Tech

Australia boosts defence with next-gen MQ-28A Ghost Bat Drone

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

The Albanese Government has allocated an additional $399 million for the ongoing development of the MQ-28A Ghost Bat drone, in a move aimed at bolstering Australia’s defence capabilities.

Developed in collaboration with Boeing Defence Australia, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat, also known as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft, represents a significant leap in technology.

It marks the first military combat aircraft to be entirely designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in over half a century.

Designed to serve as a loyal wingman, the MQ-28A Ghost Bat will play a crucial role in protecting and supporting military assets and pilots, undertaking various tasks over long distances, including combat operations.

Funding injection

The latest funding injection will propel the program into its next phase, which includes the delivery of three Block 2 aircraft featuring enhanced design and improved capabilities.

This financial boost will facilitate the development of sensor and mission payloads, an integrated combat system, and autonomous functionalities.

Australia to prioritise long-range strike capability in defence …

Notably, this investment secures over 350 jobs across Australia and guarantees ongoing work for more than 200 suppliers, reinforcing the government’s commitment to supporting the local defence industry and fostering high-quality employment opportunities for Australians.

Defence review

The decision to further develop the MQ-28A Ghost Bat follows a recommendation from the Defence Strategic Review, emphasising collaboration and technology sharing with the United States.

In line with this, Defence signed a CCA development project arrangement with the US on March 30, 2023.

Minister for Defence Industry, the Hon Pat Conroy MP, highlighted the significance of the project, stating, “This is the first military aircraft to be designed, engineered, and manufactured in Australia in more than 50 years and underscores the depth of innovation and expertise in our defence industry.”

Conroy also emphasised the substantial contribution of Australian companies to the program, with over 200 local firms, including more than 50 small and medium enterprises, involved in the supply chain.

He reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the prosperity and security of the nation by providing critical capabilities to the Air Force.

Tech

X restricts Grok AI as global backlash grows

X restricts Grok AI from creating sexualized images amid global backlash and regulatory concerns, aligning with UK guidelines.

Published

11 hours ago

January 15, 2026

Harvey Vargas

X restricts Grok AI from creating sexualized images amid global backlash and regulatory concerns, aligning with UK guidelines.

X has announced new restrictions on its Grok AI chatbot, preventing it from generating sexualized images of women amid mounting criticism and regulatory scrutiny worldwide.

The move comes after concerns over non-consensual image manipulation sparked widespread backlash from users, advocacy groups, and authorities.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer confirmed that the platform’s latest changes align with British law, as Ofcom launches a formal investigation to determine whether X has violated the Online Safety Act.

Regulators are closely monitoring the situation, highlighting growing global concerns about the ethical use of AI in image generation. Critics have argued that X’s initial measures were insufficient and did not adequately address the risks associated with sexualized AI content.

The controversy has also prompted action in Southeast Asia. Malaysia and Indonesia have blocked access to Grok entirely, citing the platform’s potential to generate inappropriate content.

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#GrokAI #XPlatform #AIRegulation #OnlineSafety #KeirStarmer #AIControversy #TechNews #DigitalEthics

Tech

AI drives memory prices higher as SK hynix and TSMC expand

Explore the rising global memory market driven by AI demand and hear insights from Brad Gastwirth on industry trends.

Published

1 day ago

January 14, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Explore the rising global memory market driven by AI demand and hear insights from Brad Gastwirth on industry trends.

The global memory market is on the rise, with prices climbing steadily thanks to booming AI infrastructure demand.

Companies like SK hynix and TSMC are investing heavily in advanced packaging and new facilities to meet this unprecedented growth.

We speak with Brad Gastwirth from Circular Technologies about the forces behind this upward momentum. From the difference between AI-driven and consumer-driven demand to the increasing memory requirements per AI system, Brad breaks down the trends shaping the industry.

We also explore the implications of lean DRAM and NAND inventories, disciplined supply growth, and the challenges of expanding packaging capacity versus wafer fabrication. Tune in to understand why incremental demand surprises can have a huge impact on memory pricing.

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#AIMemory #SKHynix #TSMC #TechInvesting #MemoryMarket #AIInfrastructure #Semiconductors #TickerNews

Tech

Nvidia unveils AI that could transform gene editing and healthcare

Nvidia’s EDEN AI models for gene editing could revolutionize treatment of genetic diseases, enhancing DNA modifications amid healthcare advancements.

Published

1 day ago

January 14, 2026

Harvey Vargas

Nvidia’s EDEN AI models for gene editing could revolutionize treatment of genetic diseases, enhancing DNA modifications amid healthcare advancements.

Nvidia has introduced revolutionary AI models for programmable gene insertion at the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference.

The AI platform, EDEN, is designed to enhance DNA modifications and could pave the way for treatments of previously untreatable genetic diseases.

This initiative is part of Nvidia’s broader push into healthcare, including a $1 billion partnership with Eli Lilly to develop an AI-driven drug discovery lab. Early testing has shown promising results, with models designing proteins that precisely target disease-related sites in human cells.

While the breakthroughs are significant, experts caution that challenges remain in translating AI-generated therapies into real-world clinical applications. The future of medicine could be rewritten if these hurdles are overcome.

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#NvidiaAI #GeneEditing #HealthcareInnovation #DNA #EDENPlatform #AIinMedicine #Biotech #DrugDiscovery