The Conversation Australia + NZ

Earlier this month, former and current employees of Anthropic said that the people building AI believe that it could kill us all by the end of the decade and the chance of this happening in the next decade is more than 10%. But how exactly might AI kill us all? Professor of AI Toby Walsh FAA FTSE FRSN from UNSW breaks down the most likely ways it could happen.

Libraries and influencers: two words you probably wouldn’t expect to see together. But libraries and librarians are using social media in creative, direct. and often hilarious ways to connect with their communities. From a 72-year-old rare books librarian in Queensland to viral library teams in Adelaide and Melbourne, these accounts are sharing the everyday joy of libraries, from rare books and reading recommendations to community events, digital resources and even toy borrowing. PhD and information and communications expert Krystal Gagen-Spriggs from Charles Sturt University says these library influencers may be very different, but they’re all dedicated to the same fundamental purpose: libraries welcome everyone, are free for everyone and celebrate everyone. Here are five of Australia’s most popular library influencer accounts – and a look at how they’re bringing libraries to life online. https://lnkd.in/gG7d699s

The fourth interest rate hike this year will add about A$120 a month to the average mortgage of $730,000. Former senior economist with the Reserve Bank of Australia Professor John Hawkins (University of Canberra) says the move wasn't unexpected but may dampen spending in an already weak economy. Read more from Stella Huangfu (University of Sydney): https://lnkd.in/djeXemf2

For years, fossil fuel projects have been defended as just a “drop in the ocean” –  but scientists can now measure their specific impact on people and nature. The new Carbon Impacts Tracer connects emissions from individual projects to extra warming and measurable damage, from dangerous heat to glacier melt. Experts Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick and Claudia Stepin from The Australian National University, Gillian Moon, Maria Nawaz and Wesley Morgan from UNSW say it’s no longer possible to hide behind the argument that a new gasfield is just a drop in the ocean. Now, the tool could help communities, organisations and decision-makers better understand – and hold fossil fuel companies and governments accountable for – the damage these projects cause. https://lnkd.in/gZiuCRyg

Trump’s push to restrict US diesel exports could have major consequences for the global fuel market – and Australia is particularly exposed as the world’s largest per-capita diesel consumer among developed nations. With global fuel reserves already under pressure, an export restriction could drive prices higher and increase the risk of shortages or even fuel rationing in Australia. While an outright ban appears unlikely, other restrictions are still being considered, leaving major diesel-dependent industries watching Trump’s next move closely. Research fellow and economic expert Robert Monterosso from University of Sydney says Australia needs to stay alert to the risks to its fuel supply chains as global diesel markets reach breaking point. https://lnkd.in/gDJs4E-w

From October 1, businesses can no longer add card surcharges at the checkout, changing how customers and businesses handle card payment costs. The shift is expected to be most noticeable at smaller businesses that currently charge card fees, with some costs potentially reflected in prices. Doctoral researcher Vibhu Arya from University of Technology Sydney says the change will remove surprise card surcharges, but businesses will still need to cover some card payment costs. https://lnkd.in/g-zcDGHz

Every year, one of Australia’s biggest longitudinal surveys provides a range of insights on how the nation is changing. The Household, Income and Labour Dynamics in Australia (HILDA) Survey, released today, provides unique insights into the lives of Australians, and collects rich data on income, employment, health and wellbeing. Here are some of the key findings from the 2026 report: 🏡 Renters living in mainland capital cities had much higher rates – about one in four experienced housing stress in 2024, compared with about one in five in 2001. 💻 About 12.1% of women reported they had experienced at least one form of cyber crime, compared to 11% of men. Online scams and identity crime are the most common. 🍽️ In 2024, 17.9% of Australians reported at least one indicator of food insecurity, up from 13.7% in 2020. The most commonly experienced form of food insecurity is eating only a few kinds of foods because of a lack of money, followed by inability to eat healthy and nutritious food. Read more about the findings here: https://lnkd.in/gANG2bsw

#EVENT Higher Education Research Group Adelaide (HERGA) is hosting their annual HERGA Conference on Wednesday 30 September 2026. This year's theme is Transition, Technology and Trust HERGA is a cross-disciplinary community of educators, representing Australian and New Zealand universities, with the intention to promote high quality university learning through sharing evidence-based, practical approaches to teaching. Date: Wednesday 30 September Location: Adelaide University, City East campus on September 30, 2026. Keynote in Napier 102. Find out more here: https://www.herga.com.au/ For more events or courses, visit The Conversation's Events, Courses and Podcasts board here https://lnkd.in/dZjjfQZ This is a featured post from one of The Conversation's partners.

As work changes thanks to the influence of artificial intelligence, being able to move between jobs, and sometimes industries, may become increasingly important. For women, the pressure to adapt may be particularly significant. Jobs and Skills Australia has found women have greater exposure than men to automation and AI changes, largely because of the industries and occupations in which they work. Much of the discussion about transition currently focuses on workers – they need to reskill, retrain and become more adaptable. But as Marzena Baker of Australian Catholic University writes, there's another side: employers may also need to become more flexible in how they decide what experience really matters. https://lnkd.in/ejAEi_kf

#EVENT Book your tickets now for Belvoir St Theatre's new production 'A Room with a View'. Opening October 3. A smart new adaptation by Grace Chapple, of E.M. Forster’s great novel of love and discovery. Lucy Honeychurch could follow the path set out for her – life would be easy and comfortable. But a few days in Florence, and her view of love and possibility is thrown out the window. Sublime art and architecture, an array of folk who see the world through different eyes, and the attentions of the passionate George Emerson might just change her forever. But back home in her room, Tuscany feels like another universe. Will she stay safe with her slightly underwhelming fiancé Cecil? Or will Lucy find a new room, and a new view? Dates: 3 October – 1 November 2026 Location: Belvoir St Theatre, Upstairs, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills NSW 2010 Find out more here: https://lnkd.in/giYVJCKe For more events or courses, visit The Conversation's Events, Courses and Podcasts board here https://lnkd.in/dZjjfQZ This is a featured post from one of The Conversation's partners.