Change the Conversation

What is AI superintelligence? Could it destroy humanity? And is it really almost here?

Flora Salim, Professor, School of Computer Science and Engineering, inaugural Cisco Chair of Digital Transport & AI, UNSW Sydney. Maxim Berg / Unsplash In 2014, the British philosopher Nick Bostrom published a book about the future of artificial intelligence (AI) with the ominous title Superintelligence: Paths, Dangers, Strategies. It proved highly influential in promoting the idea that advanced AI systems – “superintelligences” more capable than humans – might one day take over the world and destroy humanity. A decade later, OpenAI boss Sam Altman says superintelligence may only be “a few thousand days” away. A year ago, Altman’s OpenAI cofounder Ilya Sutskever set up a team within the company to focus on “safe superintelligence”, but he and his team have now raised a billion dollars to create a startup of their own to pursue this goal. What exactly are they talking about? Broadly speaking, superintelligence is anything more intelligent than humans. But unpacking what that might mean in practice can get a bit tricky. Different kinds of AI In my view the most useful way to think about different levels and kinds of intelligence in AI was developed by US computer scientist Meredith Ringel Morris and her colleagues at Google. Their framework lists six levels of AI performance: no AI, emerging, competent, expert, virtuoso and superhuman. It also makes an important distinction between narrow systems, which can carry out a small range of tasks, and more general systems. A narrow, no-AI system is something like a calculator. It carries out various mathematical tasks according to a set of explicitly programmed rules. There are already plenty of very successful narrow AI systems. Morris gives the Deep Blue chess program that famously defeated world champion Garry Kasparov way back in 1997 as an example of a virtuoso-level narrow AI system. Some narrow systems even have superhuman capabilities. One […]

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Rupert Murdoch and the rise and fall of the press barons: how much power do newspapers still have?

Simon Potter, Professor of Modern History, University of Bristol Rupert Murdoch has been demonised as a puppet master who would pull the strings of politicians behind the scenes, as a man with too much power. But what influence did he and his fellow media moguls really wield? The day after the 1992 UK general election, Murdoch’s tabloid The Sun claimed credit for the Tory victory with the notorious headline “It Was The Sun What Won it”. Murdoch subsequently denied he had such influence. But in 1995, and with another general election on the horizon, Labour leader Tony Blair certainly thought it was worth courting the media mogul. Blair, along with his chief press secretary Alistair Campbell, travelled to Hayman Island, Australia, to address a News Corp. conference. Two years later The Sun turned its back on the Conservatives and backed New Labour, which emerged victorious from that year’s general election. Commentators have argued that Murdoch’s US media empire, notably Fox News, gave Donald Trump significant public support in his quest for presidential power. Although Murdoch now seems to have gone cold on Trump, his latest biography quotes the tycoon’s ex-wife Jerry Hall as telling him: “You helped make him president.” More than a century ago, commentators were worrying about the power of the “press barons”. The archetype of this malign figure was Lord Northcliffe, who as Winston Churchill put it, “felt himself to be possessed of formidable power” after helping to unseat a prime minister and install the next one. According to Churchill, “armed with the solemn prestige of The Times in one hand and the ubiquity of the Daily Mail in the other”, during the first world war Northcliffe “aspired to exercise a commanding influence on events”. Of course, the media landscape has changed dramatically since then. Indeed, it has even been transformed in […]

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Power Up: An Engineer’s Adventures into Sustainable Energy

We rarely think about the energy systems that prop up our existence. With hot water, lighting and digital entertainment all available at the flick of a switch, it’s easy to underestimate the vast global network that makes these things possible. Growing up in Iraq, Yasmin Ali regularly experienced power cuts – ironic for a country rich in oil and sunshine. Now as an engineer working in energy, Yasmin has a deep appreciation for what these resources mean for our lives. In Power Up she takes us on a journey across the globe to reveal the bigger picture, from solar farms shimmering in the desert to power stations hidden deep in the mountains. We discover where we get energy from, how it is moved and used around the world – and why we need to understand the whole system if we want to transition towards a clean, green future. Power Up is a definitive picture of the intricate world that humanity has built, and a rallying cry to face the challenges of climate change using the power at our fingertips.

International Womens Day Profile: Mollie Eckersley, Head of Operations at BrightHR ANZ

What is your role at BrightHR and what does it involve? I’m the Head of Operations at BrightHR ANZ, where I am responsible for improving usage, uplifting engagement, and ultimately, looking at ways to continuously improve our software and service. It’s a dynamic and exciting role that includes a lot of problem-solving. BrightHR operates globally, which means I’m often collaborating with teams in the UK, Ireland, and Canada as we work together to support SMEs around the world. Why have you chosen this career path? I love problem-solving and I thrive when I’m multi-tasking; every career decision I’ve made so far has been driven by these two factors. What has been the highlight of your career and why? Moving to Australia from the UK was a major turning point in my career that has led to bigger and better things for me. It’s opened so many doors, despite how scary it was to leave behind everyone and everything I knew. Even though it’s been a few years, I often reflect on a lesson it has taught me – pushing myself out of my comfort zone pays off. What has been the greatest challenge in your career, and how did you overcome it? Public speaking is a huge challenge for me, and I still dread it to this day. Like a lot of people, I’m quite shy—especially around new people—so standing up and speaking to any group, no matter how big or small, is nerve-wracking. I’m gradually overcoming my fear by refusing to shy away from it. I try to throw myself in the deep end and find that the more I do it, the easier it becomes. I’ve made it a habit to keep putting myself out there no matter how uncomfortable it seems at the outset. What drives […]

International Women’s Day Profile: Janine Grainger, Co-Founder and CEO, Easy Crypto

Janine is a kiwi-born entrepreneur and a highly respected Leader in tech. She’s the Co-Founder and CEO of Easy Crypto, New Zealand’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform. Janine and her brother, Alan, established Easy Crypto in 2017 to offer a secure, simple and easy-to-understand way for everyone to get involved in the cryptocurrency market. Just four years after launching, Easy Crypto transacted over two billion dollars and supports over 250,000 users across NZ, Australia and South Africa. She also set a new record for a first funding round in NZ in 2021, raising $17M NZD. Janine is very highly regarded in the NZ fintech sector, driving collaboration between the industry, central government, and traditional finance. She sits on a number of government advisory and working groups, including the Digital Trust Working Group formed in 2023 to advise APEC and was invited to join the V20 virtual asset summit, convened as part of the 2022 G20. She sits on the Executive Council for FinTechNZ, features in a Docuseries for TVNZ, has been recognised as a University of Auckland Top 40 under 40, a Women of Web3 Top 10 Changemaker, is the Blockchain NZ Stand-Out Individual & Entrepreneur of the year and was the winner of the 2023 IBM Hi-Tech Awards for Inspiring Individual. Background story Under her leadership, Easy Crypto has become New Zealand’s leading cryptocurrency trading platform, making big waves in just four years. Janine’s journey is as unique as it is inspiring – from leaving school early to pursue her ambitions, to starting a business from a hammock in Bali. Easy Crypto was started from a hammock in Bali! “Having left school at 15 – I was ambitious and impatient to learn more than the lessons a traditional schoolroom provides and my pathway into tech and crypto has been anything […]

International Women’s Day Profile: Keren Cook, NatureBee CEO

Could you share with us a bit about what your role entails at NatureBee? As CEO, I steer NatureBee’s vision toward innovative natural health solutions, manage our dedicated team, and engage in strategic decisions, from product development to market expansion. It’s a role that keeps me on my toes! How is NatureBee progressing? Despite global economic headwinds we’ve managed not only to stay afloat but grow. We’re making a conscious pivot to enhance logistics, specifically designed to underpin further expansion into key markets like Australia and the United States. This has been possible due to an intimate understanding of our customer base and an unwavering commitment to natural, quality health products. New products, exciting times? Definitely exciting times! We are launching PowerBee, a pollen-fuelled health shake, which reflects our commitment to innovation. It’s the culmination of rigorous scientific testing, product development, and natural goodness – and over two years of R&D perfecting the recipe, working closely with a human immunologist (PhD) refining logistics, and aligning our branding to ensure it’s just right. As someone passionate about wellness, for me this product is a perfect example of how we harness nature for balanced nutrition. We know that the fitness community well understands the benefits of PowerBee, particularly in the realms of both energy and recovery, but we also want to reach those who would benefit from a high-quality nutritional solution, while on the go. What challenges does your job present to you? Every day is different. The current economic climate demands strategic manoeuvring to maintain sales growth and market position. Keeping up with the rapid pace of e-commerce’s ever-shifting landscape poses its own challenges, as does managing an international brand from our Kiwi roots. What developments keep you awake at night? The potential of what’s next for NatureBee and ensuring we […]

Series a mismatch of events put together quickly

Remember a couple of years ago, the ABC released a series on the Murdoch dynasty? Are you currently watching Nemesis, another ABC series, this time on political leaders from 2014 in Australia? The compilation of both is similar; bits and pieces, reflections from foes and friends that, overall, don’t do a whole lot when some notable events were taking place in Australian history. This may have been the best way to explain the key events over the past nine years but the series, Nemeses, so far shows little to inspire the would- be politician or prime minister of the future. Overall, production and presentation are lazy. Watching Turnbull’s facial expressions and Morrison’s nonchalant answers to questions is so boring and the dishonesty is like a haze in the room. The two episodes so far, show the attitudes and self-importance of Turnbull, Morrison and Abbott in blazing glory and how prevalent the old boys club has been in keeping them front and centre. Ironically, it can make the viewer ponder if politics are that big a deal anyway, seeing the events that occur have extraordinarily little reality to their quality of life. Nemeses isn’t the explaining of the big dreams, mountaintops reached and vision for a wonderful future. It doesn’t sell the life of political involvement as particularly worthy, nor does it allow the possibility that a future prime minister is sitting on the back bench, waiting. The ABC needs to be braver.

The Road to Freedom: Economics and the Good Society

A major reappraisal, by Joseph Stiglitz, the Nobel-prizewinning economist, of the relationship between capitalism and freedom. Despite its manifest failures, the narrative of neoliberalism retains its grip on the public mind and the policies of governments all over the world. By this narrative, less regulation and more ‘animal spirits’ capitalism produces not only greater prosperity, but more freedom for individuals in society – and is therefore morally better. But, in The Road to Freedom Stiglitz asks, whose freedom are we – should we be – thinking about? What happens when one person’s freedom comes at the expense of another’s? Should the freedoms of corporations be allowed to impinge upon those of individuals in the ways they now do? Taking on giants of neoliberalism such as Hayek and Friedman and examining how public opinion is formed, Stiglitz reclaims the language of freedom from the right to show that far from ‘free’ – unregulated – markets promoting growth and enterprise, they in fact reduce it, lessening economic opportunities for majorities and siphoning wealth from the many to the few – both individuals and countries. He shows how neoliberal economics and its implied moral system have impacted our legal and social freedoms in surprising ways, from property and intellectual rights, to education and social media. Stiglitz’s eye, as always, is on how we might create the true human flourishing which should be the great aim of our economic and social system, and offers an alternative to that prevailing today. The Road to Freedom offers a powerful re-evaluation of democracy, economics and what constitutes a good society—and provides a roadmap of how we might achieve it.

The Showman: Inside the Invasion That Shook the World and Made a Leader of Volodymyr Zelensky

-by Simon Shuster A monumental account of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the forging of a leader, The Showman provides an insider’s perspective on the war reshaping our world, based on unprecedented access to Volodymyr Zelensky and the high command in Kyiv. Time correspondent Simon Shuster chronicles the life and leadership of Volodymyr Zelensky from the dressing rooms of his variety shows to the muddy trenches of Ukraine’s war with Russia. Based on four years of reporting; extensive travels with President Zelensky to the front; and dozens of interviews with him, his wife, his friends and enemies, his advisers, ministers and military commanders, Shuster tells the intimate and revealing story of the president’s evolution from a slapstick actor to a symbol of resilience. In their most candid accounts of the war so far, members of Zelensky’s inner circle show how the president’s character changed under the strains of leadership and the horrors he witnessed each day. His wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, describes her escape from Kyiv with their children, her life on the run, and the tensions that emerged in her marriage as she struggled to return to a meaningful role in the administration. Ukraine’s top military commander, General Valery Zaluzhny, shares the untold story of his fraught relationship with the president and the subsequent consequences. Reflecting on their own regrets and critical decisions, Zelensky and his senior aides open up about the causes of the Russian invasion and how it may have been avoided. They describe with astonishing frankness how their peace talks with Vladimir Putin fell apart and how their faith in the U.S. faltered, both under Donald Trump and Joe Biden. The Showman provides the first inside account of Zelensky’s life amid the invasion, offering a clear-eyed view of his failures to prepare for it and his willingness to silence […]

How should a person be?

By turns loved and reviled upon its U.S. publication, Sheila Heti’s “breakthrough novel” is an unabashedly honest and hilarious tour through the unknowable pieces of one woman’s heart and mind. Part literary novel, part self-help manual, and part vivid exploration of the artistic and sexual impulse, How Should a Person Be? earned Heti comparisons to Henry Miller, Joan Didion, Mary McCarthy, and Flaubert, while shocking and exciting readers with its raw, urgent depiction of female friendship and of the shape of our lives now. Irreverent, brilliant, and completely original, Heti challenges, questions, frustrates, and entertains in equal measure. With urgency and candor she asks: What is the most noble way to love? What kind of person should you be?

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