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Melanie Burgess is a data journalist, covering a wide range of topics by finding stories in numbers. She is based in Brisbane but writes for local, regional and state mastheads nationally.

@melanieburgess

Melanie Burgess

Latest

National

From the Brisbane bogan to the Melbourne hipster, Aussie stereotypes are being immortalised and amplified by artificial intelligence.

What robots think Aussies look like in each city

We asked an AI tool for images of typical Aussies from major cities across the country – these were the results.

Full ListSA News

Generic images, red light, dont walk, don't walk, red man

School danger zones: Dozens of crossings fail safety audit

Dozens of traffic light pedestrian crossings, including some outside the state’s most popular schools, failed to meet safety standards in an official audit. See the full results here.

Online

AI interpretation of a typical dog owner based on the dog's breed. Picture: Midjourney

AI predicts what dog owners look like

We asked AI image generator Midjourney what it thought people would look like based purely on the dog they own. This is what it showed us for 20 popular breeds.

Innovation

Deep fake AI Donald Trump and Joe Biden in

Scary truth behind Trump, Biden debate

Donald Trump and Joe Biden are going head to head in a debate, live streamed on Twitch – but it’s not what it seems.

National

For the first time, astrophysicist and world-renowned science communicator Dr Neil deGrasse Tyson has been interviewed by artificial intelligence on the program Q&AI - an interview program hosted by artificial intelligence where AI chooses the guest, comes up with the questions and hosts the interview. Picture: The Comms Store

Neil deGrasse Tyson warns AI could destabilise world

Neil deGrasse Tyson warned AI could destabilise the world and bring about the end of civilisation as we know it, when he was interviewed by an AI for an Aussie YouTube channel.

Hacking

This photo taken on May 10, 2023 shows a robot being assembled at Hanson Robotics, a robotics and artificial intelligence company which creates human-like robots, in Hong Kong. (Photo by Peter PARKS / AFP)

Evil AI: How the dark web could create a bad ChatGPT

Korean researchers have created an AI model trained on data from the dark web, called DarkBERT. What if criminal groups used the same know-how? Experts explain.

Money

Seaquatix founder and chief executive Aprille Lim. Picture: Supplied

Odd new tax claim gets green light

About a fifth of Aussie workers use AI tools in their jobs, and the ATO says these are fair deductions at tax time – as long as they can tick three boxes.

National

Daily Telegraph June 29 2023Context: Photo is of Stuart Horrex who runs ArtSHINE, a social enterprise, and plans to do his tax asap to pay bills and keep his business afloat.Pictured: Stuart Horex Cofounder of ArtSHINEStuart@artshine.com.au0424136138Photographer: Christian Anstey

Tax time tips: Best time to lodge your return

The cost of living crisis is encouraging Aussies to lodge tax returns as soon as possible. But the ATO says this won’t necessarily speed up payments. See why.

National

Newly coupled Layla Hfaid (21) and Kell Obrien (25) have been dating for a few months and equally enjoy a low cost picnic in the park as to an expensive meal out. Reports of the increasing cost of dating are putting people off looking for love or turning to low-cost date options. Jane Dempster/The Daily Telegraph.

$6000 bill: Cost of dating turns Aussie men off love

A report into the dating habits of 18 to 49 year old singles has revealed three in five men have been put off dating because of the cost. See what else they had to say.

ExclusiveSA News

20 June, 2023: Jenny Xu - Bilingual program coordinator with students Ethan Taing, Keith longworthl, Madelyn Cormack and Jiayu Lin. Plympton International College has turned itself around really turned especially with its bilingual Chinese program. Picture: Kelly Barnes

See the list: Zoning out as B-grade schools face performance blitz

SA’s most underperforming public schools are the target of a push to lift student standards, relieve bursting campuses and avoid new school zones. Search the data.

Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/journalists/melanie-burgess/page/5