Episode Details

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Today's topics:

Global race to govern AI - Australia will draft AI standards laws by early 2027 and set up a new AI office, while DeepMind is calling for a U.S. body to test frontier models. The shift reflects a broader view of AI as critical infrastructure, with growing focus on safety, energy, water use, jobs, and competitiveness.

Publishers sue over Gemini books - Major publishers including Hachette, Cengage, and Elsevier, along with author Scott Turow, sued Google over claims that Gemini was trained on copyrighted books without permission. The lawsuit could shape the rules around fair use, licensing, creator compensation, and generative AI training data.

EU moves on child safety - The EU is preparing draft legislation to restrict children’s access to social media after warnings about addictive design, harmful algorithms, and manipulative engagement features. The move could also affect games and AI chat tools, making it a major digital safety test for Europe.

Europe plans Ukraine missile shield - European allies meeting in Paris agreed to deepen cooperation on a new anti-ballistic missile defence system aimed at protecting Ukraine and strengthening Europe’s own security capacity. The plan comes as Russian missile attacks continue and Ukraine struggles with limited interceptor supplies.

Gaza aid and recovery strain - A senior UN official accused Hamas of obstructing humanitarian aid in Gaza, raising the danger for food deliveries and aid workers. At the same time, the EU pledged nearly €900 million for early recovery, though reconstruction still depends on security and political conditions.

Tau drug boosts Alzheimer’s hopes - Biogen’s experimental Alzheimer’s drug diranersen showed early signs of slowing cognitive decline by targeting tau, a protein closely linked to symptoms. The results are preliminary, but they may renew momentum for tau-based treatments beyond today’s amyloid-focused drugs.

China trade rides AI demand - China’s exports and imports surged in June, helped by strong demand for AI-related hardware and a rush to ship goods before possible U.S. tariff hikes. The trade data support growth for now, but they also increase the risk of renewed tensions with the U.S. and Europe.

Episode Transcript

Global race to govern AI
We begin with artificial intelligence, where the tone from policymakers is clearly changing. In Australia, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced a tougher national AI approach, including legislation for AI standards by early 2027 and a new AI office inside his department. One of the most notable ideas is that major AI data centre operators may have to help fund new power generation and pay for extra water use, instead of passing those pressures on to households and other businesses.