with Joseph Mitchell from the Australian Council of Trade Unions to unpack the opportunities, risks, and power dynamics brought on by the rollout of AI in workplaces around Australia. He argues that AI is being used increasingly to meet new efficiency benchmarks and worker surveillance. Johanna and Joseph ask, can the voice of unions, policy makers, and individuals shape what happens next, and will the future of work remain deeply human — even in an AI-driven world?

Links:
Australian Council of Trade Unions: www.actu.org.au
Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, of His Holiness Pope Leo XiV, on safeguarding the human person on the time of artificial intelligence: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html
Fair Work Commission: https://www.fwc.gov.au?utm_source
National Employment Standards (Fair Work Ombudsman): https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/national-employment-standards
Daron Acemoglu
MIT Economics: https://economics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu
Building pro-worker artificial intelligence https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf

For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare to meet some amazing individuals who are using technology for social justice. This episode was recorded live at the Technology for Social Justice conference - Australia’s premier not-for-profit technology capability building, upskilling, networking and awards event, celebrating and exploring how technology can enable leaders to amplify impact.
Johanna sat down to chat with CEO of Infoexchange, David Spriggs, and Infoexchanges strategic lead Tish Tambakau to talk about the origins of the conference and a new Program to support NFP tech adoption. Then she dives into conversation with Joey Esguerra from Uniting to learn about about how AI in being the care sector. Patima Tantiprasut, CEO of Pet Rescue shares how technology is helping keep pets in loving homes; Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things Australia and Hiba Ayas, the multicultural team leader from Whittlesea Community Connections share inspiring stories of digital programs empowering women; and Suzie Riddell, the head of evidence and impact at the Smith Family talks about how access to the right tech can help set a young person on a positive trajectory. This one is a special episode: prepare to be inspired.
Links:
Pet Rescue: https://www.petrescue.com.au/
Good Things Australia: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/
Digital Sisters Program: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/our-programs/digital-sisters/
Smith Family: www.thesmithfamily.com.au
For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode marks the launch of TIPD's new research around AI, trust and regulation on 5 May in Parramatta. It begins with Johanna speaking with the Assistant Minister for Science, Technology and the Digital Economy, Dr Andrew Charlton, followed by his keynote where he sets out the Government’s plan when it comes to AI and how to get the Australian public to trust and invest in AI. Next up TPDi Co-founder, Zoe Hakwins, presents the key findings of the research, followed by a lively panel discussion which brings to the research to life with each speaker taking on one of the 4 ‘Australian AI personas’:
Jess Wilson (CEO Good Things Australia) representing Australia’s Regulation-enabled adopters (45%) are the persuadable majority – open to AI but waiting for clear safeguards
Lailei Huang (Founder & Chair Western Sydney Tech Innovators) representing Australia’s Tech champions (28%) see regulation as an economic enabler
Peter Lewis (Host of Burning Platforms and What’s your Poison) representing Australia’s Entrenched sceptics (15%) who want protection first, over unconstrained AI promotion
George Trigenis (TPDi Youth Ambassador) representing Australia’s Self-assured adopters (12%) prefer to navigate AI on their own terms.
Links:
Read the Research Spotlight: Earning Trust - unlocking adoption for Australians: https://techpolicy.au/earning-trust
For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johanna discusses Australia’s draft Children’s Online Privacy Code with Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind and Director of the Code Taskforce Kate Bower. They discuss how the proposed privacy code will work and how it will shape and benefit young people’s privacy in the future, with the potential for positive spillover for all users regardless of age. Carly and Kate also answer questions sent in by TPDi’s three youth ambassadors. Listen to the episode and provide your input on the draft code - consultations open until 5 June 2026!
Links:
OAIC Privacy for Kids (for copy of the draft code, and loads of great resources for parents and kids): https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/privacy-for-kids
Participate in a Roundtable on the draft Code: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=Ff0M3VhFEkuLreommE_EF05_L5kDbTNEstNjz43Wa4FURUNIODE2Ulg0TVRSWlJHQzAzSzVYT0M4MSQlQCN0PWcu
Recap the way the Code might work with Digital Duty of Care: https://techpolicy.au/podcast/part-5-next-steps-australia-v-social-media-mini-series
For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Johanna looks at whether the past can give us clues about the future with Carl Benedikt Frey, Dieter Schwarz Associate Professor of AI & Work at the Oxford Internet Institute and writer of How Progress Ends: Technology, Innovation, and the Fate of Nations. They talk about whether progress will end in the context of technology, innovation and (of course) artificial intelligence. They also discuss past events like the industrial revolution and US Gilded Age can tell us about the current technological direction humanity is taking.
In keeping with Tech Mirror’s deep dive into Tech and Geopolitics, Johanna and Carl also discuss who will succeed in the rise of AI - the US or China? And Carl answers the big question: is progress ending in the US?
Links:
Carl’s book - How Progress Ends: https://press.princeton.edu/books/hardcover/9780691233079/how-progress-ends
For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.