My week of Monday 2 August to 8 September 2024 was not a productive one. Indeed, I did quite a bit of sleeping — but I feel the better for it.
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Articles
- The Weekly Cybers #34. Government proposes “mandatory guardrails” for high-risk AI, ASIO hints at using the big stick on encrypted chats, and much more.
You can read my previous writing at Authory, where you can also subscribe to an email compilation of any new stories each Sunday morning.
Media Appearances
- My 2018 article The real future of healthcare is cultural change, not just AI and other technology was cited in the paper The Effects of Digital Transformation on Healthcare Business Models in Zimbabwe: Perceptions and Implications, which is nice.
Podcasts, Photos, Videos, Corporate Largess
None of these. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified when new videos appear and when livestreams are scheduled.
Recommendations
Elon Musk’s battle with Brazil continues, and the political campaigning gets ever more weird.
- Musk’s Starlink backtracks and says it will comply with judge’s order to block X in Brazil.
- Platformer has an excellent backgrounder on Musk’s battle with Brazil, with links to their previous stories.
- “Donald Trump said he would enlist Elon Musk to run a “government efficiency commission” if he wins a second term as US president.”
- Elon Musk’s attacks on Kamala Harris become more unhinged, with help from AI.
- From CBS News, “About one-quarter of advertisers plan to cut spending on social media site X (formerly Twitter) next year, according to a new survey of marketers by Kantar. That would mark the biggest recorded pullback from any top ad platform, the research group noted.”
- “Australia’s eSafety commissioner Julie Inman Grant says she got ‘credible death threats’ after clashing with tech billionaire Elon Musk earlier this year.”
- Elon Musk is intrigued by the idea women can’t think freely because of ‘low T’.
- And the top it all off, Elon Musk on pace to become world’s first trillionaire by 2027, report says.
In other news:
- This week’s Australia Letter from the New York Times will annoy so many people: Is Brisbane Ready to Be the Equal of Sydney and Melbourne?
- AI was born at a US summer camp 68 years ago. Here’s why that event still matters today.
- In a conversation last weekend I was introduced to the photography of Vivian Maier.
- How about a classic Sydney crime story? Here it it, liberated from the Sydney Morning Herald paywall: George Alex hands himself into custody as juror misconduct revelations emerge. The story is way more exciting than the headline, trust me.
The Week Ahead
I’m spending the whole week in Sydney, and I’m hoping the change of environment will encourage me to knock off some client work. I’ll also start pencilling in guests for the podcast’s spring series, assuming your generosity progresses as planned.
The 9pm Edict is supported by the generosity of its listeners — such as via the crowdfunder just plugged. If you miss that deadline, you can always throw a few coins into the tip jar or subscribe for special benefits. Please consider.
On Thursday afternoon I’m doing ABC Radio RN Drive “Big Tech” spot at 4.50pm AEST. You can hear it at that time in the eastern states, at 4.50pm your local time on ABC Radio National, via the ABC Listen app in your time zone, or later that evening when the recording is posted.
On Saturday there’s the NSW Local Government Elections. This is mostly a reminder to myself but there may be some sort of celebration — although I do have drinks with certain friends on Sunday afternoon. [Update 12 September 2024: I need to catch up on work rather than going drinking.]
Further Ahead
- NEW: Sydney Metro Chatswood-Central-Sydenham Pub Crawl, 22 September 2024. Originally scheduled for the Metro extension’s planned opening date of 4 August, but when that was postponed we had to change our own plans.
- Queensland expedition, flying to Cairns on 13 October 2024, taking the Spirit of Queensland train down to Brisbane on 16 October and overnight, then visiting the Gold Coast on 20 October before flying back to Sydney on 21 October. I’m still fleshing out the details but there’s bound to be opportunities to catch up for drinks and such.
- Sydney Days, 26 October to 18 November 2024 (TBC). The dates have yet to be finalised, but I have another opportunity to base myself in Sydney for a while.
- Australian Internet Governance Forum (auIGF) 2024, formerly known as NetThing, Melbourne and online, 28–29 October 2024 (TBC).
- An expedition to Victoria which includes a friend’s birthday celebrations, 6–9 December 2024. This trip will almost burn off the last of my frequent flyer points from the Beforetimes.
[Photo: The wattle explosion continues. I think this one is the hedgehog wattle (Acacia echinula), but quite frankly there are too many species of acacia. Photographed on 5 September 2024.]