Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
@its-tom-williams.bsky.social
Technology journalist at @information-age.bsky.social 💻 Formerly at ABC News, and still talking tech (sometimes) on ABC Radio Gold Coast.
Got a tip? 💡 tomwilliams.contact@protonmail.com
Got a tip? 💡 tomwilliams.contact@protonmail.com
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
Please help me help Google understand that AI should not replace our headlines? www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
Google is experimentally replacing news headlines with AI clickbait nonsense
“BG3 players exploit children.”
www.theverge.com
December 2, 2025 at 10:26 PM
Please help me help Google understand that AI should not replace our headlines? www.theverge.com/ai-artificia...
New: Netflix declined to comment on why mobile casting had been removed when contacted by @information-age.bsky.social, but a spokesperson suggested the feature was no longer widely used by its subscribers.
Details: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Details: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
'This sucks': Netflix quietly kills mobile casting
Streaming giant faces criticism from subscribers.
ia.acs.org.au
December 2, 2025 at 1:28 AM
New: Netflix declined to comment on why mobile casting had been removed when contacted by @information-age.bsky.social, but a spokesperson suggested the feature was no longer widely used by its subscribers.
Details: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Details: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
+ Overall including other media, the government is spending around $10 million to advertise the under-16s social media ban between October and 20 December — which is only 10 days after the ban begins.
They government is spending $2m on digital and social media platforms to advertise the social media ban (makes sense to advertise where it will happen but funny anyhow).
December 2, 2025 at 12:44 AM
+ Overall including other media, the government is spending around $10 million to advertise the under-16s social media ban between October and 20 December — which is only 10 days after the ban begins.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
A West Australian IT worker and father has been jailed for at least five years after using fake 'free Wi-Fi' networks to steal intimate photos and videos from the personal accounts of women.
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
IT worker jailed for stealing women's photos over 'free Wi-Fi'
Police seize 'thousands of intimate images and videos'.
ia.acs.org.au
December 1, 2025 at 5:05 AM
A West Australian IT worker and father has been jailed for at least five years after using fake 'free Wi-Fi' networks to steal intimate photos and videos from the personal accounts of women.
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Some personal news:
I just hit a new record for the number of emails received about one single PR pitch: Nine emails in a seven day period. 😓
(And yes, it was about AI. Of course it was about AI)
I just hit a new record for the number of emails received about one single PR pitch: Nine emails in a seven day period. 😓
(And yes, it was about AI. Of course it was about AI)
November 27, 2025 at 11:00 PM
Some personal news:
I just hit a new record for the number of emails received about one single PR pitch: Nine emails in a seven day period. 😓
(And yes, it was about AI. Of course it was about AI)
I just hit a new record for the number of emails received about one single PR pitch: Nine emails in a seven day period. 😓
(And yes, it was about AI. Of course it was about AI)
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
Exclusive: Did Elon Musk’s X forget to pay its membership fees to Australian tech lobby group DIGI until we at @information-age.bsky.social got in touch? It certainly seems that way. 👀
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
X suspended by Australian tech lobby over 'unpaid fees'
Did Elon Musk's platform forget to pay DIGI?
ia.acs.org.au
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Exclusive: Did Elon Musk’s X forget to pay its membership fees to Australian tech lobby group DIGI until we at @information-age.bsky.social got in touch? It certainly seems that way. 👀
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
Exclusive: Did Elon Musk’s X forget to pay its membership fees to Australian tech lobby group DIGI until we at @information-age.bsky.social got in touch? It certainly seems that way. 👀
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
X suspended by Australian tech lobby over 'unpaid fees'
Did Elon Musk's platform forget to pay DIGI?
ia.acs.org.au
November 26, 2025 at 10:17 PM
Exclusive: Did Elon Musk’s X forget to pay its membership fees to Australian tech lobby group DIGI until we at @information-age.bsky.social got in touch? It certainly seems that way. 👀
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
The social media platform had been stripped of its membership in June “due to unpaid membership fees”, DIGI said.
New: Ben Greene, the co-founder and ex-CEO of Australian defence technology company EOS (Electro Optic Systems), is being sued by ASIC.
The markets regulator alleges he delayed disclosing knowledge that the firm’s 2022 earnings would be lower than forecast.
Story on @information-age.bsky.social:
The markets regulator alleges he delayed disclosing knowledge that the firm’s 2022 earnings would be lower than forecast.
Story on @information-age.bsky.social:
ASIC sues co-founder of defence tech firm EOS
Regulator alleges Ben Greene withheld earnings info.
ia.acs.org.au
November 26, 2025 at 3:13 AM
New: Ben Greene, the co-founder and ex-CEO of Australian defence technology company EOS (Electro Optic Systems), is being sued by ASIC.
The markets regulator alleges he delayed disclosing knowledge that the firm’s 2022 earnings would be lower than forecast.
Story on @information-age.bsky.social:
The markets regulator alleges he delayed disclosing knowledge that the firm’s 2022 earnings would be lower than forecast.
Story on @information-age.bsky.social:
New: Australia will establish its own AI Safety Institute in 2026, the government says. 💻
AI experts have welcomed the move, but the Opposition says Labor is sending "mixed messages" about how it plans to regulate the tech.
Details on @information-age.bsky.social: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
AI experts have welcomed the move, but the Opposition says Labor is sending "mixed messages" about how it plans to regulate the tech.
Details on @information-age.bsky.social: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
'Bravo': Australia to establish AI Safety Institute
Experts welcome decision, Opposition cites ‘mixed messages’.
ia.acs.org.au
November 25, 2025 at 12:51 AM
New: Australia will establish its own AI Safety Institute in 2026, the government says. 💻
AI experts have welcomed the move, but the Opposition says Labor is sending "mixed messages" about how it plans to regulate the tech.
Details on @information-age.bsky.social: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
AI experts have welcomed the move, but the Opposition says Labor is sending "mixed messages" about how it plans to regulate the tech.
Details on @information-age.bsky.social: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
I tried Temu's $11.60 AI live translation earbuds so you don't have to.
While free and powerful translation apps have existed for decades, improvements in machine learning and genAI have made translating between languages both quicker and more accurate.
But processing translations quickly, accurately, and privately comes at a cost — more than $1,000, in Apple’s case.
But processing translations quickly, accurately, and privately comes at a cost — more than $1,000, in Apple’s case.
Live translation: $12 Temu buds vs $429 AirPods Pro
Do you really get what you pay for?
ia.acs.org.au
November 23, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I tried Temu's $11.60 AI live translation earbuds so you don't have to.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
In 2019 Meta did causal research looking at the effects of randomly asking Facebook users to stop using the platform for a month. After the first week of the study, results showed that leaving the platform was good for people’s mental health.
Meta then shut the project down.
Meta then shut the project down.
November 23, 2025 at 12:57 AM
In 2019 Meta did causal research looking at the effects of randomly asking Facebook users to stop using the platform for a month. After the first week of the study, results showed that leaving the platform was good for people’s mental health.
Meta then shut the project down.
Meta then shut the project down.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
Shares in Australian-American defence technology company DroneShield dropped 20 per cent on Wednesday when its American CEO resigned, just a week after its value tanked when its Australian CEO and other senior figures sold tens of millions of dollars' worth of stock.
Read more:
Read more:
DroneShield US CEO quits, execs sell off shares
Stocks in Australian-American tech firm plunge.
ia.acs.org.au
November 20, 2025 at 12:08 AM
Shares in Australian-American defence technology company DroneShield dropped 20 per cent on Wednesday when its American CEO resigned, just a week after its value tanked when its Australian CEO and other senior figures sold tens of millions of dollars' worth of stock.
Read more:
Read more:
Good job, YouTube ads algorithm. Good job.
November 19, 2025 at 10:47 PM
Good job, YouTube ads algorithm. Good job.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
I first saw Microsoft's TV ad about "The computer you can talk to" during an NFL game. So I spent a week talking to the Copilot AI in Windows 11. Surely, it must be easy to replicate the specific tasks Microsoft wants millions of people to see...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Talking to Windows’ Copilot AI makes a computer feel incompetent
Hey Copilot, are you useful yet?
www.theverge.com
November 18, 2025 at 9:20 PM
I first saw Microsoft's TV ad about "The computer you can talk to" during an NFL game. So I spent a week talking to the Copilot AI in Windows 11. Surely, it must be easy to replicate the specific tasks Microsoft wants millions of people to see...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
Right? RIGHT??
www.theverge.com/report/82244...
New: CSIRO staff will take part in meetings to discuss the potential merging of several of the agency’s research units.
News of CSIRO's latest job cuts comes just days after the heads of its digital and manufacturing research arms — which have both seen job losses — left the agency simultaneously.
News of CSIRO's latest job cuts comes just days after the heads of its digital and manufacturing research arms — which have both seen job losses — left the agency simultaneously.
CSIRO announces up to 350 new job cuts
Funding 'not keeping pace' with costs, science agency says.
ia.acs.org.au
November 19, 2025 at 12:43 AM
New: CSIRO staff will take part in meetings to discuss the potential merging of several of the agency’s research units.
News of CSIRO's latest job cuts comes just days after the heads of its digital and manufacturing research arms — which have both seen job losses — left the agency simultaneously.
News of CSIRO's latest job cuts comes just days after the heads of its digital and manufacturing research arms — which have both seen job losses — left the agency simultaneously.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
November 18, 2025 at 3:23 AM
I don’t want to seem out of touch but I don’t actually understand the economy anymore.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
The Australian government says it is moving ahead with imposing a ‘digital duty of care’ on Big Tech companies such as Google, Meta, TikTok, and X, opening public consultation on Friday after delaying the proposed legislation earlier this year.
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Govt ramps up Big Tech 'duty of care' reforms
Australians asked for their views on delayed legislation.
ia.acs.org.au
November 18, 2025 at 4:21 AM
The Australian government says it is moving ahead with imposing a ‘digital duty of care’ on Big Tech companies such as Google, Meta, TikTok, and X, opening public consultation on Friday after delaying the proposed legislation earlier this year.
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
New: The Australian government’s workforce is facing “a potential digital talent shortfall of more than 8,000 people in the next five years”, according to its Digital Transformation Agency.
Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, told me “the DTA’s report reinforces what we already know...
Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, told me “the DTA’s report reinforces what we already know...
Australian government facing 'digital talent shortfall'
Public service needs 8,000 more tech workers by 2030.
ia.acs.org.au
November 14, 2025 at 12:56 AM
New: The Australian government’s workforce is facing “a potential digital talent shortfall of more than 8,000 people in the next five years”, according to its Digital Transformation Agency.
Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, told me “the DTA’s report reinforces what we already know...
Minister for the Public Service, Katy Gallagher, told me “the DTA’s report reinforces what we already know...
Had the pleasure of chatting on the Influencing Insider podcast about my road to tech journalism, how @information-age.bsky.social works and why you shouldn't email your PR pitch seven times.
Available at all good podcast stores:
open.spotify.com/episode/379N...
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i...
Available at all good podcast stores:
open.spotify.com/episode/379N...
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i...
Influencing Insider with Tom Williams
open.spotify.com
November 14, 2025 at 12:03 AM
Had the pleasure of chatting on the Influencing Insider podcast about my road to tech journalism, how @information-age.bsky.social works and why you shouldn't email your PR pitch seven times.
Available at all good podcast stores:
open.spotify.com/episode/379N...
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i...
Available at all good podcast stores:
open.spotify.com/episode/379N...
podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/i...
The Australian government's AI plan for federal workers has dropped.
Also in this story:
- the @cpsu.org.au's concerns about potential job losses and impact on government services from AI
- some comments from Sovereign Australia AI and US software giant Salesforce
Also in this story:
- the @cpsu.org.au's concerns about potential job losses and impact on government services from AI
- some comments from Sovereign Australia AI and US software giant Salesforce
Chief artificial intelligence officers will be appointed to every federal agency in 2026 as generative AI causes a “fundamental shift” in government operations, according to an AI Plan for the Australian Public Service (APS) released by the federal government on Wednesday.
Read more:
Read more:
Chief AI officers coming to Australian govt agencies
Labor announces AI Plan for public service workers.
ia.acs.org.au
November 13, 2025 at 2:35 AM
The Australian government's AI plan for federal workers has dropped.
Also in this story:
- the @cpsu.org.au's concerns about potential job losses and impact on government services from AI
- some comments from Sovereign Australia AI and US software giant Salesforce
Also in this story:
- the @cpsu.org.au's concerns about potential job losses and impact on government services from AI
- some comments from Sovereign Australia AI and US software giant Salesforce
More on the iPhone Pocket here, including @jfingas.bsky.social's excellent point about the "cultural element" behind Apple's move into crossbody phone holders. 👇
November 12, 2025 at 2:11 AM
More on the iPhone Pocket here, including @jfingas.bsky.social's excellent point about the "cultural element" behind Apple's move into crossbody phone holders. 👇
So the iPod Sock is back - but it’s called the iPhone Pocket, it’s really long, it starts at $US150, and it was somehow “inspired by the concept of a piece of cloth”.
For a second I had to double-check it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
www.apple.com/newsroom/202...
For a second I had to double-check it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
www.apple.com/newsroom/202...
Introducing iPhone Pocket: a beautiful way to wear and carry iPhone
ISSEY MIYAKE and Apple today unveiled iPhone Pocket, designed to fit any iPhone as well as all pocketable items.
www.apple.com
November 11, 2025 at 11:12 AM
So the iPod Sock is back - but it’s called the iPhone Pocket, it’s really long, it starts at $US150, and it was somehow “inspired by the concept of a piece of cloth”.
For a second I had to double-check it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
www.apple.com/newsroom/202...
For a second I had to double-check it wasn’t April Fool’s Day.
www.apple.com/newsroom/202...
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
Filling out a banking form that asks for my occupation, and in what I am choosing to consider as a sign of the times, "journalist" is not a selectable option, but "cryptocurrency" is
November 10, 2025 at 9:53 PM
Filling out a banking form that asks for my occupation, and in what I am choosing to consider as a sign of the times, "journalist" is not a selectable option, but "cryptocurrency" is
The wildest part of Tesla's shareholder event last week?
When Elon Musk argued the company's Optimus robot “will actually eliminate poverty”.
When Elon Musk argued the company's Optimus robot “will actually eliminate poverty”.
Tesla shareholders have overwhelmingly approved an unprecedented pay package for founder, CEO, and world’s richest person Elon Musk, worth $US1 trillion ($1.5 trillion) if he achieves performances targets over the next decade.
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Read more: ia.acs.org.au/article/2025...
Tesla investors approve Musk's $1 trillion pay package
CEO could become first trillionaire if new goals are met.
ia.acs.org.au
November 10, 2025 at 3:51 AM
The wildest part of Tesla's shareholder event last week?
When Elon Musk argued the company's Optimus robot “will actually eliminate poverty”.
When Elon Musk argued the company's Optimus robot “will actually eliminate poverty”.
Reposted by Tom Williams, tech journo 👨💻
this is the craziest thing I've read in a long time???? Meta projected that 10% of its revenue last year, $16 billion, came from scams. Meta intentionally charges the scammers MORE and knows that people who click on scams are more likely to see more of them www.reuters.com/investigatio...
November 7, 2025 at 5:13 AM
this is the craziest thing I've read in a long time???? Meta projected that 10% of its revenue last year, $16 billion, came from scams. Meta intentionally charges the scammers MORE and knows that people who click on scams are more likely to see more of them www.reuters.com/investigatio...