Tech Mirror

“I wanted to make a difference, and I wasn’t getting that fulfilment in the private sector anymore,” says Lee Hickin. After decades at some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and IBM, Lee wanted to shift the impact of his work away from corporate goals towards the broader public good. Now leading Australia’s National AI Centre (NAIC), Lee’s challenge is to help position the nation to seize the opportunities of AI while giving organisations the confidence, skills and agency to navigate a rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.

In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Lee on a sober perspective in the ‘race for AI’ and how the government's strategy is constantly evolving to keep pace. By taking an intergenerational approach, Lee gives a clear piece of advice: learn how to use AI, but don’t become dependent on it.

Links:

AI Agency Toolkit Expanding AI Sovereignty to AI Agency | Tech Policy Design Institute

 ai.gov.au | National AI Centre

Artificial intelligence expert Lee Hickin departs Microsoft to become National AI Centre director | Startup Daily

Anthropic researcher believes more than 10% chance AI 'could kill all humans' | BBC
 

OnlyFans is often immediately recognised as an adult content platform. Yet, according to digital culture scholar Dr. Emily van der Nagel, the company sidesteps embracing the kinds of explicit material that define it. What does this mean for the creators who make their living on the platform, and for its and governments' responsibilities?

In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver and Emily explore how the OnlyFans platform design and corporate strategy shape the experiences of its creators and users. Their conversation examines questions of worker agency, platform power and regulation, copyright, the blurry line between art and porn, and what making a living through platform work can reveal about the broader digital economy and our society. 

This podcast episode does include adult themes, so exercise your judgement as to if and when you listen to this episode.

Links

OnlyFans | Emily van der Nagel

Why OnlyFans had second thoughts on banning sexually explicit content | The Guardian


Competing platform imaginaries of NSFW content creation on OnlyFans | Emily van der Nagel

Digital Economy Strategy | Australian Government, Department of Industry, Science, and Resources

Many believe that Artificial Intelligence will soon be embedded in nearly every aspect of the modern world. But how diverse are the people shaping this technology? In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver is joined by Dr. Gemma Killen and Professor Rashina Hoda to explore how a lack of diversity in AI development is amplifying harms towards women as well as marginalised and vulnerable groups. From biased recruitment, renter prejudices and healthcare systems to deepfakes, they acknowledge the existing challenges with AI’s track record on diversity and suggest some practical steps to improve inclusion and instead use AI to reduce bias and, just maybe, even smash the patriarchy!

Links:

AI has a woman problem. It could cost us dearly | The Financial Review

What Does a Software Engineer Look Like? Exploring Societal Stereotypes in LLMs | Monash University

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE and Women's Health | Working with Women Alliance

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, Gender and Equality Economics| Working with Women Alliance

AI Safety Forum: Session Videos

Is Australia getting AI strategy right? Following the PM’s “AI In Australia’s Interests” speech on 15 July, much of the conversation has focused on data centres and ‘national standards’. But according to industrial AI leader Cori Stewart, that's not where Australia's biggest opportunity lies. In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Cori, the CEO of ARM Hub, about why Australia should focus on industrial AI, how Australian AI is already transforming manufacturing, healthcare, mining and agriculture, and what it will take to build the high-value industries that can power Australia's future prosperity. From steel mills and medical devices to South Korea’s manufacturing success, this is a conversation about moving beyond hype and putting AI to work in the industries that will create Australia’s future jobs, capability and prosperity.

Links

Cori’s article in Innovation Aus: Australia is chasing the wrong link of AI. 


AI In Australia’s Interests | Prime Minister of Australia


ARM Hub


Tech Policy AI Agency Report | TPDI

For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast

What would it take for Australia to build its own AI future? The Australian Prime Minister made a landmark speech on 15  July declaring that his government would shape Artificial Intelligence rather than be shaped by it. Just days before the speech, Australian AI company Maincode beta launched Matilda, an Australian-built AI platform. Johanna Weaver sits down with Maincode CEO Dave Lemphers to discuss Matilda, Australian-made AI, and the hard realities of creating a world-class technology company from Melbourne. From compute clusters to copyright, to national ambition, this is a conversation about building capability that lasts.

Links


AI In Australia’s Interests | Prime Minister of Australia

Meet Matilda, Australia’s answer to ChatGPT | Financial Review

Maincode

Maincode Builds An AI Factory for Australia with AMD | AMD

For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast

In a world of AI, what does it mean to be human? In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver speaks with one of Australia’s foremost ethicists, Simon Longstaff, from the Ethics Centre. Together, they make the case for ethics in the wider AI discourse. They discuss why Simon urges Australians to demand more than a social licence for AI arguing instead for a social compact. Johanna and Simon explore how concepts like purpose, trust, and accountability can help guide the responsible development of AI while confronting “just because we can do something with AI, should we?”

Links

Will AI be the risk we chose not to see? | The Ethics Centre

The Ethics Centre
https://ethics.org.au/

Australia’s AI Ethics Principles | Department of Industry, Science, and Resources https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/australias-ai-ethics-principles?utm_source=chatgpt.com

For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast

With countries and tech stakeholders rapidly moving to claim AI in their interest, such as the US government’s move to restrict non-citizens' access to platforms like Claude, what does it mean for Australians to have control over their technological future? AI is becoming closely linked to Australia’s economy, security, and everyday life. It’s time to discuss what having AI Agency looks like now and into the future.

In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver is joined by Tech Policy Design Institute co-founder and lead researcher Zoe Hawkins to unpack their latest report Expanding AI Sovereignty to AI Agency. Together, they explore why Australia needs to move beyond simplistic debates to uncover how Australia’s tech movement holds strategic advantages that build both leverage and resilience when global events expose geopolitical uncertainty.

Links:
Anthropic to disable its most advanced AI models after US order limiting foreign access | The Guardian

Tech Policy Design Institute – AI Agency Report
https://techpolicy.au/aiagency

Tech Policy Design Institute
https://techpolicy.au

Australia's National AI Plan
https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-ai-capability-plan

Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – AI
https://oecd.ai

Anthropic
https://www.anthropic.com

For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast

The nature of work and jobs is being reshaped by artificial intelligence. Is it the building block to a worker utopia, or a more bleak, disruptive reality? In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver sits down with Joseph Mitchell from the Australian Council of Trade Unions to unpack the opportunities, risks, and power dynamics brought on by the rollout of AI in workplaces around Australia. He argues that AI is being used increasingly to meet new efficiency benchmarks and worker surveillance. Johanna and Joseph ask, can the voice of unions, policy makers, and individuals shape what happens next, and will the future of work remain deeply human — even in an AI-driven world?   Links: Australian Council of Trade Unions: www.actu.org.au Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, of His Holiness Pope Leo XiV, on safeguarding  the human person on the time of artificial intelligence: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html    Fair Work Commission: https://www.fwc.gov.au?utm_source National Employment Standards (Fair Work Ombudsman): https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/national-employment-standards Daron Acemoglu  

• MIT Economics: https://economics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu
• Building pro-worker artificial intelligence https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf 

  For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcast See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prepare to meet some amazing individuals who are using technology for social justice. This episode was recorded live at the Technology for Social Justice conference - Australia’s premier not-for-profit technology capability building, upskilling, networking and awards event, celebrating and exploring how technology can enable leaders to amplify impact.  Johanna sat down to chat with CEO of Infoexchange, David Spriggs, and Infoexchanges strategic lead Tish Tambakau to talk about the origins of the conference and a new Program to support NFP tech adoption. Then she dives into conversation with Joey Esguerra from Uniting to learn about about how AI in being the care sector. Patima Tantiprasut, CEO of Pet Rescue shares how technology is helping keep pets in loving homes; Jess Wilson, CEO of Good Things Australia and Hiba Ayas, the multicultural team leader from Whittlesea Community Connections share inspiring stories of digital programs empowering women; and Suzie Riddell, the head of evidence and impact at the Smith Family talks about how access to the right tech can help set a young person on a positive trajectory. This one is a special episode: prepare to be inspired. Links: Pet Rescue: https://www.petrescue.com.au/  Good Things Australia: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/   Digital Sisters Program: https://goodthingsaustralia.org/our-programs/digital-sisters/ Smith Family:  www.thesmithfamily.com.au  For transcript and full show notes visit techpolicy.au/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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/podcastSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.