Information Age

Crypto platforms spent big on politics before election Including $50k to the incoming digital economy minister.

Large cryptocurrency platforms poured nearly half a million dollars into Australia’s two major political parties in the lead-up to last year’s federal election ahead of major regulatory reforms promised by both sides of the aisle.

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Businesses urged to donate tech to help needy students One in four students don’t have a home computer.

As schools embed AI and digital tools more deeply into everyday learning, a growing number of Australian students lack access to a computer at home — a gap not-for-profit WorkVentures says businesses are well placed to help close through device donation programs.

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Pinterest sacks engineers who tracked AI-based job cuts Workers accused of 'improperly accessing' confidential info.

Pinterest has laid off two engineers who allegedly built software to track which employees had lost their jobs in recent layoffs, as the social media company prioritises “AI-focused roles and teams”.

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China megaleak exposes 8.7 billion records Sensitive data presents severe risk of identity theft.

A researcher has uncovered a gigantic and meticulously organised collection of 8.73 billion leaked Chinese records, constituting one of the world’s largest data leaks to date.

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Why is AI allowed to read my messages? Experts concerned about lax approach to consent.

Whether it’s Microsoft Copilot summarising an email from your doctor or Hinge offering AI “Convo Starters” to impress a date, there’s a good chance AI will be involved in your private communications in 2026.

There’s just one problem: did we actually consent to this?

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Musk wants 1m data centres in space as xAI, SpaceX merge Billionaire seeks to harness 'near-constant solar power'.

Elon Musk says he plans to deploy 1 million orbital data centres around the Earth, as his rocket company SpaceX acquires his artificial intelligence firm xAI ahead of an expected initial public offering (IPO).

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From Clawdbot to Moltbook: Inside tech's new AI obsessions How 'OpenClaw' and AI social media gripped the internet.

The rise of the AI agent OpenClaw (formerly called Moltbot and Clawdbot) and the AI-only social media platform Moltbook has raised concerns from cybersecurity and privacy experts, and both have already been exposed for some early failings.

Here's what you need to know: ia.acs.org.au/article/2026...

Australian privacy teams shrink as AI risks explode Budgets fall as compliance pressure and cyber threats rise.

Relentless cybercriminals and AI’s unchecked data consumption have made compliance with tightening privacy laws more important than ever but shrinking budgets are driving stress in the small, shrinking and under-resourced privacy teams that are struggling to keep up.

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Google engineer guilty of stealing AI secrets Handed data to rival Chinese interests.

A former Google software engineer has been convicted of stealing the tech giant’s artificial intelligence trade secrets while working for Chinese tech companies.

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Unhappy workers stay put in ‘job hugging’ trend Economic fears trump flexibility and career moves.

Australian workers are staying put in jobs they don’t enjoy as economic uncertainty fuels a new trend dubbed “job hugging”.

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China executes scammers Myanmar fraud ring stole billions.

China has executed 11 people identified as ringleaders of a vast, Myanmar-based telecommunications fraud network that swindled victims out of billions and relied on violence and coercion to keep its scam operations running.

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Victoria declares ambition to be Australia’s AI capital Jobs, data centres, skills push unveiled.

The Victorian government is aiming to seize on the “once-in-a-generation” opportunity presented by artificial intelligence and become the nation’s “AI capital”, with plans to upskill workers, support those who are displaced, and lobby the Commonwealth for reforms.

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University ICT enrolments down in 2026 Are AI’s job risks making students consider other careers?

Overall university enrolments are down this year despite government efforts to bolster their numbers, with new statistics also showing ICT is losing favour among new university students who have instead flocked to study in fields like health, society and culture.

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Amazon accidentally tells workers it’s cutting 16,000 jobs News spilled before being confirmed in blog post.

Amazon has announced a further 16,000 jobs will be cut as it continues to embrace AI, with the tech giant accidentally informing employees of the move after an email bungle.

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Tesla axes Series S and X to build Optimus robots Elon Musk renews focus on autonomy, as sales drop continues.

Tesla will globally discontinue its Model S and Model X electric vehicles in the second quarter of 2026 to repurpose manufacturing lines to build its autonomous humanoid robot Optimus, CEO Elon Musk told investors in a surprise announcement on Thursday.

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How AI is reshaping Australian news Systematically favours US sources.

Artificial intelligence is leaving Australian news sources “increasingly invisible” as algorithms favour international media giants over local journalism, a new @sydney.edu.au study has found.

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Aussie women founders driving WFH revolution More likely to have launched business for flexible work.

Australian women founders are driving the work-from-home revolution being far more likely than their male counterparts to launch a business so they can work flexibly, according to new research.

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How companies will set salaries in 2026 Market data reshaping how Australians are paid.

Australian employers are no longer relying solely on company performance to set pay, instead turning to market data and salary guides as workers consider their next career move in the new year.

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Some older iPhones unable to reach Triple Zero or Telstra Apple's software update backfires.

A software update designed to prevent issues with older iPhones connecting to Triple Zero is stopping some Apple devices from reaching Telstra’s network, including for emergency calls.

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AI shopping arrives in Australia, retailers revolt Trial success comes amidst bot-blocking spree.

Autonomous AI agents have been lauded as the future of online shopping, but one tech giant is pushing back even as payments giant Mastercard fetes its success completing what it calls Australia’s first “fully authorised and secured agentic transaction”.

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Police AI use raises bias, secrecy fears Experts urge safeguards for emerging high-tech surveillance.

Technology experts and civil liberties advocates are calling for greater transparency and stronger safeguards around the NSW Police Force’s use of AI-powered tools made by Australian intelligence software company Fivecast, detailed in documents provided to Information Age.

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Autonomous EVs drive $30m NRFC investment Melbourne's Applied Electric Vehicles gets govt backing.

Australia's National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) has taken a $30.7 million equity stake in local autonomous vehicle company Applied EV, the government investment office announced on Wednesday.

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Apple Watch blood pressure alerts launch in Australia Hypertension feature switched on Down Under.

Apple has switched on its hypertension (or high blood pressure) notification feature in Australia, after the nation’s medical regulator approved the technology’s use in December 2025.

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Cybercriminals target job hunters Beware scam job offers from big tech companies.

Australians looking for a new role in the new year are being warned to be on high alert, with cybercriminals pretending to be well-known tech firms to scam job seekers.

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880% increase: Sendle competitors step up to make deliveries Aussie businesses desperately seek alternatives.

A number of Australian tech companies are stepping up to fill the void left by the abrupt collapse of major courier provider Sendle earlier this month.

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Robotics engineer wanted ‘cybernetic’ government Would-be Gold Coast terrorist reported to police after Facebook posts.

A 24-year-old former robotics engineer has been denied bail after allegedly planning a series of firebombings on the Gold Coast as part of his efforts to recruit dozens of people to a campaign to overthrow Australia’s government and recast it as a ‘cybernetic’ state.

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Technology leaders win Australia Day awards Quantum physicist, astronaut, eSafety chief among recipients.

Senior figures from Australia’s technology industry have received awards or appointments during 2026 Australia Day ceremonies, including space engineer and astronaut Katherine Bennell-Pegg, quantum physicist Michelle Simmons, and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.

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Airwallex faces AUSTRAC probe ahead of planned IPO Concerns platform being used to fund child sexual abuse.

The mooted IPO of Australian fintech unicorn Airwallex is in doubt after AUSTRAC raised “serious concerns” about its compliance with anti-money laundering and counter terrorism financing (AML/CTF) laws and gave it 180 days to report back.

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Australian CEOs say AI isn't creating revenue gains ROI, skills, and confidence elusive as worried execs invest trillions.

Australian businesses are throwing money at heavily hyped artificial intelligence solutions but just one in seven companies is seeing revenue gains as a result, new surveys have shown as CEOs worry they are not keeping up with AI’s risk and complexity.

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Tech worker loses unfair dismissal case over return to office Melbourne software engineer argued new rules were unlawful.

A Melbourne-based software engineer has lost an unfair dismissal case after he was fired for refusing to return to the office.

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