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Jon Whittle

Director, Data61
Jon Whittle is Director of CSIRO's Data61, the digital and data science arm of Australia's national science agency. With around 1000 staff and affiliates, Data61 is one of the largest collections of R&D expertise in Artificial Intelligence and Data Science in the world. Data61 partners with over 200 industry and government organisations, over 30 Universities, and works across vertical sectors in manufacturing, health, agriculture, and the environment. Prior to joining Data61, Jon was Dean of the Faculty of Information Technology at Monash University, the largest university in Australia. He was named CEO Magazine's 2019 Education Executive of the Year. Jon is also a former Technical Area Lead at NASA, where he worked on software for NASA space missions. Jon is passionate about the role digital technologies can play in society. He has a world-leading reputation on how to adapt software development methods to fully take into account human values and ethics, so that we build software for a society we want rather than one we get by accident.

AI can’t do your Christmas shopping just yet – but next year might be different

Dec 23, 2024 01:19 am UTC| Insights & Views Technology

Im a computer scientist and a bad Christmas shopper. Over the weekend, I wondered whether AI systems might be able to help me out. Could I just prompt ChatGPT to pick a personalised gift for my cousin Johnny and have it...

AI can now learn to manipulate human behaviour

Feb 12, 2021 08:45 am UTC| Technology

Artificial intelligence (AI) is learning more about how to work with (and on) humans. A recent study has shown how AI can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human...

Economy

Tesla Rolls Out Mobile Megapack Chargers for Holidays Across the US, Find Out the Locations Here

Tesla has introduced mobile Megapack chargers at major U.S. travel hotspots to support increased holiday traffic. Travelers can find these high-speed chargers in locations like Bakersfield, Primm, El Centro, and Cambridge,...

UK Business Confidence Hits 2024 Low as Pay Growth Climbs Ahead of Christmas Hiring Surge

UK business confidence fell to its lowest level in 2024 during December, Lloyds Bank reported, despite a notable rise in hiring and strong pay growth ahead of the Christmas season, offering mixed signals for the economy...

Honda and Nissan Ready to Kick Off Integration Talks to Counter Tesla and Chinese Auto Giants

Honda and Nissan are preparing to announce the launch of integration talks, marking a critical moment in the global automotive industry. The discussions, likely involving Mitsubishi Motors, aim to create the worlds...

Trump Teases TikTok’s Fate in the US as ByteDance Faces a Critical Supreme Court Battle

President-elect Donald Trump hinted that TikTok could remain operational in the US, citing its immense popularity during his campaign, even as ByteDance braces for a Supreme Court showdown over its ownership. Trump...

'Santa Claus' Rally in Doubt as S&P Stumbles and Fed Signals Trouble for Year-End Gains

Hopes for a Santa Claus rally are fading as the SP 500 battles December losses and rising Treasury yields. With 2024 up 24%, investors question if the year will close on a high note or end with a whimper. Santa Claus Rally...

Politics

Trump's 'Greenland Purchase' Proposal Resurfaces, Igniting Global Debate

President-elect Donald Trump has reignited discussions about acquiring Greenland, the vast Arctic territory governed by Denmark. This renewed interest mirrors his 2019 proposal, which was dismissed by Danish authorities....

Katie Miller Joins DOGE Sparking Buzz Over Trump's New 'Government Efficiency' Team Appointment

Katie Miller, a seasoned communications professional and longtime supporter of President-elect Donald Trump, has been named a key member of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). Trump announced the appointment on...

Trump's Incoming National Security Adviser Vows 'Severe Consequences' for Hostage-Takers

President-elect Donald Trumps designated National Security Adviser, Representative Mike Waltz, has issued a stern warning to any entity considering the detention of American citizens. In a recent statement, Waltz...

Trump’s Crypto Council Appointment Sparks Debate as Bo Hines Joins Digital Assets Team

President-elect Donald Trump has named Bo Hines as the executive director of the Presidential Council of Advisers for Digital Assets. This announcement highlights the incoming administrations focus on regulating the...

Trump's 'Tech Dream Team' Appointments Spark Debate Over Administration's Digital Strategy

President-elect Donald Trump has unveiled a series of high-profile appointments to his technology team, signaling a robust commitment to advancing the United States position in artificial intelligence (AI) and digital...

Science

Emergency Declared as Bird Flu 'Spreads' to California Dairy Cows

California Governor Gavin Newsom has officially declared a state of emergency in response to the rapidly escalating bird flu outbreak. The declaration comes after avian influenza was detected in dairy cows, a rare and...

Missing Radioactive Material in New Jersey Sparks Panic — Are Drones ‘Hunting for It’?

A small amount of radioactive material went missing in New Jersey earlier this month, raising concerns over public safety and potential security risks. The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) confirmed on December 2,...

Some black holes at the centers of galaxies have a buddy − but detecting these binary pairs isn’t easy

Every galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center, much like every egg has a yolk. But sometimes, hens lay eggs with two yolks. In a similar way, astrophysicists like us who study supermassive black holes expect to...

Astronomers have pinpointed the origin of mysterious repeating radio bursts from space

Slowly repeating bursts of intense radio waves from space have puzzled astronomers since they were discovered in 2022. In new research, we have for the first time tracked one of these pulsating signals back to its...

How is Donald Trump prioritizing funding for cancer research in 2025?

President-elect Donald Trump has announced a major initiative to prioritize funding for cancer research in 2025, pledging billions in federal support to combat one of the worlds leading causes of death. The plan includes...

Technology

Apple Releases 'Urgent' Warning as iPhone Users Targeted by 'Mercenary' Spyware Attacks

Apple has issued an urgent alert to iPhone users, warning of sophisticated spyware attacks orchestrated by private entities targeting high-profile individuals. These mercenary spyware tools, notably Pegasus, can infiltrate...

China’s Nio Brings Firefly EV to Europe in 2025 to Challenge Mini and Smart

Chinas Nio is preparing to launch its Firefly EV in Europe by early 2025, aiming to rival Mini and Smart. As the company expands its presence, its also addressing tariff challenges with innovative battery-swapping stations...

Soaring EV Sales Spark Scramble for Lithium and Graphite as 2030 Supply Pinch Looms

A booming market could drive electric vehicle sales from 4.5 million this year to nearly 28 million by 2030, pressuring scarce battery resources. A new McKinsey analysis highlights looming shortages in lithium, manganese,...

Samsung Plans Ultra-Thin Galaxy S25 Slim to Rival iPhone 17 Air in 2025 Flagship Battle

Samsung is reportedly preparing to unveil its thinnest flagship yet, the Galaxy S25 Slim, early next year. The device, with a rumored sub-7mm thickness, is aimed at challenging Apples iPhone 17 Air while pushing the...

Tesla Addresses 'Cell Dent' Issues in Cybertruck Batteries, Sends Units Back to Gigafactory Texas

Tesla has discovered cell dent problems in its Cybertruck battery packs, prompting the automaker to send affected vehicles back to Gigafactory Texas for replacement. The issue affects inventory vehicles and highlights...