State of Play: Who Holds the Power in the Video Games Industry in 2025?
The video games industry in 2025 finds itself caught between the familiar forces of consolidation and job losses that have plagued creative industries, and a newer development: governments and the ultra-wealthy have begun treating games as tools of political influence. Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund closed a $55 billion deal fo … ⌘ Read more

Pro-AI Group Launches First of Many Attack Ads for US Election
“Super PAC aims to drown out AI critics in midterms,” the Washington Post reported in August, noting its intial funding over $100 million from “some of Silicon Valley’s most powerful investors and executives” including OpenAI president Greg Brockman, his wife, and VC firm Andreessen Horowitz. The group’s goal was “to quash a philosophical debate … ⌘ Read more

Are Warnings of Superintelligence ‘Inevitability’ Masking a Grab for Power?
Superintelligence has become “a quasi-political forecast” with “very little to do with any scientific consensus, emerging instead from particular corridors of power.” That’s the warning from James O’Sullivan, a lecturer in digital humanities from University College Cork. In a refreshing 5,600-word essay in Noema magazine, he notes t … ⌘ Read more

US To Mandate AI Vendors Measure Political Bias For Federal Sales
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Reuters: The U.S. government will require artificial intelligence vendors to measure political “bias” to sell their chatbots to federal agencies, according to a Trump administration statement (PDF) released on Thursday. The requirement will apply to all large language models bought by federal agencies, wi … ⌘ Read more

Democrats Warn Their Party May Try To Unravel Any Paramount-Warner Bros. Discovery Deal
As the battle over Warner Bros. Discovery grows, two Democratic lawmakers are warning that their party may try to block or unravel any
acquisition by Paramount when it returns to power. Semafor: In a letter to the WBD board and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent first shared with Semafor, Reps. Sam Li … ⌘ Read more

Live: PM says Australian families ‘taking back power’ from social media companies
The prime minister says Australian families are “taking back power” from social media companies as the under-16s ban kicks off today. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Farmers say Australia needs government will to unlock biofuel potential
Fuels produced from waste and agricultural feedstock are tipped to play a role in cutting emissions, but a leading Victorian farmer says political will is required to seize the opportunity. ⌘ Read more

One Nation part of global populist movement in politics, Barnaby Joyce says
In his first interview since formally joining One Nation, Barnaby Joyce says he sees comparisons between his new party and Britain’s far-right Reform UK party under populist leader Nigel Farage. ⌘ Read more

Illegal seafood and ALP fundraisers etched into iconic restaurant’s fame
For four decades Lagoon Restaurant has been one of Wollongong’s most iconic and controversial establishments, enjoying a prime seaside location and a close relationship with the city’s political class. ⌘ Read more

How 4ZZZ kept Brisbane loud and proud with the help of bands, battles and beer
Brisbane community radio station 4ZZZ has withstood political, social and financial pressure for 50 years and it’s still thriving as a loud and proud beacon of counterculture. ⌘ Read more

Porridge is on the menu but budget politics is about to get spicier
How does a treasurer tell households the government will no longer continue a $300 energy rebate when it’s happy to blow $100,000 on three flights? ⌘ Read more

AI Chatbots Can Sway Voters Better Than Political Ads
An anonymous reader quotes a report from MIT Technology Review: New research reveals that AI chatbots can shift voters’ opinions in a single conversation – and they’re surprisingly good at it. A multi-university team of researchers has found that chatting with a politically biased AI model was more effective than political advertisements at nudging both Democrats … ⌘ Read more

Israel’s contentious participation in Eurovision traces back to the 70s
Eurovision strives to put pop before politics, but it has repeatedly become embroiled in world events, particularly relating to Israel. ⌘ Read more

Republicans Drop Trump-Ordered Block On State AI Laws From Defense Bill
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: A Donald Trump-backed push has failed to wedge a federal measure that would block states from passing AI laws for a decade into the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told reporters Tuesday that a sect of Republicans is now … ⌘ Read more

Live: Social media platforms must ‘get their act together’ ahead of ban, minister says
Mark Butler says social media platforms have five days to “get their act together” amid reports some children are already evading the upcoming social media ban. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Crypto investor donates record £9m to Reform UK
The sum from Christopher Harborne is the largest ever single donation by a living person to a British political party. ⌘ Read more

Cartooning exhibition captures ‘fast-moving’ year of political drama
The annual showcase of the year’s top political cartoons has opened at Old Parliament House in Canberra, depicting the biggest national and global events with satire and wit. ⌘ Read more

Cost of living still a sore point for voters as politicians go on holiday
A mammoth year in politics ended with a focus on what is worrying most Australians ahead of Christmas: the cost of living. ⌘ Read more

Live: Marles says Australia will stay with Ukraine ‘as long as it takes’
Acting Prime Minister Richard Marles says Australia will stay with Ukraine for as long as it takes, after announcing an additional $95 million in military assistance. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Apple To Resist India Order To Preload State-Run App As Political Outcry Builds
Apple does not plan to comply with India’s mandate to preload its smartphones with a state-owned cyber safety app that cannot be disabled. According to Reuters, the order “sparked surveillance concerns and a political uproar” after it was revealed on Monday. From the report: In the wake of the criticism, India’s tel … ⌘ Read more

UK Plans To Ban Cryptocurrency Political Donations
The UK government plans to ban political donations made in cryptocurrency over fears of anonymity, foreign influence, and traceability issues, though the ban won’t be ready in time for the upcoming elections bill. The Guardian reports: The government’s ambition to ban crypto donations will be a blow to Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party, which became the first to accept contribu … ⌘ Read more

Michael and Susan Dell Donate $6.25 Billion To Encourage Families To Claim ‘Trump Accounts’
Michael and Susan Dell pledged $6.25 billion to boost participation in the new “Trump Accounts” child investment program. “The historic gift has little precedent, with few single charitable commitments in the past 25 years exceeding $1 billion, much less multiple billions,” notes the Associate … ⌘ Read more

An Independent Effort Says AI Is the Secret To Topple 2-Party Power In Congress
Tony Isaac quotes a report from NPR: The rise of AI assistants is rewriting the rhythms of everyday life: People are feeding their blood test results into chatbots, turning to ChatGPT for advice on their love lives and leaning on AI for everything from planning trips to finishing homework assignments. Now, one or … ⌘ Read more

Government appointments often ‘look like nepotism’, long-awaited review finds
A report into government appointments to boards has savaged the system, which it found too often allowed governments to award friends or pick candidates for political purposes, eroding trust with the public. ⌘ Read more

Live: Government to establish landmark probe into ADF sexual violence
A landmark inquiry into sexual violence in the Australian Defence Force will be announced today. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Victoria changes ‘unconstitutional’ donation laws amid court challenge
A financial election advantage for the three biggest Victorian political parties will be removed in the face of a High Court challenge that has argued the state’s donation laws are unconstitutional. ⌘ Read more

Burned nets and an arrest signal a growing Hong Kong-mainland divide
The blaze that consumed Wang Fuk Court burned for two days, but its political shock waves may echo for weeks, even months. ⌘ Read more

‘Kangaroo court’: UK MP lashes Bangladeshi court over corruption conviction
Tulip Siddiq says the decision should be treated with “contempt”, while her political party says she was not afforded due process. ⌘ Read more

Live: Joyce to make decision on move to One Nation in ‘next couple of weeks’
Newly minted independent Barnaby Joyce says he’ll make his decision on whether he’ll defect to One Nation in the next couple of weeks. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

By-election a tick of approval for LNP, but no crystal ball for election
A week is a long time in politics, let alone three years, and the LNP’s success at the next election is by no means assured, writes Jack McKay. ⌘ Read more

Damage from Cyclone Fina exposes NT’s need for new Darwin hospital
A new Royal Darwin Hospital would cost more than $1 billion to build, and likely take a decade or more to deliver. So who has the political bravery to commit? ⌘ Read more

What would it be like to visit the proposed Hobart stadium?
From potential gridlock to an “immersive” viewing experience, let’s set aside the politics — just for a moment — and look at what planning documents tell us about the building at the heart of Tasmania’s fiery stadium debate. ⌘ Read more

‘Where is Imran Khan?’: Son of former Pakistani PM calls for proof of life
The family and political allies of Pakistan’s former prime minister say they’ve not been allowed to visit him in prison for weeks but authorities say he is well. ⌘ Read more

Why Can’t ChatGPT Tell Time?
ChatGPT can browse the web, write code and analyze images, but ask it what time it is and you might get the correct answer, a confident wrong answer, or a polite refusal – sometimes all three within minutes of each other.

The problem stems from how large language models work. These systems predict answers based on training data and don’t receive constant real-time updates about things like time unless they specifically se … ⌘ Read more

Politics and property — why the regulator was forced to act on investor loans
It’s been called a bubble for more than 15 years but the great Aussie housing price boom has barely skipped a beat, as regulators eye the threat of risky loans. ⌘ Read more

SA house speaker joins departing MPs ahead of March election
Leon Bignell has announced he will retire from politics at the next state election bringing an end to his 20-year reign as the MP for Mawson. ⌘ Read more

Barnaby Joyce quits Nationals, will sit as independent
The former leader and deputy prime minister has confirmed his long-awaited political move. ⌘ Read more

The way Rockliff will be remembered inextricably tied to Hobart stadium’s future
With the vote to decide the fate of the Hobart stadium a week away, Premier Jeremy Rockliff’s political legacy is in the balance. ⌘ Read more

Judge dismisses 2020 election interference case against Donald Trump
The abandonment of the Georgia case is the latest reflection of how the US president has emerged largely unscathed from a spate of prosecutions that once threatened to imperil his political career. ⌘ Read more

Social media ban for under-16s challenged in High Court
Australia’s social media age ban is being challenged in the High Court on the grounds it restricts young teens’ implied right to freedom of political communication. ⌘ Read more

How millennials are rewriting the rules of Australian politics
Millennials are bucking trends, becoming an increasingly progressive voting bloc and rewriting the long-held rules of politics, writes Isabella Higgins. ⌘ Read more

Live: Labor grilled on plan to find savings in public service
The government is being questioned about its request for departments and agencies to save as much as 5 per cent of their costs. Follow live. ⌘ Read more

Iran’s Capital Is Moving. The Reason Is an Ecological Catastrophe
An anonymous reader quotes a report from Scientific American: Amid a deepening ecological crisis and acute water shortage, Tehran can no longer remain the capital of Iran, the country’s president has said. The situation in Tehran is the result of “a perfect storm of climate change and corruption,” says Michael Rubin, a political analyst at the Am … ⌘ Read more

Dilemma we face in confronting Sydney’s neo-Nazis
Do we ignore the neo-Nazis as we would a petulant child and hope their anger peters out? State Political Editor Alexander Smith explores this issue. ⌘ Read more