Technology and Security

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, host Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Connor Leahy, CEO of Conjecture. This episode unpacks the transformative potential of AI and AGI and need for responsible, global governance, drawing parallels to historical successes in treaties for ethical science practices, such as the moratorium on human cloning. It covers the current and potential impacts of AI monopolisation and centralisation of power and what AGI could mean, if achieved. The episode also explores the different risk profile complex cyber and cyber physical systems present for kinetic warfare.   This episode offers a deeply considered perspective on how to steer emerging technologies toward an inclusive, secure and human-centred future. It considers interdependencies in AI development, including the need for more recognition by technologists of the social and political implications of advanced AI systems. The conversation covers the California Governor’s veto of SB 1047, a bill designed to hold companies accountable for AI-caused catastrophic damage, and the necessity for international AI safety frameworks.  Connor Leahy is the cofounder and CEO of conjecture, an AI control and safety company. Previously, he co-founded EleutherAI, which facilitated early discussions on the risks of LLM-based advanced AI systems. He’s also a prominent voice warning of AI existential threats. He recently coauthored ‘The Compendium’ which aims to explainin the race to AGI, extinction risks and what to do about them, in a way that is accessible to non-technical readers who have no prior knowledge about AI.

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, host Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Australian National Cyber Security Coordinator, Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness. We talk all things cyber for Cyber Security Awareness Month. This episode explores cyber security threats, incidents and response coordination mechanisms as well as the National Cyber Intelligence Partnership and Executive Cyber Council. We also touch on Five Eyes, alliances and the intelligence implications of cyber. This episode explores interdependencies across sectors, highlighting cyber vulnerabilities and the consequences of cyber incidents, such as how a single system failure can disrupt essential services like payroll and logistics. Understanding unseen reliance is important for business as they examine their networks and work together to identify vulnerabilities to bolster national cyber resilience. We explore the importance of adopting digital identities and ethical AI, as well as quantum computing, pivotal for Australia and the Pacific region’s cyber security. The discussion includes the collective uplift across the Commonwealth and the necessity of maintaining robust cybersecurity standards to ensure national resilience. Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness is Australia’s National Cyber Security Coordinator. Prior to this appointment, she served as Deputy Director Commonwealth Integration in the US Defense Intelligence Agency, a Five Eye position as the most senior foreign officer in the US intelligence community. She has served in the Australian Defence Force for 30 years in a range of tactical, operational, and strategic roles in Australia and overseas.Resources mentioned in the recording:· Risky Biz https://risky.biz · www.cyber.gov.au This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.Thanks to the talents of those involved. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, host Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by Australian Privacy Commissioner Carly Kind. In this episode, we start by imagining a future privacy landscape where individual privacy is protected, and users have real agency and choice and look at the steps we need to take to get there. We explore the significant impact of advertising and extractive data economies on our daily technological interactions and emphasize the critical interdependency of AI on vast amounts of personal data. We discuss the challenges posed by large tech platforms developing AI models that will shape future technology products. The episode also looks into the misconception around cookie tracking consent notifications under GDPR and looks at legislative reform around privacy globally. We discuss the growing need for robust data breach deterrence as the OAIC aims to penalise entities for systemic failures to secure personal information. Lastly, we consider the immense infrastructural power of technology and its role in shaping society, highlighting how big tech companies are not just intermediaries but are actively influencing the world we live in . Carly Kind became Australia’s Privacy Commissioner in February 2024. Prior to this, she was the inaugural director of the Ada Lovelace Institute. She is a lawyer and leading authority on the intersection of technology, policy and human rights. She has advised industry, government and for purpose organizations and has worked with the European Commission, the Council of Europe, UN bodies and a range of civil society organizations. Resources mentioned in the recording:· Hard Fork https://www.nytimes.com/column/hard-fork · Ezra Klein podcast https://www.nytimes.com/column/ezra-klein-podcast · Exponential View from Azeem Azhar https://www.exponentialview.co · Miah Hammond-Errey (2024)  Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted, Routledge (30% off code: ADC24)This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.Thanks to the talents of those involved. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan. 

In this episode of the Technology & Security podcast, host Dr. Miah Hammond-Errey is joined by investigative journalist and author Byron Tau. They discuss the intricate and often opaque world of data brokers and global surveillance. Tau, known for his deep dives into complex subjects, shares insights from his book Means of Control, highlighting the potential misuse of large data sets and the delicate balance between data collection for security and the risk of social control. The discussion traverses the evolution of data brokers, from their inception involving public records to the sophisticated surveillance technologies of today. Tau elaborates on how everyday devices like mobile phones and fitness trackers contribute to the extensive surveillance network, often without user awareness, raising critical concerns about privacy and the power dynamics at play. The episode also explores the real-world implications of data misuse in both democratic and authoritarian regimes. Tau provides a nuanced perspective on the Russian interference in the 2016 US election, China's use of TikTok for data collection and content management and the geopolitical complexities of technology in diplomacy. He shares the story of Operation Gallant Phoenix, a multinational effort against ISIS using unclassified data to enhance international cooperation. The conversation touches on the concerns surrounding TikTok's data practices and content manipulation, and need for careful policy considerations. Tau's reflections on the current technology environment, the challenges for leaders, and his personal journey of writing his book add depth to this engaging discussion, making it a must-listen for anyone interested in the hidden mechanisms shaping our digital age.Resources mentioned in the recording: ·               Byron Tau (2024) Means of Control , Crown https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/706321/means-of-control-by-byron-tau/·               NOTUS https://www.notus.org·               Miah Hammond-Errey (2024) Big Data, Emerging Technologies and Intelligence: National Security Disrupted (20% discount code for book AFL04) https://www.routledge.com/Big-Data-Emerging-Technologies-and-Intelligence-National-Security-Disrupted/Hammond-Errey/p/book/9781032485584·               https://www.lowyinstitute.org/the-interpreter/byte-sized-diplomacy-should-australia-ban-tiktok·               https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919887-the-peacock-and-the-sparrow This podcast was recorded on the lands of the Gadigal people, and we pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. We acknowledge their continuing connection to land, sea and community, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Thanks to the talents of those involved. Music by Dr Paul Mac and production by Elliott Brennan.