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How do we ensure technology makes our lives better? Tech Mirror is the podcast of the Tech Policy Design Institute. We explore how technolgy is shaping our lives, and how...
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How do we ensure technology makes our lives better? Tech Mirror is the podcast of the Tech Policy Design Institute. We explore how technolgy is shaping our lives, and how we - the humans- can shape technolgy back.
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AI-generated content
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2 NOV 2026 · As AI becomes more embedded in our lives, how do we make sure we retain the capabilities, connections, and agency that make us human, and how do we find the courage to shape what comes next?
In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Yasmin London, former professional athlete and NSW police officer, tech executive, entrepreneur, and founder of First Movers. Her new book, First Movers: Courageous Leadership for a Human Future in the Era of AI, explores what it means to step forward and act, even when the path ahead isn’t certain.
Together, they explore the disproportionate impact of technology on women and girls, bias and whose voices shape our technological future, and why we all have a role to play. Yasmin also shares her three priorities for staying human in the AI era: protecting the human, preserving the mind, and powering human connection.
Content warning: This episode includes discussion of suicide. If you or someone you know needs support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.
Links:
https://yasminlondon.com/first-movers-book
https://www.vwt.org.au/resources/our-research/gender-ai-2026
https://yougov.com/articles/55012-latest-study-on-chatbot-use-in-australia-shows-people-are-using-chatbots-in-increasingly-personal-ways
https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-risks-report-2025
https://www.reuters.com/technology/meta-ends-third-party-fact-checking-program-adopts-x-like-community-notes-model-2025-01-07/
https://www.theguardian.com/news/ng-interactive/2026/jan/11/how-grok-nudification-tool-went-viral-x-elon-musk
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications/digital-duty-care-australia-developing-duty-care-framework-online-services-used-australians
https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2024A00127/asmade/2024-12-10/text/original/pdf\
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-09-28/lane-cove-ai-data-centre-plans-abandoned-by-goodman-group/107205120
https://techpolicy.au/digital-duty-of-care/
Joint Select Committee on Artificial Intelligence | Tech Policy Design Institute This episode includes AI-generated content.
Transcribed
19 OCT 2026 · China has been regulating artificial intelligence for years, challenging the assumption that technology is evolving too rapidly to regulate. As concerns grow over tech company accountability, what lessons (if any) can Australia and other democracies take from China?
In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Professor Madeline Carr, Professor of Global Politics and Cybersecurity at University College London and visiting chair of technology at Schwartzman's College at Tsinghua University in Beijing.
Together they explore China’s evolving approach to AI regulation. From recommender algorithms and synthetic content to generative AI and safety frameworks, Madeline shares insights from on the ground in Beijing. They unpack the differences between US and Chinese approaches to innovation, the importance of liability in holding technology companies accountable, and consider how middle powers could govern foreign technologies in a world where the best innovative tech isn’t necessarily coming from a major ally.
Links
https://theconversation.com/us-tech-leaders-are-urgently-calling-for-rules-on-ai-china-already-has-them-292965
https://darioamodei.com/post/we-must-pace-the-frontier
https://regulations.ai/regulations/RAI-CN-NA-PAARIXX-2021
https://regulations.ai/regulations/RAI-CN-NA-PADSIXX-2022
https://www.chinalawtranslate.com/en/generative-ai-interim/
https://www.cac.gov.cn/rootimages/uploadimg/1791137114683961/1791137114683961.pdf
Transcribed
21 SEP 2026 · “I wanted to make a difference, and I wasn’t getting that fulfilment in the private sector anymore,” says Lee Hickin. After decades at some of the world’s largest technology companies, including Amazon, Microsoft and IBM, Lee wanted to shift the impact of his work away from corporate goals towards the broader public good. Now leading Australia’s National AI Centre (NAIC), Lee’s challenge is to help position the nation to seize the opportunities of AI while giving organisations the confidence, skills and agency to navigate a rapidly evolving technology ecosystem.
In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Lee on a sober perspective in the ‘race for AI’ and how the government's strategy is constantly evolving to keep pace. By taking an intergenerational approach, Lee gives a clear piece of advice: learn how to use AI, but don’t become dependent on it.
Links:
http://techpolicy.au/aiagency
http://ai.gov.au
https://www.startupdaily.net/topic/people/ai-expert-lee-hick-microsoft-national-ai-centre-director/
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ckgwy1k42w4o
Transcribed
7 SEP 2026 · OnlyFans is often immediately recognised as an adult content platform. Yet, according to digital culture scholar Dr. Emily van der Nagel, the company sidesteps embracing the kinds of explicit material that define it. What does this mean for the creators who make their living on the platform, and for its and governments' responsibilities?
In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver and Emily explore how the OnlyFans platform design and corporate strategy shape the experiences of its creators and users. Their conversation examines questions of worker agency, platform power and regulation, copyright, the blurry line between art and porn, and what making a living through platform work can reveal about the broader digital economy and our society.
This podcast episode does include adult themes, so exercise your judgement as to if and when you listen to this episode.
Links
https://www.politybooks.com/bookdetail?book_slug=onlyfans--9781509567188
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2021/aug/29/why-onlyfans-had-second-thoughts-on-banning-sexually-explicit-content
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/g925q8qd4p6o9nidliunv/Competing-platform-imaginaries-of-NSFW-content-creation-on-OnlyFans_van-der-Nagel_2021.pdf?rlkey=tgc91nl0cnp9fylwmjzrjligl&e=1&dl=0
https://consult.industry.gov.au/digital-economy-strategy
Transcribed
24 AUG 2026 · Many believe that Artificial Intelligence will soon be embedded in nearly every aspect of the modern world. But how diverse are the people shaping this technology? In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver is joined by Dr. Gemma Killen and Professor Rashina Hoda to explore how a lack of diversity in AI development is amplifying harms towards women as well as marginalised and vulnerable groups. From biased recruitment, renter prejudices and healthcare systems to deepfakes, they acknowledge the existing challenges with AI’s track record on diversity and suggest some practical steps to improve inclusion and instead use AI to reduce bias and, just maybe, even smash the patriarchy!
Links:
https://www.afr.com/technology/ai-has-a-woman-problem-it-could-cost-us-dearly-20260720-p60gvw
https://arxiv.org/pdf/2501.03569
https://wwwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/WwWA-Policy-Brief-AI-and-womens-health.pdf
https://wwwa.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2WwWA-Policy-Brief-AI-Gender-and-Economic-Equality.pdf
https://www.aisafetyforum.au/events/2026-forum/videos
Transcribed
10 AUG 2026 · Is Australia getting AI strategy right? Following the PM’s “AI In Australia’s Interests” speech on 15 July, much of the conversation has focused on data centres and ‘national standards’. But according to industrial AI leader Cori Stewart, that's not where Australia's biggest opportunity lies. In this episode of Tech Mirror, Johanna Weaver speaks with Cori, the CEO of ARM Hub, about why Australia should focus on industrial AI, how Australian AI is already transforming manufacturing, healthcare, mining and agriculture, and what it will take to build the high-value industries that can power Australia's future prosperity. From steel mills and medical devices to South Korea’s manufacturing success, this is a conversation about moving beyond hype and putting AI to work in the industries that will create Australia’s future jobs, capability and prosperity.
Links
https://www.innovationaus.com/australia-is-chasing-the-wrong-kind-of-ai/
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/ai-australias-interests-0
https://www.armhub.com.au/
https://techpolicy.au/news/launch?utm_source=chatgpt.com
For transcript and full show notes visithttp://techpolicy.au/podcast
Transcribed
27 JUL 2026 · What would it take for Australia to build its own AI future? The Australian Prime Minister made a landmark speech on 15 July declaring that his government would shape Artificial Intelligence rather than be shaped by it. Just days before the speech, Australian AI company Maincode beta launched Matilda, an Australian-built AI platform. Johanna Weaver sits down with Maincode CEO Dave Lemphers to discuss Matilda, Australian-made AI, and the hard realities of creating a world-class technology company from Melbourne. From compute clusters to copyright, to national ambition, this is a conversation about building capability that lasts.
Links
https://www.pm.gov.au/media/ai-australias-interests-0
https://www.afr.com/technology/meet-matilda-australia-s-answer-to-chatgpt-20250813-p5mmqn
https://maincode.com.au?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.amd.com/en/resources/case-studies/maincode-mc-2-ai-factory.htmlhttps://www.amd.com/en/resources/case-studies/maincode-mc-2-ai-factory.html
For transcript and full show notes visithttp://techpolicy.au/podcast
Transcribed
13 JUL 2026 · In a world of AI, what does it mean to be human? In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver speaks with one of Australia’s foremost ethicists, Simon Longstaff, from the Ethics Centre. Together, they make the case for ethics in the wider AI discourse. They discuss why Simon urges Australians to demand more than a social licence for AI arguing instead for a social compact. Johanna and Simon explore how concepts like purpose, trust, and accountability can help guide the responsible development of AI while confronting “just because we can do something with AI, should we?”
Links
https://ethics.org.au/will-ai-be-the-risk-we-chose-not-to-see/ | The Ethics Centre
The Ethics Centre
https://ethics.org.au/
Australia’s AI Ethics Principles | Department of Industry, Science, and Resources https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/australias-ai-ethics-principles?utm_source=chatgpt.com
For transcript and full show notes visithttp://techpolicy.au/podcast
29 JUN 2026 · With countries and tech stakeholders rapidly moving to claim AI in their interest, such as the US government’s move to restrict non-citizens' access to platforms like Claude, what does it mean for Australians to have control over their technological future? AI is becoming closely linked to Australia’s economy, security, and everyday life. It’s time to discuss what having AI Agency looks like now and into the future.
In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver is joined by Tech Policy Design Institute co-founder and lead researcher Zoe Hawkins to unpack their latest report Expanding AI Sovereignty to AI Agency. Together, they explore why Australia needs to move beyond simplistic debates to uncover how Australia’s tech movement holds strategic advantages that build both leverage and resilience when global events expose geopolitical uncertainty.
Links:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/jun/13/anthropic-disable-advanced-ai-models-us-government-order | The Guardian
Tech Policy Design Institute – AI Agency Report
https://techpolicy.au/aiagency
Tech Policy Design Institute
https://techpolicy.au
Australia's National AI Plan
https://www.industry.gov.au/publications/national-ai-capability-plan
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) – AI
https://oecd.ai
Anthropic
https://www.anthropic.com
For transcript and full show notes visithttp://techpolicy.au/podcast
16 JUN 2026 · The nature of work and jobs is being reshaped by artificial intelligence. Is it the building block to a worker utopia, or a more bleak, disruptive reality? In this episode of Tech Mirror, host Johanna Weaver sits down with Joseph Mitchell from the Australian Council of Trade Unions to unpack the opportunities, risks, and power dynamics brought on by the rollout of AI in workplaces around Australia. He argues that AI is being used increasingly to meet new efficiency benchmarks and worker surveillance. Johanna and Joseph ask, can the voice of unions, policy makers, and individuals shape what happens next, and will the future of work remain deeply human — even in an AI-driven world? Links: Australian Council of Trade Unions: http://www.actu.org.au Encyclical Letter, Magnifica Humanitas, of His Holiness Pope Leo XiV, on safeguarding the human person on the time of artificial intelligence: https://www.vatican.va/content/leo-xiv/en/encyclicals/documents/20260515-magnifica-humanitas.html Fair Work Commission: https://www.fwc.gov.au?utm_source National Employment Standards (Fair Work Ombudsman): https://www.fairwork.gov.au/employment-conditions/national-employment-standards Daron Acemoglu
- MIT Economics: https://economics.mit.edu/people/faculty/daron-acemoglu
- Building pro-worker artificial intelligence https://economics.mit.edu/sites/default/files/2026-03/Building%20Pro-Worker%20Artificial%20Intelligence.pdf
For transcript and full show notes visithttp://techpolicy.au/podcast See https://omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
How do we ensure technology makes our lives better? Tech Mirror is the podcast of the Tech Policy Design Institute. We explore how technolgy is shaping our lives, and how...
show more
How do we ensure technology makes our lives better? Tech Mirror is the podcast of the Tech Policy Design Institute. We explore how technolgy is shaping our lives, and how we - the humans- can shape technolgy back.
show less
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