AGP Executive Report

AI & Energy Crunch: A new UN-linked report warns AI could drive big electricity and water demand, with data centres already consuming power on par with major countries and a widening digital divide between builders and consumers. Climate Diplomacy: Turkey’s COP31 team is pushing a voluntary goal to lift electricity’s share of global energy demand to 35% by 2035, aiming to cut fossil fuel exposure and price shocks. Telecoms Trust: A commentary argues Australia’s telco story is too focused on outages and breaches, missing how decades of connectivity underpin banking, government services, telehealth and e-commerce. Undersea Defence: The US Navy demonstrated autonomous underwater drones in NATO exercises in the Baltic, while New Zealand’s torpedo sale would help turn submarine detection into combat-ready engagement—an area where Australia is closely watching. Social Media Safety: UK-style pressure is building for stronger child protections online, with Australia’s age-assurance and platform controls in the spotlight. Health Tech & Research: A first-in-human gene therapy trial has begun in the US to target cellular aging in glaucoma-related neuron loss, raising both hope and safety questions. Environment & Conservation: WA is funding a major habitat corridor to save Carnaby’s black cockatoo, with hundreds of thousands of trees planned. Modern Slavery Enforcement: New research finds only 1% of forced labour reports lead to convictions, calling for better support for workers before law enforcement outcomes arrive.

AI & Markets: OpenAI has filed confidentially for an IPO, teeing up a “third phase” of growth as investors watch the next big AI listing. Online Safety: Apple rolled out new child accounts and parental controls after Australia’s social media minimum-age push, with eSafety noting millions of under-16 accounts have been removed or deactivated since the law began. Defence Manufacturing: Australia is testing its first locally produced AS9 Huntsman 155mm howitzer, while the government also backs new forging capacity for M795 shells in Queensland to boost sovereign supply. Energy Storage: Richmond Vanadium signed a mine-to-battery deal with RKP Global to develop long-duration vanadium flow battery opportunities in Australia. Health & Research: A UN-linked warning says AI could soon use a major share of global electricity and water, adding pressure to make computing greener. Child Safety Crime Risk: Australian clinicians warn encrypted apps are being used to recruit vulnerable teens into serious crimes. Space/Science: New research suggests the Chicxulub asteroid impact site stayed hot for millions of years, shaping deep underground ecosystems.

AI Infrastructure & Datacentres: Independent senator David Pocock argues Australia should get a “fair return” from the AI datacentre boom, pointing to Microsoft’s $25bn and AWS’s $20bn commitments while communities push back on construction. Cybersecurity & Software Deals: PagerDuty expands in Australia via an exclusive distribution deal with Ingram Micro, aiming to speed up adoption of its AI-operations platform; Libra Software Group also buys Melbourne logistics software firm Expedient to deepen customs and forwarding tech. Tax Tech Compliance: Wolters Kluwer rolls out BEPS Pillar Two filing tools in CCH Integrator ahead of Australia’s 30 June 2026 deadline, targeting multinational reporting across 60+ jurisdictions. Health & Travel Tech: Southern Cross Travel Insurance reports a rise in gastro claims for Australians using Asian transit hubs, with costs per claim climbing. Space & Earth Science: NASA’s SWOT satellite helps reveal hidden vertical ocean currents beneath Antarctica, while NASA imagery shows prescribed burns in Australia’s Top End—fires that look dramatic from orbit but are planned to prevent worse blazes. Markets & Policy: OpenAI confidentially files for a US IPO, and Meta continues to fight Australia’s proposed news levy.

Big Tech & Kids Safety: UK PM Keir Starmer says Apple/Google must add phone controls to stop children sending or viewing nude images, with legislation and fines if firms don’t comply within three months. Health Data & AI: A new push argues middle powers like Australia should collaborate on health data and health AI to improve patient care while protecting sovereignty. Energy & Grid Tech: Australia’s solar-battery momentum continues with projects securing grid approvals and new storage partnerships, while longer-duration battery storage is highlighted as key for 24/7 clean power. Science in the Sky: Australian-led research reports a likely cause for long-period radio “pings” from space, pointing to “vampire stars.” Conservation Watch: South Australia’s koala boom is being quantified, with researchers warning numbers could rise further and stress habitat unless managed. Cybercrime & Scams: Police detail a script used by Cambodian scam centres to impersonate AFP officers and coerce Australians into sharing bank details. Markets Mood: Global stocks wobble on Israel–Iran tensions and rate fears, feeding into regional tech weakness.

Cancer Research Loss: Former Australian of the Year melanoma pathologist Richard Scolyer has died aged 59 after a long battle with glioblastoma, leaving a legacy from world-first brain cancer immunotherapy to a public “give it a crack” message to Australians. Online Safety Policy: Australia is pushing a “safe by design” digital duty of care for social media, with a proposed requirement for platforms to take reasonable steps to prevent foreseeable online harm. Cybercrime & Finance: The IMF granted Sri Lanka a waiver after a cyber incident caused a missed $2.5m external debt payment to the Australian Government, tied to phishing that altered Treasury payment details. AI & Education Debate: New research weighs in on whether streaming students by ability helps learning, while warning about fairness and who gets pushed into lower groups. Data Centre Boom: NSW and Victoria’s data centre construction surge is now outpacing the last mining boom, raising questions about whether the spending will pay off long term. Tech Consumer Gear: Lefant’s self-emptying robot vacuum is discounted 69% to $249.99, while Boox’s Go 6 (Gen II) Android e-reader adds stylus and handwriting support.

AI & Safety: Pope Leo’s Spain visit put AI risks in the spotlight, warning that new tech can weaken critical thinking and inflame prejudice. Cyber & Misinformation: Bangladesh’s information minister called fake news a national security issue and urged a national action plan to tackle cyber risks. AI in the real world: A UK-style “AI cops” trial using facial recognition at Appleby Horse Fair shows how tech can flag people as “wanted” in live policing. Space & Investing: Reuters explains how Australians can access SpaceX’s IPO via US broker eligibility rules and the big retail demand behind the listing. Energy Tech: Google and Voltus are expanding virtual power plants, pooling home solar, batteries and smart loads to help grid stability. Health Tech: WA cold-case detectives used radiocarbon dating and DNA to identify an Aboriginal man from remains found near Darwin. Education & Environment: An NSW study found many classrooms hit high CO₂ levels, renewing calls for better ventilation in public schools. Transport/Auto: BYD unveiled the Dolphin G DM-i as its first true global PHEV push. Sports Tech Culture: FIFA says it will collect World Cup items after every match to build a long-term digital museum trail.

AI & Work Reform: Australia’s unions are pushing a three-day workweek, arguing AI-driven productivity should translate into shorter hours and better job design, not just higher corporate profits. Mental Health & Medicine: Adelaide and Queensland researchers say long-term antidepressant benefits may be overstated because many “relapses” could actually be withdrawal effects. Health & Vaccines: Australia’s winter flu season is ramping up after a highly infectious H3N2 “Super-K” wave, with an updated vaccine now available. Food Tech: Canberra’s PPB Technology says on-site milk testing using biosensors can deliver results in minutes and cut waste of up to 70 million tonnes globally. Transport & Mobility: Google and Telstra are partnering on an AI-focused fibre and subsea infrastructure push aimed at boosting Australia’s connectivity. Cars: GWM’s Tank 500 PHEV gets Australia/NZ chassis tuning with pricing unchanged for MY26 builds from March 2026. Science & Environment: A new coral-bleaching forecast tool could give reef managers months of warning to intervene before bleaching hits.

Medical research in Australia: A WEHI-led study in Cell found a 14-protein “blood signature” that can flag lung cancer risk more than five years early, including in non-smokers, pointing to earlier prevention. Biotech at EULAR: Cullinan Therapeutics says early Phase 1 data for its CD19xCD3 T cell engager CLN-978 showed clinical benefit and deep, dose-dependent B cell depletion in refractory lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. Cyber and data security: A lawsuit claims IBM covered up major breaches, including alleged issues tied to APT10, while Australia-focused debate continues over how platforms should be held to account. Rail tech for the Olympics: Alstom won a €69m contract to install ETCS Level 2 digital signalling with 5G radio on Brisbane’s Sunshine Coast line, with local apprenticeships planned. Transport and safety tech: Cricket’s ICC trial will allow pink balls during bad-light stoppages in Tests, though it won’t be ready for the first match at Lord’s. Energy and electrification: Australia’s home battery program delivered 10.7GWh to the grid, as EV uptake accelerates and demand patterns get more dynamic. Policy and education: Australia’s “reading wars” are shifting into a new fight over evidence-based teaching methods across subjects. Health risk and regulation: Experts urge governments to ban the frog-poison “Kambo” detox drug after repeated reports of serious harm and deaths.

AI Search Shift: Google’s latest push reframes search optimisation around whether AI systems can “ground” answers in a brand’s real-world signals, not just rankings. Data Centres in the Spotlight: AirTrunk says it will invest about US$30b in India by 2030 to build 5GW of AI data-centre capacity, as Australia’s own data-centre boom reshapes jobs and energy demand. Energy & Storage: Australia’s battery build-out keeps accelerating, with long-duration storage and grid-shifting tech in focus as more solar moves beyond daylight. Health Tech: Australia’s MRI milestone claims tumour-freezing capability, while new research links alcohol to hormone-driven junk food cravings and flags sleep meds’ next-day driving risks. Climate & Food: Hail risk is shifting toward cooler regions and more winter/shoulder seasons, and researchers warn ultra-processed foods need tighter policy. Cyber & Scams: Australia continues to see major authority-scam losses, alongside broader concerns about botnets and AI misuse. Policy & Regulation: Meta attacks Australia’s proposed news-tax plan as a trade-pact breach, while Australia moves to sharpen research security rules.

AI Skills & Careers: A former Australian Defence Force member turned tech sales says AI is changing roles, but “AI-native skills” and human relationship-building still drive demand for revenue-focused people. Data Centres & Energy: AirTrunk says it will invest about ₹3 lakh crore in India and build 5GW of data centre capacity after meeting PM Modi, extending Australia’s data-centre footprint into the region. AI Governance in Universities: Former Monash chancellor Alan Finkel urges universities to set minimum standards for AI use and require verification of “human-authored” work after a professor used AI to write an opinion piece. Cyber & Workplace Tech: A new push for trusted, certified safety tech and broader cybersecurity resilience shows how compliance and automation are converging in everyday operations. Environment & Biosecurity: Australia seized 100,000 illegal cockroaches in NSW, a reminder that exotic pet trade can quickly become a public risk. Climate Signals: NASA reports a Pacific warm-water swell that could point to a Super El Niño later this year, raising the stakes for heat and rainfall disruption.

Meta News Tax Clash: Meta says Australia’s proposed levy to make platforms pay for news breaches a US free-trade deal, escalating the big-tech vs government fight over journalism funding. Solar Market Volatility: NEM Data shows May solar generation rose year-on-year but was hit by late-month cloud cover, while mid-month pricing spiked to AU$225/MWh. AI in Retail: Apex Footwear won three Retail Asia Awards, including “AI Initiative of the Year,” alongside footwear retail and sustainability honours. Health Milestone: Cloudbreak Pharma says the final patient completed the 12-month Phase 3 endpoint for CBT-001 in pterygium, aiming to move beyond surgery-only treatment. Cardiac Device Funding: EBR launched a fully underwritten $150m raise to scale its WISE wireless heart pacing device in the US, with Medicare coverage talks in the background. Climate Turning Point: Australia’s emissions fell again, with electricity clean-up driving the drop and transport emissions easing as EV sales surge. Space Weather: The Sun fired multiple flares, triggering radio blackouts and boosting aurora odds. World Cup Tech: FIFA’s 2026 ball will be chargeable and sensor-enabled, feeding tracking systems to speed up key decisions.

Neurotech in the real world: Control Bionics says its NeuroNode assistive communication device is gaining traction in the US, with states covering nearly 70% of the population via the E2513 reimbursement pathway, supporting distribution deals. Big science, big maps: CSIRO and the SKA Observatory team have released SPICE-RACS, the largest map yet of the Universe’s magnetic fields, built from ASKAP data on nearly four million galaxies. Space for doomscrollers: Google Labs launched Dreambeans, an AI-curated app that serves a small daily set of personalised illustrated stories to help users cut back on endless scrolling. Science meets farming: A new $9.5m program aims to supercharge faba bean breeding for yield, disease resistance and quality as the crop expands. Trade and tech friction: Meta is pushing back hard on Australia’s proposed “news bargaining incentive” tax, arguing it breaches the US-Australia free trade deal. Energy transition pressure: Australia’s RBA says growth is slowing and inflation should ease, while markets watch tech earnings and global rate expectations.

US Tariffs: Anthony Albanese says new US tariffs on Australian goods are “unwarranted” and came without warning, as parliament prepares to vote on related tax changes. AUKUS Manufacturing: QinetiQ used additive manufacturing to produce submarine parts locally for HMS Anson, supporting AUKUS Pillar 1 and giving Perth SMEs a role in the supply chain. Stealth Drone Testing: Boeing says its MQ-28 Ghost Bat passed radar cross-section tests, backing human-machine teaming for contested airspace. Five Eyes Spy Warning: MI5 and Five Eyes warn China is targeting security staff via job sites like LinkedIn and Indeed, using fake roles to extract sensitive info. AI Security Access: Anthropic is expanding access to its Mythos cybersecurity model via Project Glasswing, including organisations in Australia and New Zealand. ASIO Connected-Car Risk: ASIO warns officials to avoid confidential conversations in internet-linked vehicles as data-gathering capabilities grow. Space & Astronomy: CSIRO and SKA Observatory researchers mapped the Milky Way’s magnetic fields using a remote WA radio telescope. Housing Pressure: CBA economists say Budget tax changes will hit home prices harder than forecast, with dwelling prices expected to flatten in 2026. Defence Tech Market Watch: DroneShield shares slid again after ASIC-related governance and trading scrutiny.

AUKUS Scrutiny: Australia’s nuclear-submarine path is under the microscope as a public inquiry led by Peter Garrett weighs costs, delivery and nuclear waste, with a new plan to buy three used US Virginia-class boats and start rotations through HMAS Stirling from 2027. AI Infrastructure Push: Megaport has secured four AI infrastructure contracts worth A$594m and launched a A$827m raise to build a distributed AI inference cloud across its global data-centre footprint. Quantum for Defence: Q-CTRL released a quantum computing white paper outlining how quantum optimisation could speed decision cycles for defence logistics and C4ISR systems by 2027. Cybersecurity Scaling: Anthropic expanded Project Glasswing to about 150 organisations across 15+ countries after partners found 10,000+ high/critical software vulnerabilities. Energy & Grid Pressure: Reports warn data-centre growth could drive power-price spikes, while Australia’s energy transition continues toward a cleaner, more flexible grid. Health Research: RMIT and partners are launching an AI-enabled digital twin project to improve autism detection and care for children born preterm. Home Tech: Google Home is rolling out Gemini features in Australia, including pet-aware responses and home event summaries. Economy Watch: Australia’s productivity slowdown and weak growth are raising stagflation concerns as the RBA weighs further rate moves.

Critical Minerals: NSW has approved RZ Resources’ Copi titanium-bearing project, targeting up to 400,000 tonnes of critical mineral ore a year and adding rutile/ilmenite plus zircon and rare earths to Australia’s supply chain. AI Infrastructure: Megaport locked in four AI infrastructure contracts and launched a fully underwritten entitlement offer to raise A$827.3m, aiming to build a distributed GPU inference cloud. Digital Borders: Melbourne Airport joins the Australian Travel Declaration pilot, letting eligible Qantas arrivals complete a digital clearance via the Qantas app instead of the yellow paper form. AUKUS Politics: Labor backbencher Ed Husic is pushing for a rethink of AUKUS after reports Australia will receive only second-hand Virginia-class submarines, as an independent “people’s inquiry” gains momentum. Space Science: SETI’s STRIDE awards hand out $1m across ten projects, including astrobiology and exoplanet work plus public outreach. Climate Watch: The WMO says El Niño is forming with an 80% chance of developing June–August, with climate change expected to intensify impacts. Health Tech: SwalTech in Christchurch is using biofeedback sensors and an app to make stroke swallowing rehab more visible for patients and clinicians.

Space & Astronomy: Astronomers using Australia’s ASKAP have pinned down the “Rosetta stone” origin of mysterious long-period cosmic radio signals to a rare binary system where a white dwarf shreds a companion star. Cybersecurity: Commvault warns “frontier” AI is compressing the gap between finding and exploiting software flaws, pushing firms to rethink cyber recovery around faster, more resilient response. National Science: CSIRO confirmed job cuts tied to environmental research, saying it still needs an extra $135m a year to stay sustainable. Climate Risk: The WMO says El Niño is forming with an 80% chance of developing this winter and climate change could supercharge its extremes. Health Tech: A trial study flags quetiapine may impair next-day driving and alertness, raising concerns about off-label sleep use. Drones & Events: Vivid Sydney’s drone show plans for 2027 are back on track after last year’s machines fell into Darling Harbour, with a new operations manager role advertised. AI & Work: ACTU’s Sally McManus argues companies should share AI productivity gains via more time off to build trust. EV Market Shift: NRMA data shows EV insurance quotes effectively doubling in 2026, signalling a structural change in how Australians view EV risk. Wildlife Research: University of Queensland-backed WildObs aims to speed up processing of Australia’s camera-trap images using AI and computer vision. Undersea Defence: AUKUS partners are moving ahead on uncrewed underwater tech, with deliveries starting next year and a focus on operational capability.