Burning Platforms

“I’m concerned that AI and big tech – well, big tech with AI – has gone into a full-court press… particularly on the federal system...I’m concerned that without thinking it through clearly enough, policy makers won’t essentially subject the slogans to sufficient scrutiny.”   This week on Burning Platforms, we recorded our special briefing for cultural creators and those who value their work to discuss Big Tech’s push to mine our culture. Our panel discusses: How AI large language models have been built on the theft of the work of musicians, writers journalists and artists. What the productivity Commission’s proposal to give AI companies a ‘right to mine data’ will do to Australian performers How creatives and citizens can resist the attacks from AI   Featuring: AI expert and author Professor Toby Walsh Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Tim Ayres, Australia's Federal Industry and Science Minister, shares his journey from union roots to shaping national industry policy. He discusses the complex interplay between AI, energy, and water, stressing the importance of sustainable practices. The conversation also dives into copyright laws impacting AI development, emphasizing the need to balance innovation and authors' rights. Ayres highlights the crucial role of worker empowerment as technology evolves, advocating for collaboration to ensure equitable outcomes in a tech-driven future.

Can Australia play a leading role in imagining a tech future that isn’t controlled by either the US or China? Johanna Weaver from the Tech Policy Design Institute expands on her recent essay ‘System Update - An Australian-led new deal for tech’ - https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/essay/2025/06/tech-wars   Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis will also discuss: what the new Federal Parliament means for tech how Cloudflare could rewrite the game in copyright and the rise of Satanic Chat Bots   To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit -  https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

The Large Language Models are powered by stolen data but there are new and innovative ways to make the thieves pay. Professor Toby Walsh explains the tech-driven resistance to Big AI from data poisoning to responsible cloud computing. With panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Editor of the Sizzle Cam Wilson, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis we also discuss: Qantas’ big data hack Victoria’s foray into AI policing and how Velvet Sunset’s fake music is bringing tears to Peter’s eyes To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

"I thought old people got scammed. And actually young people are at greater risk because they have more confidence in dealing [with things] online." This week on Burning Platforms, the team learns how the financial scam industry has become an enthusiastic early adapter of AI and how the banks are working around the clock to ensure they aren’t the ones liable for the ensuing harm.  With our regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair, Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, who are joined by co-founder of Scams Victims Alliance, Alex Brooks.  To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit. (https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome) For more about Scams Victims Alliance go to: https://scamvictimalliance.org.au/ 

"What could things have become? You could imagine if the baton had been passed from the Obama administration to a Clinton administration... an American public much more ready... for the turns in AI that we are facing now."   On this week's Burning Platforms, our panel spends some quality time with the architect of the Biden Administration’s AI executive order, Dr Alondra Nelson.   With regular panelists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis.   Join the conversation. Get involved with the Burning Platforms community in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/

Burning Platforms struggles to make sense of white genocide, design unicorns and the all-seeing Apple Eye. E-Safety Commissioner Julie Inman-Grant joins regular panellists Digital Rights Watch founder Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis for our regular dive into the world of tech and politics. Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/

Good things come in threes and this week’s Burning Platforms looks at the inspiration behind the new Pope’s decision to name himself Leo, the critical changes to the Labor Government’s front bench and Mark Zuckerberg maximum number of friends.   Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and joined by Professor Dan Angus from QUT’S Digital Research Centre.

With a federal election within days, Burning Platforms looks at the lack of discussion about tech and whether that is a good or bad thing.   With Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and special guests, Editor of The Sizzle, Cam Wilson and Dr Rys Farthing from Reset Australia.   Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/   Support our guests by checking out their content and work. Subscribe to The Sizzle! - https://thesizzle.com.au/ Reset Australia's work on the Child Online Privacy Code - https://au.reset.tech/news/welcoming-a-children-s-privacy-code/

As the world teeters on the brink of whatever comes after globalisation we dive deep into the way AI is transforming film-making with the director of the iconic Australian film Kenny, Clay Jacobson.   Our regular panel of Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: The theory that the Trump Tariffs were cooked up by a chatbot The growing chance that the FTC anti-trust case against Meta is history; and  The backlash against Chat GPT’s appropriation of Studio Ghibli’s acclaimed work. Don't forget to subscribe to The Town Crier, the official newsletter of the Centre for the Public Square and Burning Platforms podcast: https://the-town-crier-2.ghost.io/