ABC News Daily

One year ago ChatGPT was just taking off, the artificial intelligence bot amazed people with its ability to do anything from writing job applications, to travel itineraries and essays.

Since then, AI technology has been evolving. 

So, are you an AI ‘boomer’ or ‘doomer’? Do you think artificial intelligence will make the world a better place or are you worried it could destroy our way of life? 

Today, Professor Toby Walsh, the chief scientist at UNSW’s AI institute explains the recent fight over AI in Silicon Valley and the latest innovations we need to know about. 

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Toby Walsh, chief scientist at the AI institute at the University of New South Wales

At the start of the Israel-Gaza war, the Israeli Prime Minister had firm backing from many nations, including Australia. 

But with the Gaza health ministry now putting the death toll at more than 18-thousand, US President Joe Biden has warned Israel is losing that support.

Australia has now backed a United Nations vote calling for a ceasefire. 

Today, Ghaith al-Omari, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, discusses how the world’s view is shifting and what that means for the war.   

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Ghaith al-Omari, senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Electric vehicles, electric bikes and electric scooters are more prevalent and part of our lives.

But as we make the green transition, the dangers of the lithium-ion batteries that power these devices and many others are becoming more apparent. 

They’re causing explosions and fires at homes across the country. 

Today, Dr Matthew Priestley from the University of New South Wales discusses what causes the battery fires and how to reduce the risk.  

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Dr Matthew Priestley, Lead Technology Translator in the Energy Systems Research Group, University of New South Wales.

Did you know there’s a cyber-attack reported in Australia every six minutes? 

In the past 18 months, we’ve seen some of the biggest hacks in our history, including against Optus and Medibank. 

There are criminal groups trying to disrupt our lives and steal our data, but it’s countries like China and Russia that are also becoming more aggressive in targeting Australian businesses and government secrets.  

Today, executive director of cyber intelligence at CyberCX Katherine Mansted explains why the threat is increasing and how we can protect ourselves. 

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Katherine Mansted, executive director of cyber intelligence at CyberCX

As you head to the supermarket to stock up for your Christmas lunch you can try and shop around for a deal, but it’s not easy with Coles and Woolies dominating the market. 

According to the Greens you’ll be paying too much, because they accuse the big players of price gouging. 

It’s an allegation the supermarkets deny. 

Today, ABC investigative reporter Adele Ferguson discusses why an inquiry into the duopoly is needed and how regulation could help consumers.

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Adele Ferguson, ABC investigative reporter

When the World Health Organisation demanded China pass over detailed information on an outbreak of respiratory illness last month there was an uncomfortable sense of deja vu. 

Local media had been reporting hospitals being overwhelmed with sick children with undiagnosed pneumonia and the WHO wanted to know what was going on.

It’s clear now it’s a winter surge in illness rather than a new pathogen. 

But are we really prepared for the next pandemic?  

Today, epidemiologist Raina MacIntyre explores what the next pandemic might look like.  

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Raina MacIntyre, Professor of Global Biosecurity at the Kirby Institute, University of New South Wales

The world’s attention may have shifted to the war in the Middle East, but in Ukraine the battle drags on as a second winter sets in. 

It comes after a brutal counter-offensive in which Ukrainian soldiers tried but failed to take back significant territory from the Russians.   

Today, Dr Samir Puri, a visiting lecturer at King’s College London and former ceasefire observer in Ukraine, discusses who’s winning the war and how long Ukraine can rely on Western support. 

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Dr Samir Puri, visiting lecturer in War Studies at King’s College London

It’s part of the biggest road project ever built in Australia, but when a complex maze of tunnels and roads opened in Sydney last month it became apparent there was a major design flaw causing traffic chaos. 

So, how did planners get it so wrong and why do we rely so heavily on motorways?

Today, transport planner from the University of Technology Sydney, Michelle Zeibots, explains how political decisions are keeping us off public transport and in traffic jams. 

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Dr Michelle Zeibots, senior lecturer at the school of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Technology Sydney

By the end of 2023, the number of immigrants who’ve arrived in Australia during the year may be approaching 600 thousand.

They’re filling jobs and bringing cultural diversity to communities, but there is a downside for the economy. 

Today, the ABC’s business editor Ian Verrender explores the impact the surge is having on inflation, interest rates and rental prices and what the government should be doing about it. 

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Ian Verrender, ABC business editor

When one of the oldest all boys schools in the country declared it would be enrolling girls, it irked some old boys and parents so much that legal action has been threatened to try and stop the move. 

So, why is there so much controversy when single sex schools decide to go co-ed? 

Today, an expert in girls' and boys' schooling, Judith Gill, on the widely held misconceptions in the debate and what the research shows about which system works best. 

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Dr Judith Gill, adjunct associate professor of education at the University of South Australia