Balancing the risks and opportunities of AI ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

AU Edition - Today's top story: View from The Hill: Albanese takes oversight of government's response to AI under his own wing View in browser

15 July 2026

AU Edition

 

Later today Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will deliver a major speech about artificial intelligence.

It’s easy to forget this technology was born almost 70 years ago. Only since OpenAI launched ChatGPT in 2022 has it really taken off. Along with all of the hype about how it will change the world for good, there’s plenty of concern about its impact on everything from jobs to the environment and national security.

Albanese will announce the establishment of the “Office of AI” in his own Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet – effective immediately. As Michelle Grattan writes, it will coordinate the rollout of AI in Australia and seek to strike a balance between the technology’s many risks and opportunities.

The prime minister is expected to make more announcements in the speech – and AI regulation expert Rita Matulionyte will be watching closely to analyse them in more detail. Let us know what you think by emailing us at yoursay@theconversation.edu.au
 

Drew Rooke

Deputy Science + Technology Editor

 

View from The Hill: Albanese takes oversight of government’s response to AI under his own wing

Michelle Grattan, University of Canberra

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is taking direct oversight of the government’s handling of Australia’s AI rollout with the creation of an Office of AI.

The US and Iran are back at war. And with one main sticking point, there’s no end in sight

Amin Saikal, Australian National University; The University of Western Australia; Victoria University

Both sides are at an impasse over control of the Strait of Hormuz, with no end in sight.

Australians brace for higher fuel prices as US-Iran conflict resumes (again)

Kevin Morrison, University of Technology Sydney

The closed Hormuz Strait and a dearth of Russian diesel will trigger further volatility.

What is mobile domestic roaming? Here’s why Australia needs this policy

Mark A Gregory, RMIT University

Domestic roaming could reduce the disruption – including to Triple Zero services – caused by a major outage on one mobile network.

Major platforms have the tools to stop sexual extortion, but they’re not using them – new report

Joel Scanlan, University of Tasmania

Sextortion is arguably the most predictable serious crime on the internet. It follows a script – and it can be stopped.

The MSO and Lattouf rulings are seemingly at odds. Where does this leave free speech at work?

Bill Swannie, Australian Catholic University

The court has found the cancellation of Jason Gillham’s concert by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra was not prohibited by Australian workplace laws.

Who needs another COVID vaccine – and who might be able to skip it?

Meru Sheel, University of Sydney

It depends how old you are and if you have an underlying health condition.

Here’s what’s at stake as BHP workers prepare for a historic strike

Alexis Vassiley, Edith Cowan University

Mining workers are among the highest paid workers in Australia. But this strike is about far more than pay.

20 years ago, China bet big on electric vehicles. Now Western carmakers are feeling the pain

Timothy Minchin, La Trobe University; Michelle Shu Wun Kuek, La Trobe University

China’s rise to EV dominance may seem sudden – but it’s the result of more than 20 years of state investment.

‘Philistine’ is a byword for boorish ignorance – but the real Philistines were cultured. Who were they?

Philip C. Almond, The University of Queensland

The Philistines moved from the Aegean region to an area later called Palestine in 1200 BC. Their depiction as barbarians can be traced to the Old Testament.

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I’m 2.5 years into creative arts training at TAFE. When I submit a project my teachers provide valuable feedback. This year there has been a change in tone to the written feedback - I’ve found out at least one teacher uses AI to write it. I used to look forward to receiving it but now I don’t even bother to read it.

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