ai, artifical intelligence, hospital, new tech

Even Experts Struggle to Tell Which Social Media Posts Are Evidence-Based

The debate on how to combat social media misinformation is as relevant as ever. In recent years, we’ve seen medical misinformation spreading alongside COVID, and political misinformation impacting the outcome of elections and national referendums. Experts have largely placed the impetus to stop misinformation on three groups: social media users, government regulators, and social media ...

Troy Oakes

Instagram social media.

How Quantum Computers in 2023 Work, What They Do, and Where They’re Heading

In June, an IBM computing executive claimed quantum computers were entering the “utility” phase, in which high-tech experimental devices become useful. In September, Australia’s Chief Scientist Cathy Foley went so far as to declare “the dawn of the quantum era.” This week, Australian physicist Michelle Simmons won the nation’s top science award for her work ...

Troy Oakes

IBM's quantum computer.

How Will Generative AI Tools Change the Way We Think?

Information is a valuable commodity. And thanks to technology, there are millions of terabytes of it online that feed generative AI tools. Generative AI tools such as ChatGPT are now managing this information on our behalf — collating it, summarizing it, and presenting it back to us. But this “outsourcing” of information management to AI ...

Troy Oakes

Statue of a thinking man with his hand held to his head.

The Pros and Cons of a National Digital ID Scheme That Is Being Proposed

In 2018-19, identity crime directly and indirectly cost Australia an estimated A$3.1 billion. To address such costs, the federal government is proposing a national digital identity scheme that will let people prove their identity without having to share documents such as their passport, driver’s license, or Medicare card. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher opened consultations for the ...

Troy Oakes

A national digital identity scheme.