Per Capita Australia

Burning Platforms

A Technology , News and Tech News podcast

About the show

Welcome to Burning Platforms: De-Coding the Power and Politics of Big Tech. Join Peter Lewis, Lizzie O’Shea (Digital Rights Watch), Dan Stinton (HealthEngine CEO), and guests, fortnightly for analysis of the politics of technology from some of Australia’s leading digital campaigners and industry experts. Brought to you by the Centre of the Public Square - an initiative of Per Capita.

Newest episodes

Going Rogue with Bill Simpson-Young

Nov 11, 2026 42 min

The CEO of the Gradient Institute on the emerging risks of agentic AI and how playing dumb might be the smartest move. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: should we get AI out of schools? what do the big Canva job cuts mean? will the US midterms impact AI in Australia? For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/ Join us in Canberra on November 25 - https://events.humanitix.com/what-s-your-poison-live-show-last-drinks-for-2026? Celebrate Digital Rights Watch’s 10th birthday on December 9 - https://events.humanitix.com/digital-rights-watch-10th-birthday-party

Sale of the Century with Carl Rhodes

Nov 3, 2026 46 min

The founder of UTS’s Ultimo Institute on the political economy of the largest float in history, AI lab Anthropic’s IPO. Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullin, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss. the crash of Elon Musk’s ‘yuck truck’ how people are using AI to manage their health the tech bro’s embrace of ‘cognitive mercantilism’ For transcript, cuts and curios go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

God in a Box with Toby Walsh

Oct 27, 2026 43 min

The AI scientist and author on his rising concerns about existential risk and the false inevitability of the hyper-scalers. Panellists ABC AI correspondent Ca, Wilson, Tech Policy Design Institute co-director Zoe Jay Hawkins and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: the ad-powered cyber-attacks on Australian institutions the Digital Duty of Care laws enter the Parliament Meta’s new terms of trade and plans for AI domination For show notes go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

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All episodes

Going Rogue with Bill Simpson-Young

Nov 11, 2026 42 min

Sale of the Century with Carl Rhodes

Nov 3, 2026 46 min

God in a Box with Toby Walsh

Oct 27, 2026 43 min

Science Friction with Anna-Maria Arabia

Oct 21, 2026 41 min

The CEO of the new Australian Council on AI Strategy on the big decisions and competing trade-offs facing Australia and where scientists fit in the conversation. Panelists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss. is the Parliamentary Inquiry AI actually worth it? should AI be in your fridge? And whether mathematics is dead. For background material go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Digging for Truth with Craig Silverman

Oct 14, 2026 46 min

The co-founder of Indicator on how lies have taken over the internet and what we can all do to build a better information ecosystem. Also this week: Culture wars over digital duty of care AI as an intellectual hot dog and what the Firmus flop could mean for datacentres For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Open Season with Simon Kriss

Oct 6, 2026 45 min

As Open AI apologises to Australia the CEO of Sovereign AI takes us through the relative merits of open weight, open source and closed AI models. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinong and Pert Capita’s peter Lewis also discuss the downsides of live-streaming amateur basketball Anthropic’s consultations with God and the rapid release of consumer agents For show notes go to Burning Platforms on substack - https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Rearview Mirror with Matt Finch

Sep 30, 2026 46 min

As Australia confronts the Open AI hack on Medicare we are joined by an expert in strategic foresight to explore how we can confront the AI revolution with the benefit of hindsight. Panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC national AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: whether AI models can get drunk is it time for an AI Pause? and Audrey Tang’s call for a citizen jury to guide AI For show notes go to Burning Platforms on substack - https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Tame Your Feed with Agata Stepnik

Sep 22, 2026 48 min

The Sydney University scholar explains how people can train their algorithms to get a better online experience and what it means to the Digital Duty of Care. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Frontier Tech’s global reckoning Open AI’s massive content heist and the Australian bros building a global slop empire For cuts and curios from this week’s show go to Burning Platforms on Substack

Care Package with Sarah Davies

Sep 14, 2026 46 min

The CEO of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation gives her verdict on the government’s new Digital Duty of care laws. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: the AI hyperscaler’ cry for help Apple’s creepy new release and the surveillance legacy of 9/11. For show notes go to https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Making Sausages with Kate Chaney

Sep 9, 2026 51 min

The independent MP on her community-driven plan for AI, working with government from the cross-bench and pushing the pace of reform. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: GetUp’s big Palantir win Rogue AI latest salvo and the Digital Duty of Care laws For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Perv Glass Half Full with Ed Santow

Sep 2, 2026 49 min

As privacy reforms gather momentum, the co-director of the Human Technology Institute walks us through the proposed changes and their implications for the digital world. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Meta’s mega $18 billion legal settlement for harming children Hugging Face’s AI agents mutiny And the hidden cost of the AUKUS treaty For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Duty of Care with Zoe Hawkins

Aug 26, 2026 49 min

The co-founder of the Tech Policy Design Centre on the development of new laws to hold tech companies to account for the harms of their products. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also dig into: The new salt mines of AI Australia’s pitch for AI sovereignty and ARIA’s purge of slop from the music charts For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Heaps Normal with Nicholas Davis

Aug 19, 2026 45 min

The co-founder of the Human Technology lays down his megapixel provocation and challenges us to stop thinking about AI as being so different that we can’t control it. Panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC National AI Reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss Can Automated Decision Making work for the people? Is the Social Media Ban making things worse? Is surveillance-busting ‘adversarial fashion’ the new black? For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Mind Craft with Dr Miah Hammond-Errey

Aug 12, 2026 50 min

The national security expert on the strategic risks of cognitive readiness and information is the new theatre of conflict. Panellists Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Pornography as harbinger of digital doom Mark Zuckerburg’s values-free ‘Encyclical’ Australia’s nascent Digital Duty of Care. For show notes go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Roll Your Own with Beth Noveck

Aug 5, 2026 50 min

The author of 'Reboot: AI and the Race to Save Democracy' on how citizens must seize new technology to ensure it works for them. Regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O'Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita's Peter Lewis also discuss Anthropic's rare book-breaking binge Backlash over the surveillance of open models How to regulate perv glasses For show notes and further discussion go to: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Fair AI at the ALP Conference 2026 - Burning Platforms LIVE

Aug 3, 2026 1 hr 0 min

Burning Platforms is back for another live show, this time recorded at the 2026 ALP Conference in Adelaide where we launched the "FairAI Initiative" with Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Human technology Institute co-director Ed Santow and Senator Tony Sheldon. Join the Burning Platforms for show notes, resources, and regular updates from the Big Tech Policy space: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/ For more on the Centre of the Public Square and it's research into AI policy, check out: https://percapita.org.au/the-centre-of-the-public-square/ Last but no least, learn more about the Fair AI Initiative here: https://www.fairai.au/

Believe it or not: Navigating the Misinformation Age LIVE

Jul 29, 2026 1 hr 21 min

In a world of relative facts and filter bubbles how do we build a common base of reality to anchor democracy? Burning Platforms will bring themes from the ABC series ‘A Matter of Facts’ to life in a fun and interactive live event that will challenge you to pick the truth from the lies. Featuring: Hamish Macdonald, award-winning journalist Lizzie O’Shea, Co-founder and Chair of Digital Rights Watch Jess Scully, Executive Director of RadicalXChange Emma McDonald, Media Lawyer, policy, regulatory and communications executive Professor Leo Robba and social design students from Western Sydney University Hosted by Essential’s Peter Lewis, and supported by Democracy Counts, we’ll explore what it means for democracy when so much of the content we’re consuming blurs the lines between fact and fiction, when our shared sense of reality becomes fractured.

The Palantir Primer

Jul 7, 2026 1 hr 2 min

Burning Platform is back from its brief hiatus for a special live Virtual Town Hall, convened on July 6th, looking at the growing fight to resist the US tech behemoth, in partnership with Digital Rights Watch and GetUp! Hosted by Per Capita's Peter Lewis, with speakers: * DRW chair Lizzie O'Shea * GetUp! campaigner Hayden Rodgers * Australian Greens Senator David Shoebridge Show notes available at: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/p/your-palantir-primer

Little Voices with Clare Stutchbery

Jun 18, 2026 54 min

This week on Burning Platforms, we're joined by the head of the Local and Independent News Association, Clare Stutchbery, to get her insights on the importance of media diversity in an age of information hierarchies. Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullin and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also explore: Why has Trump blocked Anthropic’s latest model? Is Google responsible for its AI news summaries? Are Gina and Elon a match made in heaven? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

BeNICE with Ed Coper

Jun 10, 2026 1 hr 7 min

The political strategist and author of ‘Angertainement', Ed Coper, joins the Burning Platform this week to discuss how social media outrage ruined everything and outlines his blueprint for harnessing the toxic information ecosystem. Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: is Anthropic really calling to hit pause? will Microsoft’s agentic AI play land safely? can a government automate discretion? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Magnifica Humanitas

Jun 3, 2026 50 min

This week on Burning Platforms we dive deep into Pope Leo’s XIV’s encyclical with Dr Michael Walker from the Justice and Peace Office at the Catholic Archdiocese of Sydney . Our panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: AI’s Trust Deficit Amnesty International’s new report: Unlawful by Design and Greenpeace’s new research on data centres ‘Energy Vampires’ For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Deep Tech with George Tulloch

May 27, 2026 1 hr 3 min

The founder of start-up Noizend on the challenges of scaling tech in Australia and how the real innovation is not running on the back of LLMs. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: Why is Meta ditching End to End Encryption? Will Google’s new IO break the internet? And Elon Musk’s the SpaceX float take-off? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

The Kids are Alright with Tama Leaver

May 20, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Internet academic Tama Leaver on the lines between regulating and equipping children to navigate the AI revolution. Panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, ABC AI reporter Cam Wilson and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: Students Jeer AI Inspiration Palantir’s Surveillance Playbook and can we build an AI Wealth Fund? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

The Devil’s Playground with Claire Pullen

May 13, 2026 1 hr 4 min

The Australian Writer’s Guild CEO Claire Pullen updates us on the fight to protect Australian creators from the industrial-scale thrift of their work. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: The wild west of AI-powered toys Chat-GPT’s new bot-phone and how Anthropic is tapping religious leaders for moral guidance For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Kids’ Gloves with Carly Kind

May 6, 2026 1 hr 0 min

The Privacy Commissioner takes us through the new code to to give children greater control over their data and how this could open the door for less surveillance for all of us. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: What’s behind the cancellation of RightsCon? Why did Jack Dorsey lay off 40 per cent of his business? And who wins when two tech overlords go to court? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Hyperscaling with Ed Husic

Apr 30, 2026 1 hr 5 min

The Labor MP and former Industry Minister on how the power of the global tech giants and why tech sovereignty is non-negotiable. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: Who is enabling the Nudify apps? Is there a world beyond the US AI stack? And what on earth is Palintir CEO Alex Karp smoking? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Popular Front with Cam Wilson

Apr 22, 2026 1 hr 0 min

The Sizzle editor (and freshly minted ABC AI reporter) joins us to make sense of the spate of attacks on CEO leaders. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: What role should AI play in Aged Care? Is all the AI Bubble talk just hot air? And how to get into a slinging match with a chat bot? For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

War Crimes with Prof Toby Walsh

Apr 14, 2026 1 hr 4 min

On this week's Burning Platforms, Australia’s leading AI scientist, Prof Toby Walsh, takes us through the failing efforts to place limits around the automation of military conflict. Regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Sam Altman’s moments of truth Anthropic’s Maven’s Vuln-pocalypse and the AI Bubble's Overton Window For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Industrial Revolution with Joseph Mitchell

Apr 8, 2026 1 hr 2 min

The ACTU’s Assistant Secretary takes us through the multiple challenges AI poses workers and the pressure points where unions are pushing back. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: Anthropic’s pitch to Canberra slop-aganda in the Iranian war and a new platform to Surf the fedi-verse For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Muting The Manosphere with Chanel Contos

Apr 1, 2026 1 hr 2 min

The founder of Teach Us Consent on her campaign to give young people control over their social media feeds. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis and Cam Wilson from The Sizzle also delve into: The release of a new privacy code for children Anthropic’s push into Australia and Bernie Sanders' new bill for a moratorium on data centres For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

One Battle After Another with Alix Dunn

Mar 25, 2026 1 hr 1 min

The Host of the ‘Computer Says Maybe’ podcast joins us to give a global take on the power and influence of Big Tech. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also delve into: the federal government’s green data centre edict industry’s latest pitch to mine creative data and Open AI’s pivot away from consumer products For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Just Asking with Prof Daniel Angus

Mar 17, 2026 1 hr 2 min

The Director of QUT’S Digital Media Research Centre outlines how different chatbots take users down different wormholes when they research conspiracy theories. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea and The Sizzle’s Cam Wilson also dig into: How AI is creating new modes of death and destruction in Iran Why Pornhub is pulling out of Australia and Atlassian’s ironic jobs purge For background notes on these discussions go to Burning Platforms on Substack: https://burningplatforms.substack.com/

Trust Mark with Alan Finkel

Mar 10, 2026 1 hr 2 min

The former Chief Scientist outlines his new venture, ‘Proudly Human to allow creators to verify their work in the ocean of slop. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: The Australian Government’s defence deals with Palantir Canadian PM Mark Carney’s call for a Middle Powers LLM and whether agentic AI will eat the internet Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

World on Fire

Mar 4, 2026 56 min

The Burning Platforms panel kick around the carcass of this week when the White House went to war with AI, bosses found new ways to snoop on workers, and the market was moved by a bit of fan fiction. Per Capita’s Peter Lewis joins Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and The Sizzle’s Cam Wilson try to make sense of the madness. And some reading to get you warmed up: Casey Newton - What is OpenAI going to do when the truth comes out? HTI - ‘Surveillance Creep’ Citrini - The 2028 Global Intelligence Crisis Dan Kagan-Kans - The Left is missing Out on AI Brian Merchant - ‘Actually the Left is Winning the AI Debate'

Orgy of Opportunity with Prof Nicholas Davis

Feb 24, 2026 1 hr 1 min

On this week's episode of Burning Platforms, the team look at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi with first-hand accounts from UTS’s Human Technology Institute co-director and regular panelist Digital Rights Chair Lizzie O’Shea. They join Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis to also discuss: Mark Zuckerberg’s day in court World-leading workplace laws in NSW and the SASSopcolypse. Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on of the Centre of the Public Square's research and events. Per Capita's podcasts are produced on Wurundjeri land.

Plumbing with Sir Geoff Mulgan

Feb 3, 2026 1 hr 1 min

Governments may campaign in poetry and govern in prose, but what about the engineering that keeps our democracy flowing? The pioneer of public innovation and Professor of Collective Intelligence at University College London, Sir Geoff Mulgan, believes it’s time to get the boring bits right. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Anthropic CEO Dario Ameida’s summer essay - https://darioamodei.com/essay/the-adolescence-of-technology Should universities accept Big Tech dollars - https://www.science.org/content/article/nearly-third-social-media-research-has-undisclosed-ties-industry-preprint-claims and South Korea’s new AI Basic Act - https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jan/29/south-korea-world-first-ai-regulation-laws. If you want to hear more from Sir Geoff he will be speaking in Sydney on Feburary 25 https://anzsog.edu.au/events-connection/events/what-next-for-public-innovation-with-geoff-mulgan Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

Long Game with Greg Sadler

Jan 27, 2026 1 hr 5 min

Burning Platforms is BACK for 2026. The panels returns this week to unpack the existential risks AI presents with the Good Ancestors CEO, Greg Sadler. Spoiler: it's not just AGI. With our regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, the panel also discuss: Grok’s wild (and gross) summer ChatGTP’s foray into health and Bandcamp’s AI pledge Check our Good Ancestors: https://www.goodancestors.org.au/ Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome Help the Centre of the Public Square fund its research into AI and responsible technology - donate to Per Capita today: https://percapita.org.au/donate/

End of Days - 2025 in Review

Dec 16, 2025 1 hr 4 min

As 2025 crashes out we survey the highs and lows of the year in tech with long-time platform burner Human Technology Institute co-director Ed Santow. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis discuss: the Government’s AI Plan the Social Media Ban and what to read over summer Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome Help the Centre of the Public Square fund its research into AI and responsible technology - donate to Per Capita today: https://percapita.org.au/donate/

Ground Game with Cory Alpert

Nov 26, 2025 1 hr 3 min

While the vested interests wrestle with the intricacies of AI regulation, are community library conversations the best bet for shaping our tech future? On this week's episode of Burning Platforms, we meet the academic who is fighting the algorithm with words. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis will also discuss: Meta’s latest Anti-Trust win The News Media Bargaining Incentive The case for an "AI Slop" Tax Book a ticket for Cory’s late night show: https://events.humanitix.com/system-error-late-night-show Read Lizzie’s Baffler piece: https://thebaffler.com/latest/antitrust-issues-oshea Join us in discussing the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit: https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Carbon Footprints with Ketan Joshi

Nov 17, 2025 1 hr 8 min

How much energy will AI really burn? Climate writer and activist Ketan Joshi joins Burning Platforms to chat AI and Climate: what we know, what we don’t know and what data centres have to do with yogurt tubs. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Meta’s sloppy business model Apple’s arranged AI marriage with Google The Federal Government’s AI mission To find out more about Ketan’s work, go to: https://ketanjoshi.co/blog/ To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

RadicalXChange with Jess Scully

Oct 28, 2025 1 hr 4 min

Is Big Tech’s domination of AI inevitable or are there different ways of organising our data to shift the power the dynamic? We discuss the RadicalXChange project with its new director, Jess Scully. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: Government blocks text and data mining Human Rights over our brain waves Sam Altman’s wank-bot To find out more about RadicalxChange go to: https://www.radicalxchange.org/ To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome Visit www.percapita.org.au for more on our research and events. Per Capita's podcasts are recorded and produced on Wurundjeri land.

How Can Democracy Survive AI? LIVE IN PERTH

Oct 21, 2025 1 hr 9 min

AI is transforming our world at rapid speed, raising urgent questions about who benefits, who loses, and how we keep control of the future. Panellists from the Burning Platforms podcast and guests, explore the promises and pitfalls of AI - and what’s at stake for all Australians. Panellists include: Lizzie O’Shea: Human Rights Lawyer & Chairperson, Digital Rights Watch Peter Lewis: Executive Director, Essential Media & Fellow, Per Capita Dan Stinton: CEO and Managing Director, Healthengine Rikki Hendon: Secretary of Unions WA Kate Chaney MP: Federal Member for Curtin While the boosters of AI are rushing to transform the world, citizens are being left in the slipstream, with little chance to influence how this new technology takes shape. AI systems are built by harvesting the ideas and creations of others, often without consent, and are already eroding jobs and reshaping culture on the promise of future productivity. As the Luddites taught us, the way we adopt technology will be critical to whether it improves people’s lives or cuts a swathe through jobs for the benefit of the few. Many Australians perceive more risk than upside in this new technology, so why is it being pushed so hard, with so few guardrails or controls in place? This event is hosted by Digital Rights Watch with support from The Minderoo Foundation.

Bursting Bubbles with Dan McQuillan

Oct 7, 2025 1 hr 5 min

Is the rise of AI inevitable or just the latest cycle of hype for a sector that thrives on the vibes? The author of “Resisting AI’, Professor Dan McQuillan, joins the show to argue for a more fundamental response to Big Tech. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: the launch of AI’s new Sora video product the push to sell advertising inside GPTs and how consultants are embracing work slop Join us for our live shows in capital cities around Australia Adelaide: https://shorturl.at/ojQRX Perth: events.humanitix.com/democracy-perth Brisbane: events.humanitix.com/democracy-brisbane Sydney: events.humanitix.com/democracy-sydney Melbourne events.humanitix.com/democracy-melbourne To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Cooking with Cam Wilson

Sep 29, 2025 1 hr 8 min

The co-author of ‘Conspiracy Nation’ takes us on his journey into the world of anti-vaxxers, wellness influencers and sovereign citizens. Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis also discuss: The call for AI Red Lines The rise of Work Slop And Murdoch’s Tik-Tok play. In October we will beholding a series of live shows in capital cities and would love you to come along. Adelaide: https://shorturl.at/ojQRX Perth: events.humanitix.com/democracy-perth Brisbane: events.humanitix.com/democracy-brisbane Sydney: events.humanitix.com/democracy-sydney Melbourne: events.humanitix.com/democracy-melbourne To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Tech Check with Damian Kassabgi

Sep 8, 2025 1 hr 5 min

The tech industry is pitching data mining and new infrastructure as the key to national prosperity. But will it deliver? And if so, for whom? Tech Council of Australia CEO, Damian Kassabgi joins regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis for the latest episode of Burning Platforms. The show also covers: fresh concerns over age verification the creepy rise of intimate AI companions And Nobel Prize winner Maria Ressa’s address to the National Press Club To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Stolen Property with Peter Garrett

Aug 17, 2025 58 min

“I’m concerned that AI and big tech – well, big tech with AI – has gone into a full-court press… particularly on the federal system...I’m concerned that without thinking it through clearly enough, policy makers won’t essentially subject the slogans to sufficient scrutiny.” This week on Burning Platforms, we recorded our special briefing for cultural creators and those who value their work to discuss Big Tech’s push to mine our culture. Our panel discusses: How AI large language models have been built on the theft of the work of musicians, writers journalists and artists. What the productivity Commission’s proposal to give AI companies a ‘right to mine data’ will do to Australian performers How creatives and citizens can resist the attacks from AI Featuring: AI expert and author Professor Toby Walsh Midnight Oil front man Peter Garrett Digital Rights Watch chair Lizzie O’Shea Australian Writers Guild CEO Claire Pullen To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Industrial Base with Minister Tim Ayres

Aug 6, 2025 52 min

New Federal industry and science minister Tim Ayres shares his take on industry policy, AI's opportunities and risks, and how we could steer through the latest wave of tech change. With regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Digital New Deal with Johanna Weaver

Jul 30, 2025 1 hr 2 min

Can Australia play a leading role in imagining a tech future that isn’t controlled by either the US or China? Johanna Weaver from the Tech Policy Design Institute expands on her recent essay ‘System Update - An Australian-led new deal for tech’ - https://www.australianforeignaffairs.com/essay/2025/06/tech-wars Regular panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis will also discuss: what the new Federal Parliament means for tech how Cloudflare could rewrite the game in copyright and the rise of Satanic Chat Bots To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Poisoning AI with Prof Toby Walsh

Jul 16, 2025 1 hr 4 min

The Large Language Models are powered by stolen data but there are new and innovative ways to make the thieves pay. Professor Toby Walsh explains the tech-driven resistance to Big AI from data poisoning to responsible cloud computing. With panellists Digital Rights Watch Chair Lizzie O’Shea, Editor of the Sizzle Cam Wilson, and Per Capita’s Peter Lewis we also discuss: Qantas’ big data hack Victoria’s foray into AI policing and how Velvet Sunset’s fake music is bringing tears to Peter’s eyes To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit - https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome

Scammed! With Alex Brooks

Jul 2, 2025 1 hr 5 min

"I thought old people got scammed. And actually young people are at greater risk because they have more confidence in dealing [with things] online." This week on Burning Platforms, the team learns how the financial scam industry has become an enthusiastic early adapter of AI and how the banks are working around the clock to ensure they aren’t the ones liable for the ensuing harm. With our regular panelists Digital Rights Watch Chair, Lizzie O’Shea, Health Engine CEO Dan Stinton, Per Capita’s Peter Lewis, who are joined by co-founder of Scams Victims Alliance, Alex Brooks. To discuss the issues raised in this episode join us in the Democracy Sandpit. (https://civility.bettermode.io/welcome) For more about Scams Victims Alliance go to: https://scamvictimalliance.org.au/

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Going Rogue with Bill Simpson-Young

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#171 Technology 🇦🇺 AU

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Podcast details

Created by: Per Capita Australia
Status: Active
Latest episode: Nov 11, 2026
Episodes: 100
Release period: Weekly
Avg. episode length: 57 min
Explicit: No
Language: English

Links

Official website ↗ Apple Podcasts ↗ RSS feed ↗

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