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Recently, the Australian Senate Select Committee released an investigation report on the national application of artificial intelligence (AI), pointing out numerous issues with large technology companies, including OpenAI, Meta, and Google, regarding their large language models (LLMs). The report, resulting from an eight-month investigation, revealed a lack of transparency from global tech companies in using Australian training data and called for their products to be included under new high-risk AI legal regulations. Image source note: Image generated by AI, image licensed from service provider Midj.

DataBank, a data center developer based in the United States, has successfully raised nearly AUD 3 billion (approximately USD 2.01 billion) to build three new data center facilities in the United States. The lead investor in this round of financing is AustralianSuper, the largest superannuation fund in Australia. Image source note: Photo generated by AI, image licensed by Midjourney. AustralianSuper stated on Wednesday that it has invested in DataBank's financing plan.

At a social media summit in Adelaide, Mike Burgess, the Director-General of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), issued a warning that social media is accelerating the radicalization process, especially regarding events like the Christchurch terror attack. Burgess described social media as both a 'treasure trove' and a 'cesspool', highlighting that it can help people connect but also lead to community division. He emphasized that the internet is the 'world's most powerful incubator of extremism'.

A child protection agency in Victoria, Australia, has recently been compelled to issue a ban requiring staff not to use generative AI services. This decision came after an employee entered a large amount of personal information, including the name of a high-risk child, while using ChatGPT to write a protective application report. The incident raised concerns with the Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC), which received a report in December last year and subsequently launched an investigation. The outcomes of the investigation revealed that the report submitted by the employee involved a young child.

Facebook acknowledged in an investigation that it is collecting publicly available data from all adult users in Australia. The company does not provide an opt-out option for Australians as it does for EU citizens, as privacy laws do not require it to do so.

A recent national survey shows that a majority of Australian adults (65%) frequently use multiple forms of digital media daily, yet lack confidence in their digital media skills. Approximately 40% of respondents have tried text-based generative AI services but have a negative view of such technologies and wish for related regulations to mitigate potential risks. The survey also revealed that 80% of adults believe action should be taken to combat the spread of misinformation and express a desire to learn how to identify false information. Groups with lower education levels, older age, and lower household income are particularly affected.

Australian telecom company Telstra and tech giant Microsoft have announced a deepening of their strategic partnership to promote AI innovation and digital transformation in Australia. The two companies will combine Microsoft's advanced AI technologies with Telstra's ultra-fast intercity fiber network, aiming to enhance the AI ecosystem and accelerate the digital transition. Microsoft sees Telstra as a strategic partner in expanding AI infrastructure in Australia, while Telstra's new fiber network will support Microsoft's infrastructure needs.

Under the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence technology, the dubbing industry in Australia is facing unprecedented challenges. Recently, the Australian Voice Actors Association (AAVA) submitted a report to the parliamentary committee, indicating that the jobs of approximately 5000 local voice actors are at serious risk. They fear that with the emergence of cheap generative AI cloned voices, their work could be completely replaced.The "Canary" in the Dubbing IndustrySimon Kennedy, the p

Australia has released new online safety standards, causing concerns among tech companies. Microsoft, Meta, and others worry that the standards may weaken AI system protections. The new standards target generative artificial intelligence, addressing child safety and terrorism-related content. Tech companies believe the standards could limit AI training and affect the accuracy of content moderation.

Highlights: * Australian startup Relevance AI has launched a low-code platform to assist businesses in building custom AI teams * The platform has successfully raised $10 million in Series A funding * The goal is for every team to employ at least one AI agent by 2025 * The platform caters to multimodal use cases including text, images, and audio.

The Australian government has established an advisory group focused on issues related to artificial intelligence and copyright, particularly concerning the use of copyrighted materials for training AI models. The rapid growth of generative AI technology has led to copyright confusion, prompting the government to recognize the urgent need for a response strategy, especially as multiple lawsuits involving ChatGPT have emerged. The Australian government is collaborating with stakeholders to balance AI development and the interests of the creative industries, aiming to resolve discrepancies in copyright protection of AI-generated content across different countries' courts. The Attorney General noted that artificial intelligence raises significant copyright issues, including the materials used for training.

Australian AI company Appen has announced that it is considering the sale of part or all of its business to adapt to market changes and financial pressures. The company has raised AUD 30 million in equity and implemented a total cost-cutting plan of USD 60 million. As of the end of October 2023, the company's revenue and gross profit have decreased by 29% and 32%, respectively, with the stock price suffering and an entire overhaul of the executive team. To stabilize its financial situation, Appen has announced an additional cost-cutting plan of USD 14 million to address business challenges.

An Australian research team has successfully shortened the manufacturing cycle of perovskite solar cells using AI technology, breaking the traditional manufacturing time constraints. Perovskite solar cells are low-cost and stable, with the new manufacturing method achieving a power conversion efficiency of 16.9%, setting the best record without human intervention. The research team has successfully predicted and manufactured thousands of solar cells using machine learning models, demonstrating commercial application potential. Scientists stated that this technology could be used to test and prototype other types of solar cells and are willing to collaborate further with industry partners.

Experts say Australia is lagging in AI funding and regulation, especially after the U.S. issued an executive order on AI regulation. The Australian government has signed the AI safety declaration but has not responded to calls for an AI safety investigation, raising concerns. The government has received over 500 submissions on AI but lacks specific regulatory details, and experts emphasize that Australia needs to take more proactive measures.

Microsoft plans to invest AUD 5 billion in Australia over the next two years to enhance its artificial intelligence and cloud computing capabilities. The investment will be used to increase computing power and expand data center capacity, as well as to train 300,000 Australians in the skills needed for the digital economy. Microsoft stated that the investment will help Australia seize the growth opportunities presented by the era of artificial intelligence. The Australian government welcomed the investment, believing it will help prepare Australians for future employment. Microsoft's investment reflects its long-term commitment to the development of artificial intelligence in Australia.

Recent survey results show that 91% of retailers in the ANZ region are investing in generative artificial intelligence to adapt to the changing needs of shoppers. Millennials show a strong interest in generative AI for shopping, with 52% of millennial consumers expressing a desire to use this technology when seeking gift inspiration. The influence of social media in retail is growing significantly, with digital channels becoming a crucial way to meet the increasing demand. The lines between physical stores and the digital world are becoming increasingly blurred, and loyalty programs are continuously improving as retailers strive to enhance shopper loyalty and market share.

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) announced the use of artificial intelligence (AI) technology to analyze surveillance licensing data, aiming to identify money laundering and fraud activities. The AFP stated that they expect AI technology to enhance the efficiency of policing, although its current usage is limited. AI tools, including large language models, are expected to help discover useful information within large-scale data, thus accelerating decision-making and actions. This initiative is particularly important in combating economic crimes, as these crimes involve complex data and patterns. The AFP emphasized transparency, ethics, and legality, ensuring data protection and privacy.

Microsoft has announced that the first batch of Australian customers is eligible for the Microsoft 365 (M365) Copilot early access program. M365 Copilot is a powerful generative AI service that combines large language models with Microsoft 365 organizational data to enhance productivity. The Australian financial services sector sees great potential in generative AI, expecting to realize economic value by 2030. The energy, utilities, and construction sectors are beginning to pilot generative AI to improve work efficiency. Microsoft's Copilot is established.