Social
Aussie government issues warning over DeepSeek
Federal Industry Minister Ed Husic has raised red flags over Chinese-funded AI app DeepSeek, which wiped nearly $1 trillion off US tech stocks this week.
DeepSeek’s R1 AI assistant, a budget rival to ChatGPT, has shaken the global tech stage, showcasing China’s rapid AI advances. US President Donald Trump dubbed it a “wake-up call” for American tech leaders amid the escalating AI arms race.
As Jessica Wang reports in news.com, Husic warned the app highlights China’s relentless AI ambitions, raising serious concerns about data security and accuracy.
Australians who get most of their news from social media more likely to believe in climate conspiracy, study finds
According to a report by The Guardian Australia’s Amanda Meade, a study from Monash University has revealed that individuals who view global warming as a conspiracy primarily consume their news and information from commercial and social media. The research, led by Prof Mark Andrejevic and Assoc Prof Zala Volcic, also found that people relying on social media as their primary news source scored lower on measures of “civic values” compared to those who turn to newspapers and non-commercial media.
Radio
McLennan calls for media shake-up, but is it self-interest?
Hamish McLennan has once again stirred the pot, this time calling for a rewrite of Australia’s media ownership laws to allow ARN to acquire Nine Entertainment’s radio assets.
As Bernard Keane reports in Crikey, McLennan claimed the restrictions, which limit companies to two radio licences per market, are outdated and stifle competition.
McLennan’s recent attempt to acquire Southern Cross Austereo with Anchorage Capital fell apart, but he insists it’s only a temporary setback. Critics argue his push for reform isn’t about leveling the playing field but tilting it further.
Tributes flow for ABC veteran and radio pioneer Judith Copeland
Judith Copeland, a trailblazing journalist and radio presenter who shaped Australian broadcasting in the 1970s and 80s, has passed away at 85.
Starting her career at Melbourne’s 3AW, Copeland made her mark at the ABC on shows like The Coming Out Show, First Edition, and later, Arts National and The Europeans.
As Calreese Packer reports on news.com, colleagues have praised her as a “master of the craft” and a mentor who left a lasting impact on the industry.
Publishing
Another indie publisher bites the dust
Melbourne-based Text Publishing, the launchpad for many of Australia’s award-winning authors, has been scooped up by global giant Penguin Random House, ending over 30 years of independence.
The sale has sparked fresh worries about the future of literary fiction in Australia. As Kelly Burke reports in The Guardian, insiders warn that consolidation is shrinking opportunities for emerging voices.
“Independent publishing is struggling to stay afloat,” says Sophie Cunningham, chair of the Australian Society of Authors.
Tech
Ten AI trends retailers must embrace in 2025 to stay ahead
According to Inside Retail’s Nicole Kirichanskaya, advisory firm Coresight Research predicts that 2025 will be a transformative year for artificial intelligence, with many generative AI (GenAI) projects expected to reach deployment.
Retail executives increasingly recognise the growing value of AI integration in business operations. GenAI enables machines to produce original content such as text, images, music, and code, while agentic AI allows software to take proactive, human-like actions.
Coresight Research forecasts that by 2025, the global GenAI market for applications and hardware will reach $125 billion, with $39.6 billion allocated to applications and $85.4 billion to hardware.
Television
Foxtel Unveils New Wellness Series Gen Well for LifeStyle
Foxtel is bringing wellness to the small screen with Gen Well, a 10-part series hosted by Ali Daddo, exploring key health topics like sleep, stress, pain management, and women’s health.
Wendy Moore, Foxtel’s Executive Director of Entertainment Content, calls it “a game-changer,” highlighting the collaboration with Amcal to create a show that combines relatable family stories, expert advice, and transformative experiences.
As reported by David Knox on TVTonight, the series will be produced by The Precinct with Howard Myers-Rifai as Executive Producer.
Retail
Chemist Warehouse eyes ASX debut with $5b sales surge
Chemist Warehouse is gearing up for its ASX debut, reporting a $5.2 billion sales haul in the last half of 2024 – a 13% jump powered by 19 new store openings.
As Michael Smith reports in The Australian Financial Review, earnings for the retail giant climbed 35% to $437.9 million.
The retail giant is set to shake up the market with its Sigma Healthcare merger, positioning the combined entity for entry into the S&P/ASX 50 when trading kicks off next month.
Kogan reports first-half growth fuelled by strong holiday sales
According to Inside Retail’s Sean Cao, Kogan experienced strong top-line growth in the first half of the fiscal year, driven by robust holiday sales. The company reported gross sales of $492.5 million for the July-December period, reflecting a 10.3 per cent year-on-year increase, while revenue rose 9.9 per cent to $272.7 million.
Kogan also saw significant gains in profitability, with gross profit up 18.3 per cent to $106 million and adjusted EBITDA increasing 17.5 per cent to $25.3 million. The company attributed this growth to a strategic investment in marketing and promotional activities during key sales events such as Black Friday, Cyber Monday, Christmas, and Boxing Day. “A strategic decision to invest incremental profitability in marketing and promotional activity from November helped the company to achieve accelerated topline growth,” the company explained.
Pictured: Ed Husic