ABC News Daily

We're being warned that AI could wipe out humanity.  But some of the very same experts sounding the alarm are also predicting AI will help cure cancer within the next decade.   So, how will these competing visions of destruction and salvation play out? And is a cure for cancer really within AI’s reach?  Today, doctor and researcher Emilia Javorsky joins us to separate the reality from the hype. Featured:   Emilia Javorsky, the Director of the Futures Program at The Future of Life Institute – a nonprofit aimed at reducing AI risks.

The Australian government is grappling with how to safeguard sensitive data, after revelations an AI agent controlled by OpenAI accessed private Medicare statistics.   It took months for a breach to be identified and alerted to the highest levels of government and comes as the world grapples with controlling the rapid growth of AI technology.   Today, national security and AI policy expert Olivia Shen, on whether governments can keep up with the accelerating advance of AI.  Featured:   Olivia Shen, Director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the United States Studies Centre at the University of Sydney.

Donald Trump’s decade-long war with the press has a new front, with three US media outlets suing after being banned by the White House, prompting a broader media boycott.   In response, the US President has launched his own 24/7 streaming channel called Trump TV.  Today, Reporters Without Borders executive director for North America, Clayton Weimers, on who will lose the most from Trump’s war on the press.  Featured:   Clayton Weimers, Reporters Without Borders executive director for North America

Another string of suspected domestic violence attacks across a single weekend has once again seen the number of women and children killed this year climb.  And, once again, their deaths have turned up the volume of calls for governments to do more to prevent domestic, family and sexual violence.  Today, ABC political reporter Claudia Long on why, despite decades of effort, federal and state governments are still struggling with how to stop these tragic outcomes.  Featured:   Claudia Long, ABC political reporter

Oil prices are rising again, thanks to the conflict in the Persian Gulf spreading to the Red Sea.   It's fuelling inflation around the world including in Australia where it has been stubbornly high meaning an interest rate rise is all but certain, when the Reserve Bank meets next week.   Today, ABC Finance expert Alan Kohler on the squeeze on household budgets and the prospect of a recession.  Featured:   Alan Kohler, ABC finance expert and host of the ‘That's Business with Alan Kohler’ podcast

Robotaxis have arrived on the streets of London, San Francisco and Beijing as rideshare companies expand into driverless transport. But the roll out hasn't been without speedbumps. So, when could we see this innovation in transport arrive in Australia, and are our roads and regulations ready for it? Today, Michael Milford, professor of robotics and director of the QUT Centre for Robotics on why autonomous taxis could soon be on our roads. Featured: Michael Milford, Director of the QUT Centre for Robotics

Donald Trump says warnings from whistleblowers that the rapid development of AI could end humanity are a ‘hoax’.   He’s determined to push ahead in the AI race for dominance over China despite calls from some in the industry to slow down. But who should we believe?   Today, AI risk researcher Nate Soares on why he believes the only real winner in the AI race is AI.  Featured:   Nate Soares, Machine Intelligence Research Institute president

Pauline Hanson has spent the week offending everyone from Andrew Hastie to the Prime Minister and Indigenous Australians, drawing widespread condemnation.   But is hitting back at her personally the best way to respond?   Today, Sean Kelly, columnist and former adviser to Julia Gillard and Kevin Rudd on the way major parties are shifting their approach to Pauline Hanson and One Nation.  Featured:   Sean Kelly, columnist for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald and former Labor prime minister advisor.

For months, the Strait of Hormuz has been in chaos amid the ongoing conflict between Donald Trump and Iran.   But now, the global oil supply faces a new threat.   Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen are setting their sights on the Red Sea, putting a second critical shipping corridor in the crosshairs.   Today, former US Special Envoy to Yemen, Tim Lenderking, on the latest escalation and what it means for the global economy.  Featured:   Tim Lenderking, former US Special Envoy to Yemen and Middle East Institute Distinguished Diplomatic Fellow

Last week, an Anthropic researcher warned that rapidly advancing AI could lead to human extinction in the not-too-distant future.  Then tech bosses joined the call for countries and companies to work together to slow the race towards artificial super intelligence.   Today, AI philosopher Nick Bostrom on just how bad unbridled AI could get and whether we need to put the brakes on before it’s too late. Featured: Nick Bostrom, AI philosopher

The migration policy debate in Australia has shifted over the years from boat arrivals and refugees to a new battleground: the size of the net overseas migration intake.   And Pauline Hanson has managed to put the push for lower numbers back at the centre of the political debate.   But how much control does the government really have? Today, David Speers, host of tonight's ABC National Forum on migration, on whether the system we have needs a total rethink.    Featured:   David Speers, host of Insiders and the ABC’s National Forum

Donald Trump has hit the campaign trail in Texas as the clock ticks down to the midterms.   But is the president becoming more of a hindrance than a help to Republican candidates? With the war in Iran dragging on and taking a toll on Trump’s standing, could his biggest political liability now be the conflict he started?   Today, Nate Swanson, a former Iran negotiator on whether Donald Trump is getting ready to declare the war is over.  Featured:   Nate Swanson, Director and Resident Senior Fellow at the Atlantic Council's Iran Strategy Project

Algorithms are deciding almost everything we see online, and concern is growing about the kinds of content social media is feeding us and our kids.   Now the government wants to give us more control of our feeds, proposing laws that could force tech companies to let users 'opt out' of recommendation algorithms.   Today, Daniel Angus, digital communications expert, on how algorithms became so powerful in the first place -  and whether we can ever escape them.   Featured:   Daniel Angus, director of the Digital Media Research Centre at Queensland University of Technology

One Nation wants to give renters and borrowers early access to some of their retirement savings in a new policy proposal it says will help ease the cost-of-living pressure.  It's reignited a fierce debate about the future of the scheme.   Today, former political strategist and pollster Kos Samaras on whether superannuation is about to become a political battleground once again and if it's a fight voters even want. Featured:   Kos Samaras, Director of strategy and analytics at Redbridge Group

Bond markets around the world are under pressure, as investors sell bonds and demand higher returns to lend governments money. It's pushing up borrowing costs and the effects can flow through to the mortgages, bank loans and credit cards we rely on every day.  So, what’s driving the global bond sell off, and is the Trump administration's ballooning government debt to blame? Today, Justin Wolfers, professor of economics and public policy at the University of Michigan, explains what’s happening in the bond market and what it means for your money.   Featured:   Justin Wolfers, professor of economics at the University of Michigan and founder of Platypus Economics

In the 2000s, a wave of cheap Chinese goods that flooded global markets and wiped out manufacturing jobs became known as the China Shock.   Now it's sequel, China Shock 2.0 has arrived.   But this time, China isn't just exporting cheap goods. It's taking on the world in cutting-edge technology, from AI to electric vehicles and robotics.     Today, economist David Autor, who helped coin the phrase 'China Shock' and is one of Time magazine's most influential people of 2026 in AI, on whether the world is ready for it.  Featured:   David Autor, Professor in the MIT Department of Economics

According to Donald Trump, Pete Hegseth is doing a 'fantastic job' running the US military.   But this week one of his most senior officials, the Army Secretary, quit after months of tensions with Hegseth, who has already purged dozens of other senior generals and admirals.   Today, staff writer at The Atlantic Missy Ryan on the turmoil at the Pentagon, and how long Hegseth will continue to have Trump’s backing.  Featured:   Missy Ryan, staff writer at The Atlantic

In 2017, billionaire Sanjeev Gupta arrived in Whyalla promising to save the town’s struggling steelworks and hundreds of local jobs.  But nearly a decade later, the steelworks is still fighting for survival. Gupta's business empire has unravelled and he has left Australia along with the promises he made.  So what went wrong?  Today, former Media Watch host Paul Barry takes us inside the rise and fall of Sanjeev Gupta’s steel dream and how he fooled Whyalla and the world.  Featured:   Paul Barry, author of The Big Steel: How steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta fooled Australia and the world

Dr. John All is a mountaineer and scientist who nearly lost his life after falling more than 20 meters down an icy crevasse while researching how quickly the Himalayas are melting.  A week after a catastrophic flood struck the Nepal-Tibet border, he warns the tragedy we’ve seen in the region could be repeated as pollution and rising temperatures turn mountain ice into water.   Today, he speaks about researching climate change in treacherous terrain, and how soon the Himalayan glaciers could disappear.   Featured:   John All, mountaineer and co-founder of the American Climber Science Program

Pauline Hanson is on a roll.  The latest test came over the weekend in a by-election for the small coastal electorate of Secret Harbour, south of Perth, where almost 40 per cent of voters gave One Nation their first-preference vote -- numbers that Labor and the Coalition could only dream of at this point.  Today, Michelle Grattan, chief political correspondent at The Conversation, on the One Nation blitz. Featured:   Michelle Grattan, chief political correspondent at The Conversation