Are chatbots making things more difficult than old-fashioned transactions?
These days as consumers, we are often locked into these false amities with chatbots, our to-and-fro reliant on what previous questions and responses have been digested by the software. ⌘ Read more

I just missed the 20 year anniversary of my blog. 😬 What a stupid long time to do this.

This started out as a PHP page with user comments, MySQL as a database, a PHP webadmin … can you believe that? Totally unnecessary. But everything was “LAMP” back then, so that’s what I was using as well. I kicked out MySQL in 2011 (it just stored files since then) and eventually switched to static HTML pages in 2015.

RSS feeds have only been there since 2009, because I was late to the party. For a long time, I didn’t understand what they were good for. 🤦

Microsoft Flight Simulator’s new collaboration with NSW Rural Fire Service
The NSW Rural Fire Service has teamed up with Microsoft for a new aerial firefighting mission in Flight Simulator. 9news.com.au spoke to the game’s director, Jörg Neumann, to learn all about it, and how they’ve used a million-dollar camera to capture real life locations for the game. ⌘ Read more

What you need to know about VPNs in 2026
The technology is increasingly being used to dodge age and verification checks in Australia. But how does it work, and is it legal? ⌘ Read more

‘Huge validation’: Trump administration backs Aussie quantum tech
Two of Australia’s most prominent quantum names have been drawn into the Trump administration’s growing portfolio of strategic technology companies. ⌘ Read more

Musk’s X admits breaking Australian child safety law, fined $650,000
Elon Musk’s social media company, formerly known as Twitter, failed to comply with an order to detail its child exploitation safeguards. ⌘ Read more

Google unveils new search bar, smart glasses as it ramps up the AI wars
Google may be starting to win the race towards truly useful consumer AI. ⌘ Read more

Digital legacy: How to make sure your family is not locked out
Security keeps people out of our documents, photos, financials, and secrets. How do you make sure family can access them if you die? ⌘ Read more

Suddenly, AI’s tech titans are talking up humanities. Wishful thinking or just a guilt trip?
After decades of dismissing liberal arts as useless, the tech world is coming around to the idea that learning about human nature could be a valuable asset. But it may be too late. ⌘ Read more

AI start-up boss who faked millions in revenue faces jail time
The former chief executive has been told by his own lawyer that a jail sentence is unavoidable after pleading guilty to fraud. ⌘ Read more

Google takes fight to Apple, Microsoft with new high-end laptops
The web giant’s new line of Googlebook laptops will bring Gemini AI to the laptop in an attempt to compete with Apple’s MacBook and Microsoft’s Copilot+ PCs. ⌘ Read more

LinkedIn cuts hit Australia as global cull claims 875 jobs
Local leadership has been gutted but the Microsoft-owned company says AI isn’t to blame. ⌘ Read more

Firmus quietly scrubs UN logo ahead of $12 billion IPO push
AI factory builder Firmus, eyeing a $12 billion ASX float, displayed the UN emblem on every page of its website before quietly removing it. ⌘ Read more

Ransom ‘paid’ to hackers who crippled online learning in Australia
More than 120 Australian schools, universities and TAFEs were caught in the world’s largest education breach. Now their data is supposedly deleted. ⌘ Read more

Sam Altman details ‘hair-raising’ chat with Elon Musk as he takes stand
Nobody has more to lose in the high-profile trial than OpenAI chief Sam Altman, and he has finally taken to the stand. ⌘ Read more

Sam Altman details ‘hair-raising’ chat with Elon Musk as he takes stand
Nobody may has more to lose in the high-profile trial than OpenAI chief Sam Altman, and he has finally taken to the stand. ⌘ Read more

DroneShield insiders sold $67 million in shares. The watchdog has questions
ASIC has launched an investigation into the counter-drone group’s disclosures, six months after a botched contract announcement and a $67 million director sell-off. ⌘ Read more

What are passkeys? The end of the password era explained
Passkeys are designed to be the end of “remembering” login credentials. And it may be time to accept them. ⌘ Read more

Aussie tech giant pauses work, devotes entire week to AI
While Australian tech sheds jobs amid AI productivity claims, Canva is making the opposite bet - paying 5300 people to stop working. ⌘ Read more

Trump goes ‘woke’ with a sudden change of mind
The AI alarm bells are ringing louder for Donald Trump, prompting an abrupt U-turn. ⌘ Read more

TikTok’s Australian revenue skyrockets, along with payments to Cayman-owned companies
The social media juggernaut is showing no signs of slowing in Australia, even as the Albanese government moves to regulate social media platforms. ⌘ Read more

AI tool ‘too dangerous to release’ could wreak havoc on businesses
It found a 27-year-old bug in software used in routers worldwide. Experts fear Anthropic’s Mythos model could trigger the next wave of major breaches. ⌘ Read more

We need to hedge against controlling China and messy US on AI: Hello Japan!
Japan’s new leader, now visiting Australia, is investing heavily in future technology. Australia needs to join her. ⌘ Read more

Four new gadgets for your next cold weather adventure
With a forecast for cooler weather on the way, here’s how you can stay warm, listen to good music, and take great videos on your next venture into nature. ⌘ Read more

The world’s richest man, the AI king, and a courtroom showdown
Elon Musk and Sam Altman have finally landed in an Oakland courtroom and the verdict could reshape OpenAI, the AI race, and the technology defining our era. ⌘ Read more

Under fire at home, Airwallex turns to Australia’s youngest founders
As regulators audit its money-laundering controls, one of Australia’s most valuable payments companies is recasting itself as a patron of young AI talent. ⌘ Read more

‘I get to ask the questions, Mr. Musk’: World’s richest person accuses lawyer of trying to trick him in fiery clash
The jury was shown a series of texts and emails that illustrated the growing mistrust between Elon Musk and OpenAI founder Sam Altman before a tense cross-examination. ⌘ Read more

‘It felt like a bribe’: World’s richest person’s texts, emails revealed as he returns to stand
The jury was shown a series of texts and emails that illustrated the growing mistrust between Elon Musk and OpenAI founder Sam Altman. ⌘ Read more

‘It felt like a bribe’: Elon Musk takes aim at Sam Altman as he returns to witness stand
The jury was shown a series of texts and emails that illustrated the growing mistrust between the world’s richest person and the OpenAI founder ⌘ Read more

‘It could kill us all’: Elon Musk sends AI warning as he takes stand in blockbuster trial
The world’s richest person took the stand in a high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins. ⌘ Read more

‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial
The world’s richest person took the stand in a high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins. ⌘ Read more

‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial
All eyes are on the world’s richest person as the high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins. ⌘ Read more

‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial
All eyes are on the world’s richest person as the high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins. ⌘ Read more

‘It’s not OK to steal a charity’: Elon Musk takes stand in blockbuster trial
All eyes are on the world’s richest person as the high-stakes trial revolving around a bitter feud between himself and former friends Sam Altman and Greg Brockman begins. ⌘ Read more

Meta will throw the toys out of the cot, again
Local journalism deserves saving. But the scheme designed to save it rests on assumptions that the Facebook and Instagram owner has already demolished, without consequences. ⌘ Read more

AI giant Anthropic hires Australian boss as it opens local office
The company behind chatbot Claude is opening its Sydney doors as workers grow increasingly anxious about AI’s impact on their jobs. ⌘ Read more

The best noise-cancelling headphones for 2026, tested
Whether you’re after the most powerful silencing, the best on-the-go sound quality or the best value, here are our top recommendations. ⌘ Read more

Tech giants ship more than $14 billion offshore amid AI debate
New filings show the extent to which Google, Meta and Amazon send revenue overseas, as new media laws loom. ⌘ Read more

Meta’s Australian cash machine: $1.5 billion shipped offshore
New filings show the tech giant sent most of its revenues offshore and paid its first dividend in years, as new media laws loom. ⌘ Read more

Meet the Melbourne-built robot now in dozens of aged care homes
Abi speaks 90 languages, blows bubbles and remembers your stories. Her 26-year-old creator is betting a humanoid designed for empathy will reshape aged care. ⌘ Read more

Hundreds more EV chargers won’t cut it. We need thousands
Why aren’t more motorists switching to EVs? We found out, on the road to Gundagai. ⌘ Read more

Microsoft investing $25 billion in Australia
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has spoken about the company’s $25 billion commitment to expand AI infrastructure. ⌘ Read more

Microsoft investing $25 billion in Australia
Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella has spoken about the company’s $25 billion commitment to expand AI infrastructure. ⌘ Read more

Microsoft unveils $25b AI splurge in Australia, but key details missing
The US tech giant makes its largest-ever Australian commitment to expand AI infrastructure, cyber defences and skills – but stays silent on sites, power and jobs. ⌘ Read more

Millions of renters hit by unlawful data collection
The Privacy Commissioner’s landmark ruling comes as Australia’s rental market reaches crisis levels. ⌘ Read more

Who is new Apple CEO John Ternus?
After 15 years in charge Tim Cook has named well-liked Apple engineer John Ternus as his successor. ⌘ Read more

A 40-year-old storage company just beat Mike Cannon-Brookes’ Atlassian
Atlassian posted its strongest quarter ever, then got kicked out of the Nasdaq 100. The market has stopped rewarding software and started paying for storage. ⌘ Read more

Tech expert Trevor Long tips Apple to launch folding smartphone
It seems more likely than ever that Apple will introduce a foldable smartphone this year, says tech expert Trevor Long. ⌘ Read more

Tech expert Trevor Long tips Apple to launch folding smartphone
It seems more likely than ever that Apple will introduce a foldable smartphone this year, says tech expert Trevor Long. ⌘ Read more

Done and dusted: The best high-end stick vacuums for infrequent emptying
Want a high performing vacuum that you don’t need to be pulling dust out of every day? Here are our top four choices. ⌘ Read more