Medical experts in Australia are sounding the alarm over the potential misuse of artificial intelligence in healthcare, following the local launch of tools like ChatGPT Health. Their primary concern is the current lack of specific regulation and clear safety guidelines, which they argue leaves consumers vulnerable as more people turn to AI for self-diagnosis online.
Regulatory Vacuum for AI Diagnostics
Specialists are calling for stricter guardrails and better public education before such AI health applications see a wider rollout across the country. The core issue is that these tools, while potentially useful, operate in a grey area without the oversight applied to traditional medical devices and advice. This regulatory gap could lead to misdiagnosis or inappropriate health guidance.
In a related digital ethics controversy, an AI-generated social media personality known as the "Bush Legend" or "Black Steve Irwin" has been exposed as a complete fabrication. The avatar, which amassed tens of thousands of followers on Instagram and Facebook by posting content about outback Australia, has caused deep offence. Critics warn that such AI creations risk "cultural flattening" and the inappropriate commodification of Indigenous identity.
Broader News from Australia and Abroad
In other domestic news, the federal government has revealed that more than 4.7 million social media accounts belonging to Australians judged to be under 16 were deactivated, removed, or restricted shortly after new age ban laws took effect in December.
On the international stage, political upheaval continues. In the United Kingdom, the Conservative opposition has been thrown into turmoil after a senior shadow cabinet minister, Robert Jenrick, defected to Nigel Farage's Reform UK party. Meanwhile, in the United States, former President Donald Trump has threatened to invoke the Insurrection Act in Minneapolis to quell protests against federal immigration operations.
Sport and Culture Updates
In cultural news, British indie band Pulp has confirmed it will play at the Adelaide Festival on 27 February. The group had initially pulled out in protest after Palestinian-Australian writer Randa Abdel-Fattah was disinvited, but agreed to perform after festival organisers issued an apology.
In sport, the Australian Open is in full swing, with a focus on the often-overlooked craft of the racket stringers at Melbourne Park, whose precise work is vital to player performance. In a separate tennis upset, Australia's world number 204, Taylah Preston, scored a significant victory over former US Open champion Emma Raducanu in the Hobart International.
