Uncategorized

For the last five years I’ve been a regular guest on RNZ’s Nine to Noon. This week, host Kathryn Ryan and I discussed the pivot in big tech – away from consumers, and toward the defense sector.

(Originally broadcast on Radio New Zealand’s Nine to Noon on 13 February 2025)

Last week Google amended its ethical AI policies to allow their AI tools to be used in weapons – to preserve ‘national security’. They’re among the last to embrace a new market for their products – defense and weapons. Is this a new thing? Or is tech simply returning to its roots as a service industry for the military-industrial complex? Is this why the US and UK refused to sign an international AI declaration this week?  Plus – why does leading AI company Anthropic insist job applicants write their submissions – without the help of AI?

In this final year in review episode, Sally Dominguez, Drew Smith and Mark Pesce address the big, smelly elephant in the room: The change of government – and direction – over in the United States of America. Could massive tariffs plus ‘drill, baby, drill’ together land a knockout punch on the US EV industry? Plus – predictions for 2025. We’re bringing the year to a thrilling close on this episode of THE NEXT BILLION CARS.

Series co-host Sally Dominguez examines at the data hungry nature of modern vehicles. What does privacy look like in the age of ‘artificial intimacy’? You have nothing to hide, right?

In just three years, China has overtaken Japan, Germany and the United States to become the largest exporter of vehicles. Terrified governments look to tariffs to protect legacy automakers – but what’s the future for any manufacturer that wants to compete against China? Drew Smith and Mark Pesce confront this sudden shift – and chart a path forward.

Next Billion Seconds host Mark Pesce had a nice gig writing for COSMOS Magazine – until he got replaced by an AI. In a live conversation with MIT Technology Review CEO and Publisher Elizabeth Bramson-Boudreau – recorded at SxSW Sydney – they explore the automation of creative endeavours – highlighting the significance of ‘humans in the loop’ – and shine a light on how ‘generative’ AI has already shaped the future of work.