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.