Everyone has a favourite moment from an iconic Australian film, one we quote to each other in everyday conversation. We tell each other, “You’re terrible, Muriel,” or that we’re off to Hammerbarn (from Bluey) rather than Bunnings. Or we’ll say, “It’s noice, it’s different, it’s un-you-sual.” Thank you, Kath & Kim.
We had an un-you-sual moment recently when Australian Google executive Lucinda Longcroft, while giving evidence to a Senate hearing about artificial intelligence, was interrupted by her chatbot (which had a male, American voice). It derailed the hearing and made national and international news, but it wasn’t the main cause for concern at the inquiry for Australian writers and other creatives, and not for some of us who’d already given evidence.
