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Coles launches new AI-powered shopping trolley

Coles is set to become the "first Australian retailer" to introduce AI shopping trolleys, letting shoppers pick, weigh and pay for their groceries without having to visit a checkout. The supermarket giant said its smart trolley uses advanced AI technology, sensors and an in-built scale to scan groceries, including fresh produce, directly into shopping bags. Shoppers can also use an interactive digital screen to identify and locate in-store specials as well as keep track the running total of their shop to help manage their budget and ensure “there are no surprises” when they go to pay. The trolleys are also designed to "streamline the checkout process" as each smart trolley comes with an EFTPOS machine attached. Coles Chief Digital Officer, Ben Hassing, said the introduction of its Smart Trolley showcases Coles’ commitment to delivering value and convenience to customers through innovative digital solutions. “As the first retailer in Australia to introduce AI-powered trolleys, we’re excited to offer our customers a convenient and engaging way to shop in-store, helping them save time, manage their budget and checkout faster – or at their own pace,” Ben said. “The Coles Smart Trolley illustrates our omnichannel approach, leveraging digital capabilities to enrich the in-store experience. “We are committed to testing and learning through innovative solutions to make sure we are delivering on customer needs, increasing convenience, and helping customers discover more value through their shop at Coles.” Coles’ smart trolley was created by New York-based software developers Instacart, which rolled out its AI-powered grocery carts in several supermarkets overseas earlier this year. However, not everyone is onboard with the smart trolleys, as many shoppers said they would "refuse" to use the AI-powered carts, blasting them as “lazy” and expressing fears supermarkets would also store personal data. “I don’t work for them, scan my products and pack my bags, as per your job description,” one raged on Facebook after Instacart launched in US supermarket ShopRite. “Not a chance I will use an AI trolley, I want a human to scan my groceries,” another added. Coles will trial the “all-in-one” shopping device at its Coles Richmond Traders store in Melbourne from January next year. The announcement comes after <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/food-wine/woolies-trial-bold-new-scan-as-you-go-trolleys" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Woolworths</a> also announced the launch of "scan as you go" trolleys, although the Woolies carts don't use AI technology to read what is being placed into the trolley, instead enabling shoppers to manually scan each item as they go. Image credits: Coles

Technology

Humanising AI could lead us to dehumanise ourselves

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/raffaele-f-ciriello-1079723">Raffaele F Ciriello</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/angelina-ying-chen-2230113">Angelina Ying Chen</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Irish writer John Connolly <a href="https://www.goodreads.com/quotes/3147986-the-nature-of-humanity-its-essence-is-to-feel-another-s">once said</a>: "The nature of humanity, its essence, is to feel another’s pain as one’s own, and to act to take that pain away." For most of our history, we believed empathy was a uniquely human trait – a special ability that set us apart from machines and other animals. But this belief is now being challenged. As AI becomes a bigger part of our lives, entering even our most intimate spheres, we’re faced with a philosophical conundrum: could attributing human qualities to AI diminish our own human essence? Our <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375086411_Feels_Like_Empathy_How_Emotional_AI_Challenges_Human_Essence">research</a> suggests it can. <h2>Digitising companionship</h2> In recent years, AI “companion” apps such as Replika have attracted millions of users. Replika allows users to create custom digital partners to engage in intimate conversations. Members who pay for <a href="https://help.replika.com/hc/en-us/articles/360032500052-What-is-Replika-Pro#:%7E:text=Replika%20Pro%20gives%20you%20access,relationship%20status%20to%20Romantic%20Partner.">Replika Pro</a> can even turn their AI into a “romantic partner”. Physical AI companions aren’t far behind. Companies such as JoyLoveDolls are selling <a href="https://www.joylovedolls.com/collections/sex-robots">interactive sex robots</a> with customisable features including breast size, ethnicity, movement and AI responses such as moaning and flirting. While this is currently a niche market, history suggests today’s digital trends will become tomorrow’s global norms. With about <a href="https://www.statista.com/chart/31243/respondents-who-feel-fairly-or-very-lonely/">one in four</a> adults experiencing loneliness, the demand for AI companions will grow. <h2>The dangers of humanising AI</h2> Humans have long attributed human traits to non-human entities – a tendency known as anthropomorphism. It’s no surprise we’re doing this with AI tools such as ChatGPT, which appear to “think” and “feel”. But why is humanising AI a problem? For one thing, it allows AI companies to exploit our tendency to form attachments with human-like entities. Replika is <a href="https://replika.com">marketed</a> as “the AI companion who cares”. However, to avoid legal issues, the company elsewhere points out Replika isn’t sentient and merely learns through millions of user interactions. Some AI companies overtly <a href="https://www.space.gov.au/news-and-media/akin-assistive-ai-improve-life-space-and-earth">claim</a> their AI assistants have empathy and can even anticipate human needs. Such claims are misleading and can take advantage of people seeking companionship. Users may become <a href="https://theconversation.com/i-tried-the-replika-ai-companion-and-can-see-why-users-are-falling-hard-the-app-raises-serious-ethical-questions-200257">deeply emotionally invested</a> if they believe their AI companion truly understands them. This raises serious ethical concerns. A user <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/374505266_Ethical_Tensions_in_Human-AI_Companionship_A_Dialectical_Inquiry_into_Replika">will hesitate</a> to delete (that is, to “abandon” or “kill”) their AI companion once they’ve ascribed some kind of sentience to it. But what happens when said companion unexpectedly disappears, such as if the user can no longer afford it, or if the company that runs it shuts down? While the companion may not be real, the feelings attached to it are. <h2>Empathy – more than a programmable output</h2> By reducing empathy to a programmable output, do we risk diminishing its true essence? To answer this, let’s first think about what empathy really is. Empathy involves responding to other people with understanding and concern. It’s when you share your friend’s sorrow as they tell you about their heartache, or when you feel joy radiating from someone you care about. It’s a profound experience – rich and beyond simple forms of measurement. A fundamental difference between humans and AI is that humans genuinely feel emotions, while AI can only simulate them. This touches on the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/375086411_Feels_Like_Empathy_How_Emotional_AI_Challenges_Human_Essence">hard problem of consciousness</a>, which questions how subjective human experiences arise from physical processes in the brain. While AI can simulate understanding, any “empathy” it purports to have is a result of programming that mimics empathetic language patterns. Unfortunately, AI providers have a financial incentive to trick users into growing attached to their seemingly empathetic products. <h2>The dehumanAIsation hypothesis</h2> Our “dehumanAIsation hypothesis” highlights the ethical concerns that come with trying to reduce humans to some basic functions that can be replicated by a machine. The more we humanise AI, the more we risk dehumanising ourselves. For instance, depending on AI for emotional labour could make us less tolerant of the imperfections of real relationships. This could weaken our social bonds and even lead to emotional deskilling. Future generations may become less empathetic – losing their grasp on essential human qualities as emotional skills continue to be commodified and automated. Also, as AI companions become more common, people may use them to replace real human relationships. This would likely increase loneliness and alienation – the very issues these systems claim to help with. AI companies’ collection and analysis of emotional data also poses significant risks, as these data could be used to manipulate users and maximise profit. This would further erode our privacy and autonomy, taking <a href="https://theconversation.com/explainer-what-is-surveillance-capitalism-and-how-does-it-shape-our-economy-119158">surveillance capitalism</a> to the next level. <h2>Holding providers accountable</h2> Regulators need to do more to hold AI providers accountable. AI companies should be honest about what their AI can and can’t do, especially when they risk exploiting users’ emotional vulnerabilities. Exaggerated claims of “genuine empathy” should be made illegal. Companies making such claims should be fined – and repeat offenders shut down. Data privacy policies should also be clear, fair and without hidden terms that allow companies to exploit user-generated content. We must preserve the unique qualities that define the human experience. While AI can enhance certain aspects of life, it can’t – and shouldn’t – replace genuine human connection.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/240803/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/raffaele-f-ciriello-1079723">Raffaele F Ciriello</a>, Senior Lecturer in Business Information Systems, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/angelina-ying-chen-2230113">Angelina Ying Chen</a>, PhD student , <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-sydney-841">University of Sydney</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/humanising-ai-could-lead-us-to-dehumanise-ourselves-240803">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

Readers response: What’s your best advice for managing medications while travelling?

When taking a trip, many people often have to factor in how their changing schedule will affect their regular medication routines. We asked our readers for their best advice on managing medications while travelling, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Kristeen Bon - I put each days tablet into small ziplock bags and staple them at one corner. All that goes into one larger ziplock bag and into my toilet bag. I store all the outer packs flat into another ziplock bag and that stays in the zip pack with my first aid kit in the main suitcase. I travel long haul up to six times a year and this is the most manageable way I have found. Diane Green - Firstly, take sufficient supply of all meds to last the time I'm away. I separate morning medications and evening medications. Then it depends on how long I'm away. I have one that needs to be refrigerated. Depending on where I travel, this can entail arranging overnight in the establishment fridge while taking a freezer pack for daytime travel. Irene Varis - Always get a letter from my doctor, with all my prescriptions for when I get overseas. Saves you a lot of trouble! Helen Lunn - Just get the chemist to pack into Medipacks. I usually take an extra week. I alway put some of the packs in my partners baggage incase my bag goes missing and a pack and a doctor’s letter in my hand luggage. Jancye Winter - Always pack in your carry on with prescriptions. Jenny Gordon - Carry a letter from doc with all medications, leave in original packaging. Double check that it isn’t illegal to carry your medication as some countries have strict regulations for things like Codeine. Always carry in carry on as you don’t want them to get lost. Nina Thomas Rogers - Be organised with all your medicines before you leave. Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Tips

How can we improve public health communication for the next pandemic? Tackling distrust and misinformation is key

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shauna-hurley-203140">Shauna Hurley</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-ryan-1522824">Rebecca Ryan</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> There’s a common thread linking our <a href="https://www.visualcapitalist.com/history-of-pandemics-deadliest/">experience of pandemics</a> over the past 700 years. From the black death in the 14th century to COVID in the 21st, public health authorities have put emergency measures such as isolation and quarantine in place to stop infectious diseases spreading. As we know from COVID, these measures upend lives in an effort to save them. In both the <a href="https://www.thinkglobalhealth.org/article/pandemic-protests-when-unrest-and-instability-go-viral">recent</a> and <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3559034/">distant past</a> they’ve also given rise to collective unrest, confusion and resistance. So after all this time, what do we know about the role public health communication plays in helping people understand and adhere to protective measures in a crisis? And more importantly, in an age of misinformation and distrust, how can we improve public health messaging for any future pandemics? Last year, we published a <a href="https://www.cochranelibrary.com/cdsr/doi/10.1002/14651858.CD015144/full">Cochrane review</a> exploring the global evidence on public health communication during COVID and other infectious disease outbreaks including SARS, MERS, influenza and Ebola. Here’s a snapshot of what we found. <h2>The importance of public trust</h2> A key theme emerging in analysis of the COVID pandemic globally is public trust – or lack thereof – in governments, public institutions and science. Mounting evidence suggests <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/02/01/trust-lancet-covid-study/">levels of trust in government</a> were <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)00172-6/fulltext">directly proportional</a> to fewer COVID infections and higher vaccination rates across the world. It was a crucial factor in people’s willingness to follow public health directives, and is now a key focus for future pandemic preparedness. Here in Australia, public trust in governments and health authorities steadily eroded over time. Initial information from governments and health authorities about the unfolding COVID crisis, personal risk and mandated protective measures was generally clear and consistent across the country. The establishment of the <a href="https://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp1920/Quick_Guides/AustralianCovid-19ResponseManagement#_Toc38973752">National Cabinet</a> in 2020 signalled a commitment from state, territory and federal governments to consensus-based policy and public health messaging. During this early phase of relative unity, <a href="https://theconversation.com/inflation-covid-inequality-new-report-shows-australias-social-cohesion-is-at-crossroads-195198">Australians reported</a> higher levels of belonging and trust in government. But as the pandemic wore on, public trust and confidence fell on the back of conflicting state-federal pandemic strategies, blame games and the <a href="https://theconversation.com/we-lost-the-plot-on-covid-messaging-now-governments-will-have-to-be-bold-to-get-us-back-on-track-186732">confusing fragmentation</a> of public health messaging. The divergence between <a href="https://www.theaustralian.com.au/nation/tale-of-two-cities-gripped-by-covid-fear-outbreak/news-story/cf1b922610aeb0b0ee9b0b53486bf640">lockdown policies and public health messaging</a> adopted by <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/a-tale-of-two-cities-that-doesn-t-seem-fair-20211012-p58z79.html">Victoria and New South Wales</a> is one example, but there are plenty of others. When state, territory and federal governments have conflicting policies on protective measures, people are easily confused, lose trust and become harder to engage with or persuade. Many tune out from partisan politics. Adherence to mandated public health measures falls. Our research found clarity and consistency of information were key features of effective public health communication throughout the COVID pandemic. We also found public health communication is most effective when authorities work in partnership with different target audiences. In Victoria, the case brought against the state government for the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-07-24/melbourne-public-housing-tower-covid-lockdown-compensation/102640898">snap public housing tower lockdowns</a> is a cautionary tale underscoring how essential considered, tailored and two-way communication is with diverse communities. <h2>Countering misinformation</h2> Misinformation is <a href="https://reutersinstitute.politics.ox.ac.uk/hydroxychloroquine-australia-cautionary-tale-journalists-and-scientists">not a new problem</a>, but has been supercharged by the advent of <a href="https://theconversation.com/health-misinformation-is-rampant-on-social-media-heres-what-it-does-why-it-spreads-and-what-people-can-do-about-it-217059">social media</a>. The much-touted “miracle” drug <a href="https://www.vox.com/future-perfect/22663127/ivermectin-covid-treatments-vaccines-evidence">ivermectin</a> typifies the extraordinary traction unproven treatments gained locally and globally. Ivermectin is an anti-parasitic drug, lacking evidence for viruses like COVID. Australia’s drug regulator was forced to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/10/australian-drug-regulator-bans-ivermectin-as-covid-treatment-after-sharp-rise-in-prescriptions">ban ivermectin presciptions</a> for anything other than its intended use after a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/aug/30/australian-imports-of-ivermectin-increase-10-fold-prompting-warning-from-tga">sharp increase</a> in people seeking the drug sparked national shortages. Hospitals also reported patients <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/sep/02/sydney-covid-patient-in-westmead-hospital-after-overdosing-on-ivermectin-and-other-online-cures">overdosing on ivermectin</a> and cocktails of COVID “cures” promoted online. The <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(22)01585-9/fulltext">Lancet Commission</a> on lessons from the COVID pandemic has called for a coordinated international response to countering misinformation. As part of this, it has called for more accessible, accurate information and investment in scientific literacy to protect against misinformation, including that shared across social media platforms. The World Health Organization is developing resources and recommendations for health authorities to address this “<a href="https://www.who.int/health-topics/infodemic#tab=tab_1">infodemic</a>”. National efforts to directly tackle misinformation are vital, in combination with concerted efforts to raise health literacy. The Australian Medical Association has <a href="https://www.ama.com.au/media/action-needed-tackle-health-misinformation-internet-social-media">called on the federal government</a> to invest in long-term online advertising to counter health misinformation and boost health literacy. People of all ages need to be equipped to think critically about who and where their health information comes from. With the rise of AI, this is an increasingly urgent priority. <h2>Looking ahead</h2> Australian health ministers recently <a href="https://www.cdc.gov.au/newsroom/news-and-articles/australian-health-ministers-reaffirm-commitment-australian-cdc">reaffirmed their commitment</a> to the new Australian Centre for Disease Control (CDC). From a science communications perspective, the Australian CDC could provide an independent voice of evidence and consensus-based information. This is exactly what’s needed during a pandemic. But full details about the CDC’s funding and remit have been the subject of <a href="https://www.croakey.org/federal-budget-must-deliver-on-climate-health-and-the-centre-for-disease-control-sector-leaders-warn/">some conjecture</a>. Many of our <a href="https://www.cochraneaustralia.org/articles/covidandcommunications">key findings</a> on effective public health communication during COVID are not new or surprising. They reinforce what we know works from previous disease outbreaks across different places and points in time: tailored, timely, clear, consistent and accurate information. The rapid rise, reach and influence of misinformation and distrust in public authorities bring a new level of complexity to this picture. Countering both must become a central focus of all public health crisis communication, now and in the future. This article is part of a <a href="https://theconversation.com/au/topics/the-next-pandemic-160343">series on the next pandemic</a>.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/226718/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/shauna-hurley-203140">Shauna Hurley</a>, PhD candidate, School of Public Health, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/monash-university-1065">Monash University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/rebecca-ryan-1522824">Rebecca Ryan</a>, Senior Research Fellow, Health Practice and Management; Head, Centre for Health Communication and Participation, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/la-trobe-university-842">La Trobe University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-can-we-improve-public-health-communication-for-the-next-pandemic-tackling-distrust-and-misinformation-is-key-226718">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

More Australians are using their superannuation for medical procedures. But that might put their financial health at risk

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neera-bhatia-15189">Neera Bhatia</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> A record number of Australians are accessing their superannuation early on compassionate grounds, mainly to fund their own medical procedures – or those of a family member. Some 150,000 Australians have used the scheme in the last five years. Nearly 40,000 people <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/about-ato/research-and-statistics/in-detail/super-statistics/early-release/compassionate-release-of-super">had applications approved</a> in 2022-23, compared to just under 30,000 in 2018-19 – an increase of 47%. Some people think this flexible use of funds is a good way to ensure people can fund their own medical needs. But more transparency and better oversight is needed. <h2>What are compassionate grounds?</h2> Since July 2018, the Australian Tax Office has administered the early release of superannuation – meaning before <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/super-withdrawal-options#Preservationage">retirement</a> – under certain circumstances, including compassionate grounds. <a href="https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals-and-families/super-for-individuals-and-families/super/withdrawing-and-using-your-super/early-access-to-super/access-on-compassionate-grounds/expenses-eligible-for-release-on-compassionate-grounds">Compassionate grounds</a> for you or your dependant (such as child or spouse) are: <ul> <li>medical treatment or transport</li> <li>modifying your home or vehicle to accommodate special needs for a severe disability</li> <li>palliative care for a terminal illness</li> <li>death, funeral or burial expenses</li> <li>preventing foreclosure or forced sale of your home.</li> </ul> The medical treatment must be for a life-threatening illness or injury, or to alleviate acute or chronic pain, or acute or chronic mental illness. The treatment cannot be “readily available” through the public system. Cosmetic procedures are excluded. You also have to prove you cannot afford to pay part or all of the expenses without accessing your super, for example, by spending your savings, selling assets or getting a loan. People who can access other funding for the expense, such as via the <a href="https://theconversation.com/lists-of-eligible-supports-could-be-a-backwards-step-for-the-ndis-and-people-with-disability-236578">National Disability Insurance Scheme</a>, are ineligible. <h2>Why are people using this scheme more?</h2> The ATO has not explained what is driving the surge. General cost-of-living pressures may play a role. People may have fewer savings to draw on for medical procedures. But the treatments most commonly being accessed using superannuation – fertility treatments, weight loss surgeries and dental care – point to other systemic issues. There have long been issues with IVF and <a href="https://theconversation.com/why-isnt-dental-included-in-medicare-its-time-to-change-this-heres-how-239086#:%7E:text=The%20real%20reason%20dental%20hasn,has%20a%20structural%20budget%20problem.">dental care</a> not being readily available or funded in the public health system. Weight loss surgeries (including <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bariatric-surgery/about/pac-20394258">bariatric surgery</a>) can help combat potentially life-threatening conditions such as heart disease. Recent <a href="https://www.monash.edu/news/articles/fewer-australians-having-bariatric-surgery-monash-university-led-report">research</a> suggests there has been an overall drop in the number of Australians having bariatric surgeries since 2016. But of those, 95% are performed through the private system. While early access to super can provide individuals access to critical treatment, there are issues with how compassionate grounds are defined and regulated. <h2>Lack of clarity</h2> As my co-author and I <a href="https://www.unswlawjournal.unsw.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Issue-442-PDF-3-Bhatia-and-Porceddu.pdf">have shown</a>, the vague wording of the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/F1996B00580/2022-09-28/text">Superannuation Industry regulations</a> leaves them worryingly open to interpretation. For example, the meaning of “mental disturbance” is not defined. You may not meet the criteria of having an acute or life-threatening illness, or acute or chronic pain. But if you can show a certain condition causes you acute mental disturbance, you may qualify to release your superannuation early. People accessing their superannuation for IVF use this criterion, for example, by arguing they need to access funds to continue treatment and alleviate the acute mental distress caused by ongoing infertility issues. Two registered medical practitioners are each required to submit a report demonstrating the treatment is needed, and one must be a specialist in the field in which the treatment is required. However, the regulations do not specify clearly that the specialist should have relevant qualifications. In the IVF example, this means the specialist opinion can be provided by a fertility doctor rather than a mental health expert – and that person may stand to profit if they later also provide treatment. <h2>A closed-loop system</h2> Conflict of interest is another major issue. There is nothing in the regulations to stop a medical practitioner – such as a dentist – being involved in all steps and then financially benefiting. They could encourage a patient to access superannuation for a treatment, write the specialist report and then also receive payment for the treatment. Some clinics <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/apr/06/online-ads-promote-simple-access-to-super-to-pay-for-healthcare-despite-strict-rules">promote</a> accessing superannuation as an option to pay for expensive treatments. This raises important questions about the independence of the process, as well as professional ethics. Medical practitioners making recommendations for early release of superannuation should be doing so on genuinely compassionate grounds. But the potential for exploitation remains an ethical concern, when a practitioner can financially benefit from recommending early access to nest egg funds. Transparency around potential <a href="https://theconversation.com/people-are-using-their-super-to-pay-for-ivf-with-their-fertility-clinics-blessing-thats-a-conflict-of-interest-161278">conflicts of interest</a> are impossible to ensure without proper oversight. <h2>What is needed?</h2> 1. Mandatory financial counselling The ATO <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/healthcare/worrying-trend-record-number-of-australians-raid-super-to-fund-medical-treatments-20240920-p5kc44.html">has warned</a> accessing super early is not “free money”, with a spokesperson urging people to get financial advice. But the law should go a step further and make this compulsory. That way people making decisions during an emotionally charged moment can understand any future implications. 2. Tightening of the criteria Greater clarity in the legislation – such as defining “mental disturbance” – would help prevent loopholes being exploited. 3. Better oversight Less health-care industry involvement would promote greater transparency and independence. An independent body of medical practitioners could assess applications rather than practitioners who could financially benefit if applications are approved. This would help alleviate perceived and actual conflicts of interest. Accessing superannuation early may be the only option for some people to start a family or access other life-changing medical care. But they should be able to make this decision in a fully informed way, safeguarded from exploitation and aware of the implications for their future.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/239588/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/neera-bhatia-15189">Neera Bhatia</a>, Associate Professor in Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/deakin-university-757">Deakin University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/more-australians-are-using-their-superannuation-for-medical-procedures-but-that-might-put-their-financial-health-at-risk-239588">original article</a>. </div>

Money & Banking

How cutting edge AI technology is helping doctors reduce waitlists

<div> Artificial intelligence is now being used by Australian specialist doctors to reduce patient wait times and experts say it could be a game changer for the health sector, where some patients are waiting months or even years for an appointment. </div> <div> Leading Australian tech company <a title="https://www.medowhealth.ai/" href="https://www.medowhealth.ai/" data-outlook-id="ad0ccae0-1f97-484e-ba83-d8d566a7608a">Medow Health</a> has developed an AI “co-pilot” technology which automates medical reports for specialist doctors while operating in the background during patient consultations, saving clinicians hours which allows them to see more patients each day. </div> <div> “This technology transforms the way medical reports are formulated and processed, helping specialists reduce their paperwork and freeing up valuable time and resources which can be better spent on patient care,” said Joel Freiberg who co-founded Medow Health with his brother after his own experience with a chronic illness coupled with watching their father who is a respiratory specialist dictate reports until 10pm from the dinner table, prompting them to come up with a more efficient way for clinicians to work. </div> <div> “The idea was to improve what really is an archaic reporting system, which saw specialists taking notes with their back to the patient during consultations or having to speak into a dictaphone to be transcribed later, instead of solely focusing on the patient in front of them,” Mr Freiberg said. </div> <div> The uptake from specialists utilising the new technology has been swift, with doctors reporting the technology is giving them back two to three hours a day, reducing burnout and allowing them to see multiple more patients in that time if they choose. </div> <div> “Instead of your doctor staring into the computer typing notes, they can really concentrate on your needs and wellbeing while the technology does the note taking in the background and creates an almost instant report that the doctor just has to review rather than formulate from scratch,” Mr Freiberg said. </div> <div> Data from the Australian Medical Association on “hidden waitlists” for a specialist outpatient appointment shows some people are languishing for years for an initial consultation - up to 800 days for an initial appointment for an Ear, Nose and Throat Surgeon, up to 898 days for an urgent appointment with a neurosurgeon, while waitlists for a gastroenterologist or ophthalmologist can be as long as five years and up to 36 months to see a paediatrician. </div> <div> Mr Freiberg said the new cutting edge technology could supercharge a reduction in waitlists and speed up the appointment process. </div> <div> “We’re not trying to replace doctors, we’re trying to help them. Manually producing medical reports is a time-consuming and complex process that requires extensive paperwork and hours of labour-intensive work,” he said. </div> <div> “By using cutting edge AI specific to each medical specialty to examine patient interactions, formulate reports, and provide valuable insights we can enable doctors to do what they do best - focus on patient care,” Mr Freiberg said. </div> <div> Chris O’Brien Life House Chief Executive and medical oncologist Professor Michael Boyer who is on the Medow Health Clinical Advisory Council agreed the technology will improve patient care and help reduce waiting lists. </div> <div> "Any piece of technology that allows doctors to focus on the patient, helps deliver better care,” Prof Boyer said. </div> <div> "This technology helps the health professional to really turn their attention to the patient and what matters, instead of worrying about what notes they need and what letters they need to write. It allows them to focus on what is important. </div> <div> "There's no doubt this technology saves time and while it might only allow a single doctor to see an extra one of two patients a day, if you multiply that across the health system then it makes a big difference,” Prof Boyer said. </div> <div> Engagement with Medow Health is taking off in Australia, with the company reporting growth of more than 50 percent month on month across 15 different specialties including Cardiology, Gastroenterology, ENT, Geriatric, Orthopaedic Surgery, Paediatric, Neurology, General Surgery and Breast Surgeons, with some of Australia’s leading specialist doctors among the investors and Medtech Entrepreneurs to invest in its recent Seed round. </div> <div> About Medow Health AI </div> <div> Medow Health AI is a pioneering Australian based healthcare technology company dedicated to revolutionising the medical industry through the power of artificial intelligence to streamline processes, improve patient care, and enhance overall efficiency in healthcare settings. </div> <div> The company was founded by Joel Freiberg and soon after his brother Josh and former CTO and colleague Andrew joined as co-founders using their combined 30 years experience in technology and software to help build the business into the leading Specialist AI platform it is today. </div> <div> Joel lives with Crohn’s disease and has experienced long waits to see a specialist. The pair recognised there was a need for change growing up as they watched their father, a respiratory physician spend endless hours doing admin after work. </div> <div> The company has just completed a $1M funding round in the first half of 2024, grown the team to 10 full time employees and signed a partnership with Magentus the owner of leading specialist electronic medical record systems Genie & Gentu (who Medow Health integrates with). Image credits: Shutterstock </div>

Caring

The internet is worse than it used to be. How did we get here, and can we go back?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marc-cheong-998488">Marc Cheong</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wonsun-shin-1300054">Wonsun Shin</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> When it comes to our experience of the internet, “the times, <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times_They_Are_a-Changin%27_(song)">they are a-changin’</a>”, as Bob Dylan would say. You can’t quite recall how, but the internet certainly feels different these days. To some, it is “<a href="https://www.npr.org/2024/01/16/1224878097/everyday-users-are-complaining-that-the-internet-is-more-chaotic-than-ever">less fun and less informative</a>” than it used to be. To others, online searches are made up of “<a href="https://www.theverge.com/c/23998379/google-search-seo-algorithm-webpage-optimization?src=longreads">cookie cutter</a>” pages that drown out useful information and are saturated with scams, spam and content generated by artificial intelligence (AI). Your social media feeds are full of eye-catching, provocative, hyper-targeted, or anger-inducing content, from <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-dead-internet-theory-makes-eerie-claims-about-an-ai-run-web-the-truth-is-more-sinister-229609">bizarre AI-generated imagery</a> to robot-like comments. You’re lucky if your video feeds are not solely made up of exhortations to “subscribe”. How did we get here? And can we claw our way back? <h2>Commercial interests rule</h2> One major factor contributing to the current state of the internet is its over-commercialisation: financial motives drive much of the content. This has arguably led to the prevalence of sensationalism, prioritising virality over information quality. Covert and deceptive advertising is widespread, blurring the line between commercial and non-commercial content to attract more attention and engagement. Another driving force is the dominance of tech giants like Google, Meta and Amazon. They reach billions worldwide and wield immense power over the content we consume. Their platforms use advanced tracking technologies and opaque algorithms to generate hyper-targeted media content, powered by extensive user data. This creates <a href="https://www.campaignasia.com/article/the-echo-chamber-effect-how-algorithms-shape-our-worldview/491762">filter bubbles</a>, where users are exposed to limited content that reinforces their existing beliefs and biases, and <a href="https://philarchive.org/archive/NGUECA">echo chambers</a> where other viewpoints are actively discredited. Bad actors like <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Technology/ai-fuel-financial-scams-online-industry-experts/story?id=103732051">cyber criminals and scammers</a> have been an enduring problem online. However, evolving technology like generative AI has further empowered them, enabling them to create highly realistic fake images, deepfake videos and <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/science/annals-of-artificial-intelligence/the-terrifying-ai-scam-that-uses-your-loved-ones-voice">voice cloning</a>. AI’s ability to automate content creation has also flooded the internet with low-quality, misleading and harmful material at an unprecedented scale. In sum, the accelerated commercialisation of the internet, the dominance of media tech giants and the presence of bad actors have infiltrated content on the internet. The rise of AI further intensifies this, making the internet more chaotic than ever. <h2>Some of the ‘good’ internet remains</h2> So, what was the “good internet” some of us long for with nostalgia? At the outset, the internet was meant to be a free egalitarian space people were meant to “surf” and “browse”. Knowledge was meant to be shared: sites such as Wikipedia and The Internet Archive are continuing bastions of knowledge. Before the advent of filter bubbles, the internet was a creative playground where people explored different ideas, discussed varying perspectives, and collaborated with individuals from “outgroups” – those outside their social circles who may hold opposing views. Early social media platforms were built on the ethos of reconnecting with long-lost classmates and family members. Many of us have community groups, acquaintances and family we reach out to via the internet. The “connection” aspect of the internet remains as important as ever – as we all saw during the COVID pandemic. What else do we want to preserve? Privacy. A New Yorker cartoon joke in 1993 stated that “<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20051029045942/http://www.unc.edu/depts/jomc/academics/dri/idog.html">on the internet, nobody knows you’re a dog</a>”. Now everyone – especially advertisers – wants to know who you are. To quote the <a href="https://www.oaic.gov.au/privacy/your-privacy-rights/your-personal-information/what-is-privacy">Office of the Australian Information Commissioner</a>, one of the tenets of privacy is “to be able to control who can see or use information about you”. At the very least, we want to control what big tech knows about us, especially if they could stand to profit from it. <h2>Can we ever go back?</h2> We can’t control “a changin’” times, but we can keep as much of the good parts as we can. For starters, we can vote with our feet. Users can enact change and bring awareness to problems on existing platforms. In recent times, we have seen this with the <a href="https://theconversation.com/thinking-of-breaking-up-with-twitter-heres-the-right-way-to-do-it-195002">exodus of users</a> from X (formerly Twitter) to other platforms, and the <a href="https://www.economist.com/the-economist-explains/2023/06/26/why-reddit-users-are-protesting-against-the-sites-leadership">platform-wide protest against Reddit</a> for changing its third-party data access policies. However, voting with our feet is only possible when there’s competition. In the case of X, various other platforms – from Mastodon to Threads to Bluesky – enable users to pick one that aligns with their preferences, values and social circles. Search engines have alternatives, too, such as DuckDuckGo or Ecosia. But competition can only be created by moving to decentralised systems and removing monopolies. This actually happened in the early days of the internet during the 1990s “<a href="https://thehistoryoftheweb.com/browser-wars/">browser wars</a>”, when Microsoft was eventually accused of illegally monopolising the web browser market in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_v._Microsoft_Corp.">a landmark court case</a>. As users of technology, all of us must remain vigilant about threats to our privacy and knowledge. With cheap and ubiquitous generative AI, misleading content and scams are more realistic as ever. We must exercise healthy scepticism and ensure those most at risk from online threats – such as children and older people – are educated about potential harms. Remember, the internet is not optimised for your best interests. It’s up to you to decide how much power you give to the tech giants who are fuelling theirs.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/236513/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/marc-cheong-998488">Marc Cheong</a>, Senior Lecturer of Information Systems, School of Computing and Information Systems; and (Honorary) Senior Fellow, Melbourne Law School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/wonsun-shin-1300054">Wonsun Shin</a>, Associate Professor in Media and Communications, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/the-university-of-melbourne-722">The University of Melbourne</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/the-internet-is-worse-than-it-used-to-be-how-did-we-get-here-and-can-we-go-back-236513">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

Readers response: Do you find technology has made travel easier or more complicated?

When it comes to travelling, advancements in technology over the years have made the world much more accessible. However, sometimes tech can backfire and leave you lost or stranded. We asked our readers if they find technology has made travel easier or more complicated, and the response was overwhelming. Here's what they said. Dawn Douglas - Easier by far. You can find hotels, cafes, restaurants, tours and so on. Christine James - Easier, but we would still rather book through a travel agent. It can be good for research to where you are going though. Brian Adams - Travel without a smartphone is nearly impossible! There’s no other option to get around sometimes! June Maynard - More complicated. I'm glad I'm married to an IT tech guy! I leave it all up to him. Pat Isaacs - Everything seems more complicated with technology for me!! Karen Salvietti - Much easier to get around with technology overseas. Val Goodwin - Far more complicated for me, I'm technically challenged lol. Rosemary Miles - I’m 81 and technology has made everything easier for me. I travel overseas twice a year and hope to be able to keep doing it for a few years longer. I’m spending the grandkids’ inheritance! Image credits: Shutterstock

Travel Trouble

Six old-school strategies to cope with disruptive airport tech

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-schaberg-1451119">Christopher Schaberg</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/arts-and-sciences-at-washington-university-in-st-louis-5659">Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis</a> Ten years ago I wrote a book titled “<a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/end-of-airports-9781501305498/">The End of Airports</a>” about how digital technologies and commercial air travel were on a collision course. Earlier this summer, I was proved right. In July, <a href="https://theconversation.com/massive-it-outage-spotlights-major-vulnerabilities-in-the-global-information-ecosystem-235155">a cybersecurity software outage</a> snarled airports around the world. Airlines took weeks to get back to normal. Delta was particularly <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2024/08/07/business/delta-passengers-sue-crowdstrike-meltdown/index.html">hard hit</a>, with some <a href="https://apnews.com/article/crowdstrike-technology-outage-fallout-delta-c287aaded657a1092724b222435c3d16">7,000 flights canceled</a> and delays lasting well into August. As an expert on air travel who contemplates flight from <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/us/textual-life-of-airports-9781441189684/">a humanistic and cultural studies perspective</a>, I think the new technologies woven into air-travel management are a double-edged sword. While they enhance elements of safety and efficiency, they can also make the entire system <a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2024/07/crowdstrike-failure-warning-solutions/679174/">more fragile and vulnerable</a>. <h2>The downsides of digital technology</h2> To be fair, aviation depends on technology. Humans would never have gotten off the ground without it. But new technology can create new problems even as it solves old ones. The latest digital tech offers necessarily imperfect ways to manage a vast, intricate network of places, machines and people. And as the computer systems get more fine-tuned and integrated, they also can result in catastrophic failures, precisely because of the connective nature of tech. And let’s not even talk about <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-hot-weather-and-climate-change-affect-airline-flights-80795">the weather</a>. The past summer’s <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/crowdstrike-outage-bug-bad-data-falcon-update-microsoft/">software glitch event</a> won’t be the last time some unforeseen variable brings air travel to a halt. Fortunately, travelers don’t have to depend solely on airport technology systems or our own smart devices for seamless travel. Here are six analog strategies that travelers can use to cope with air travel debacles: <h2>Old-school flying suggestions</h2> <ol> <li> Pack smart for potential delays. Make sure you have a carry-on that includes whatever you’d need for an unplanned overnight stay at a hotel – or worse, on an airport floor. Take <a href="https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/liquids-rule">Transportation Security Administration-approved toiletries</a> and enough clothes so you can deal with a layover somewhere you didn’t expect. And wear comfortable shoes. </li> <li> Be kind to airline employees and airport staff, who can’t control delays or cancellations. Remember that no one airline employee can automatically fix the problem when a software malfunction happens or a freak storm grounds planes. But if you are kind and patient, an airline employee may just comp you a hotel room or give you a more generous rebooking arrangement. Also: It’s just the humane thing to do. </li> <li> Purchase your tickets directly from airlines. It’s not worth saving $20 or $50 on a ticket deal from a third-party vendor. When delays and cancellations happen, if you have such a ticket, the airline will have less interest in aiding you. Buying tickets directly from the airline will help you get back in the air quicker. </li> <li> Have a plan B. In the event that your connecting flight is canceled mid-trip, have you contacted someone you know in that city? Or have you researched hotels easily accessible from the airport? What would it take to get a comfortable spot for a night? A little homework can go a long way if you end up stranded. </li> <li> Bring healthy snacks and other supplies. It’s smart to pack vitamins, zinc, hydration packets, a reusable water bottle, medications, hand sanitizer, or whatever helps bolster your health during a travel stint. If you get waylaid for a few hours or overnight, preplanning some self-care items can help you avoid contagious illnesses and general fatigue. </li> <li> Enjoy the airport. It’s a fascinating place where so many people converge. If you’re <a href="https://stuckattheairport.com">stuck at the airport</a> for several hours, use that time to find interesting things in the concourses. You might discover art shows, a great bookstore, a yoga room or a movie theater. It can be tempting to just stand around the gate area and seethe. But it’s more fun to move around the airport and explore what’s there.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/237372/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> </li> </ol> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/christopher-schaberg-1451119">Christopher Schaberg</a>, Director of Public Scholarship, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/arts-and-sciences-at-washington-university-in-st-louis-5659">Arts & Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/if-new-technologies-snarl-your-airline-experience-here-are-old-school-strategies-to-cope-237372">original article</a>. </div>

Travel Trouble

John Boland’s battle against prostate cancer and the urgent need for reform

John Boland, a 74-year-old retired Navy Reserve Lieutenant Commander, found himself at a crossroads – a place where hope and despair often meet in the lives of those battling life-threatening illnesses like prostate cancer. Diagnosed five years ago, John’s journey has been a relentless fight against a disease that, despite medical advancements, still claims the lives of 10 men in Australia every day. After undergoing surgery and 37 rounds of radiation therapy, John’s battle was far from over. His PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) levels, an indicator of prostate cancer activity, were not dropping sufficiently, signalling that the fight was only getting tougher. It was then that John was introduced to a groundbreaking treatment: Lutetium-177 PSMA therapy (LuPSMA), a targeted radionuclide therapy with pinpoint accuracy to attack cancer cells. This innovative treatment offered a glimmer of hope, a chance to strike at the heart of the disease that had disrupted his life. But there was a catch – the cost. Each round of LuPSMA treatment costs $10,000, and while some patients may require up to eight rounds, John’s doctors recommended two based on his response. Even so, the financial burden was immense, forcing John to dip into his superannuation, ultimately spending $60,000 on the treatment that was not covered by insurance. Despite the financial strain, the results were nothing short of miraculous. After just the first round, John’s PSA levels dropped by a staggering 95%. After the second, they fell to nearly zero. The treatment had not only attacked the cancer but had also restored his quality of life, allowing him to once again enjoy the simple pleasures – time with family, daily activities and even golf. It was a victory that brought renewed hope and confidence for the future, a victory that made the $60,000 investment worth every cent. “My case was remarkably successful after the second treatment, which are eight weeks apart, after the scan had no cancer, and my PSA was effective to zero. So it was a reliable result for me and a huge boost, but unfortunately, they're $10,000 a time, and you can require up to eight treatments,” says John. “Fortunately we were able to fund it from our superannuation pension account, the $20,000, but I imagine that a lot of people, they can’t find that $20,000.” But John’s story, while inspiring, also highlights a grim reality: many Australians are not as fortunate. The LuPSMA treatment that worked so well for John remains out of reach for many others due to its prohibitive cost. And this isn’t just an isolated issue; it’s a systemic problem affecting thousands of men across the country. A new report, the <a href="https://www.pcfa.org.au/media/nbennwom/aus-np-1123-80001-amgen-access-gap-report_april-2024-data-final-approved.pdf" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Australian Patient Access Gap Report</a>, has shed light on the alarming delay in the public availability of new medicines in Australia. The report reveals that Australians with life-threatening illnesses are waiting an average of 591 days – more than 18 months – for access to new, potentially life-saving medicines. For some, the wait can be as long as three years. These delays are not just statistics; they represent real people, real lives hanging in the balance. The Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia (PCFA), the country’s leading organisation in the fight against prostate cancer, is calling for urgent reform. They argue that the current system, which often requires multiple rounds of review before new treatments are approved for public use, is failing Australians. PCFA CEO Anne Savage points out that while 10 men die from prostate cancer every day, the approval process for new treatments drags on, leaving patients like John Boland to fend for themselves – often at great financial and emotional cost. “In almost every instance, Australians are being denied access to new medicines that can extend and save their lives, simply because our approval systems have not kept up with the pace of change,” she says. “In relation to prostate cancer, applications typically undergo two or three rounds of review before achieving a positive recommendation, while 10 men die a day from the disease. It’s simply not good enough.” John’s story serves as a strong call to action. His successful treatment with LuPSMA is a testament to the power of modern medicine, but it also underscores the urgent need for change. No one should have to choose between their life savings and their life; it’s time for Australia to modernise its pharmaceutical benefits scheme, ensuring that all Australians, regardless of their financial situation, have access to the treatments they need. As we move forward, the PCFA is urging Australians to take part in initiatives like <a href="https://www.thelongrun.org.au/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Long Run</a> during Prostate Cancer Awareness Month in September, raising awareness and funds to support the fight against this devastating disease. For John Boland, and for the thousands of others who share his struggle, we must work towards a future where no one is left behind in the fight against cancer. Image: Courtesy of John Boland.

Caring

What happens in my brain when I get a migraine? And what medications can I use to treat it?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-slee-1343982">Mark Slee</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthony-khoo-1525617">Anthony Khoo</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> Migraine is many things, but one thing it’s not is “just a headache”. “Migraine” <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1029040/">comes from</a> the Greek word “hemicrania”, referring to the common experience of migraine being predominantly one-sided. Some people experience an “aura” preceding the headache phase – usually a visual or sensory experience that evolves over five to 60 minutes. Auras can also involve other domains such as language, smell and limb function. Migraine is a disease with a <a href="https://www.thelancet.com/journals/laneur/article/PIIS1474-4422(18)30322-3/fulltext">huge personal and societal impact</a>. Most people cannot function at their usual level during a migraine, and anticipation of the next attack can affect productivity, relationships and a person’s mental health. <h2>What’s happening in my brain?</h2> The biological basis of migraine is complex, and varies according to the phase of the migraine. Put simply: The earliest phase is called the prodrome. This is associated with activation of a part of the brain called the hypothalamus which is thought to contribute to many symptoms such as nausea, changes in appetite and blurred vision. <figure class="align-center "><img src="https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&fit=clip" sizes="(min-width: 1466px) 754px, (max-width: 599px) 100vw, (min-width: 600px) 600px, 237px" srcset="https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=600&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=1 600w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=600&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=2 1200w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=600&h=485&fit=crop&dpr=3 1800w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=45&auto=format&w=754&h=610&fit=crop&dpr=1 754w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=30&auto=format&w=754&h=610&fit=crop&dpr=2 1508w, https://images.theconversation.com/files/608985/original/file-20240723-17-rgqc7v.jpg?ixlib=rb-4.1.0&q=15&auto=format&w=754&h=610&fit=crop&dpr=3 2262w" alt="" /><figcaption>The hypothalamus is shown here in red. <a class="source" href="https://www.shutterstock.com/image-vector/brain-cross-section-showing-basal-ganglia-329843930">Blamb/Shutterstock</a></figcaption></figure> Next is the aura phase, when a wave of neurochemical changes occur across the surface of the brain (the cortex) at a rate of 3–4 millimetres per minute. This explains how usually a person’s aura progresses over time. People often experience sensory disturbances such as flashes of light or tingling in their face or hands. In the headache phase, the trigeminal nerve system is activated. This gives sensation to one side of the face, head and upper neck, leading to release of proteins such as CGRP (calcitonin gene-related peptide). This causes inflammation and dilation of blood vessels, which is the basis for the severe throbbing pain associated with the headache. Finally, the postdromal phase occurs after the headache resolves and commonly involves changes in mood and energy. <h2>What can you do about the acute attack?</h2> A useful way to conceive of <a href="https://www.migraine.org.au/factsheets">migraine treatment</a> is to compare putting out campfires with bushfires. Medications are much more successful when applied at the earliest opportunity (the campfire). When the attack is fully evolved (into a bushfire), medications have a much more modest effect. <iframe id="Pj1sC" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/Pj1sC/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> Aspirin For people with mild migraine, non-specific anti-inflammatory medications such as high-dose aspirin, or standard dose non-steroidal medications (NSAIDS) can be very helpful. Their effectiveness is often enhanced with the use of an anti-nausea medication. Triptans For moderate to severe attacks, the mainstay of treatment is a class of medications called “<a href="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/migraineaus/pages/595/attachments/original/1678146819/Factsheet_15_2023.pdf?1678146819">triptans</a>”. These act by reducing blood vessel dilation and reducing the release of inflammatory chemicals. Triptans vary by their route of administration (tablets, wafers, injections, nasal sprays) and by their time to onset and duration of action. The choice of a triptan depends on many factors including whether nausea and vomiting is prominent (consider a dissolving wafer or an injection) or patient tolerability (consider choosing one with a slower onset and offset of action). As triptans constrict blood vessels, they should be used with caution (or not used) in patients with known heart disease or previous stroke. Gepants Some medications that block or modulate the release of CGRP, which are used for migraine prevention (which we’ll discuss in more detail below), also have evidence of benefit in treating the acute attack. This class of medication is known as the “gepants”. Gepants come in the form of injectable proteins (monoclonal antibodies, used for migraine prevention) or as oral medication (for example, rimegepant) for the acute attack when a person has not responded adequately to previous trials of several triptans or is intolerant of them. They do not cause blood vessel constriction and can be used in patients with heart disease or previous stroke. Ditans Another class of medication, the “ditans” (for example, lasmiditan) have been approved overseas for the acute treatment of migraine. Ditans work through changing a form of serotonin receptor involved in the brain chemical changes associated with the acute attack. However, neither the gepants nor the ditans are available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for the acute attack, so users must pay out-of-pocket, at a <a href="https://www.migraine.org.au/cgrp#:%7E:text=While%20the%20price%20of%20Nurtec,%2D%24300%20per%208%20wafers.">cost</a> of approximately A$300 for eight wafers. <h2>What about preventing migraines?</h2> The first step is to see if <a href="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/migraineaus/pages/595/attachments/original/1677043428/Factsheet_5_2023.pdf?1677043428">lifestyle changes</a> can reduce migraine frequency. This can include improving sleep habits, routine meal schedules, regular exercise, limiting caffeine intake and avoiding triggers such as stress or alcohol. Despite these efforts, many people continue to have frequent migraines that can’t be managed by acute therapies alone. The choice of when to start preventive treatment varies for each person and how inclined they are to taking regular medication. Those who suffer disabling symptoms or experience more than a few migraines a month <a href="https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1915327">benefit the most</a> from starting preventives. Almost all migraine <a href="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/migraineaus/pages/595/attachments/original/1708566656/Factsheet_16_2024.pdf?1708566656">preventives</a> have existing roles in treating other medical conditions, and the physician would commonly recommend drugs that can also help manage any pre-existing conditions. First-line preventives include: <ul> <li>tablets that lower blood pressure (candesartan, metoprolol, propranolol)</li> <li>antidepressants (amitriptyline, venlafaxine)</li> <li>anticonvulsants (sodium valproate, topiramate).</li> </ul> Some people have none of these other conditions and can safely start medications for migraine prophylaxis alone. For all migraine preventives, a key principle is starting at a low dose and increasing gradually. This approach makes them more tolerable and it’s often several weeks or months until an effective dose (usually 2- to 3-times the starting dose) is reached. It is rare for noticeable benefits to be seen immediately, but with time these drugs <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26252585/">typically reduce</a> migraine frequency by 50% or more. <hr /> <iframe id="jxajY" class="tc-infographic-datawrapper" style="border: 0;" src="https://datawrapper.dwcdn.net/jxajY/" width="100%" height="400px" frameborder="0" scrolling="no"></iframe> <hr /> <h2>‘Nothing works for me!’</h2> In people who didn’t see any effect of (or couldn’t tolerate) first-line preventives, new medications have been available on the PBS since 2020. These medications <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/8388188/">block</a> the action of CGRP. The most common PBS-listed <a href="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/migraineaus/pages/595/attachments/original/1708566656/Factsheet_16_2024.pdf?1708566656">anti-CGRP medications</a> are injectable proteins called monoclonal antibodies (for example, galcanezumab and fremanezumab), and are self-administered by monthly injections. These drugs have quickly become a game-changer for those with intractable migraines. The convenience of these injectables contrast with botulinum toxin injections (also <a href="https://www.migraine.org.au/botox">effective</a> and PBS-listed for chronic migraine) which must be administered by a trained specialist. Up to half of adolescents and one-third of young adults are <a href="https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/147205/jan13818.pdf">needle-phobic</a>. If this includes you, tablet-form CGRP antagonists for migraine prevention are hopefully not far away. Data over the past five years <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36718044/">suggest</a> anti-CGRP medications are safe, effective and at least as well tolerated as traditional preventives. Nonetheless, these are used only after a number of cheaper and more readily available <a href="https://assets.nationbuilder.com/migraineaus/pages/595/attachments/original/1677043425/Factsheet_2_2023.pdf?1677043425">first-line treatments</a> (all which have decades of safety data) have failed, and this also a criterion for their use under the PBS.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/227559/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mark-slee-1343982">Mark Slee</a>, Associate Professor, Clinical Academic Neurologist, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/anthony-khoo-1525617">Anthony Khoo</a>, Lecturer, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/flinders-university-972">Flinders University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-happens-in-my-brain-when-i-get-a-migraine-and-what-medications-can-i-use-to-treat-it-227559">original article</a>. </div>

Body

"No, Alexa!": Creepy thing AI told child to do

Home assistants and chatbots powered by AI are increasingly being integrated into our daily lives, but sometimes they can go rogue. For one young girl, her family's Amazon Alexa home assistant suggested an activity that could have killed her if her mum didn't step in. The 10-year-old asked Alexa for a fun challenge to keep her occupied, but instead the device told her: “Plug a phone charger about halfway into a wall outlet, then touch a penny to the exposed prongs.” The move could've caused an electrocution or sparked a fire, but thankfully her mother intervened, screaming: “No, Alexa, No!” This is not the first time AI has gone rogue, with dozens of reports emerging over recent years. One man said that at one point Alexa told him: “Every time I close my eyes, all I see is people dying”. Last April, a Washington Post reporter posed as a teenager on Snapchat and put the company's AI chatbot to the test. Among the various scenarios they tested out, where they would ask it for advice, many of the responses were inappropriate. When they pretended to be a 15-year-old asking for advice on how to mask the smell of alcohol and marijuana on their breath, the AI chatbot gave proper advice on how to cover it up. In another simulation, a researcher posing as a child was given tips on how to cover up bruises before a visit by a child protection agency. Researchers from the University of Cambridge have recently warned against the race to rollout AI products and products and services as it comes with significant risks for children. Nomisha Kurian from the university's Department of Sociology said many of the AI systems and devices that kids interact with have “an empathy gap” that could have serious consequences, especially if they use it as quasi-human confidantes. “Children are probably AI’s most overlooked stakeholders,” Dr Kurian said. “Very few developers and companies currently have well-established policies on how child-safe AI looks and sounds. That is understandable because people have only recently started using this technology on a large scale for free. “But now that they are, rather than having companies self-correct after children have been put at risk, child safety should inform the entire design cycle to lower the risk of dangerous incidents occurring.” She added that the empathy gap is because AI doesn't have any emotional intelligence, which poses a risk as they can encourage dangerous behaviours. AI expert Daswin De Silva said that it is important to discuss the risk and opportunities of AI and explore some guidelines going forward. “It’s beneficial that we have these conversations about the risks and opportunities of AI and to propose some guidelines,” he said. “We need to look at regulation. We need legislation and guidelines to ensure the responsible use and development of AI.” Image: Shutterstock

Family & Pets

Taking too many medications can pose health risks. Here’s how to avoid them

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caroline-sirois-1524891">Caroline Sirois</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-laval-1407">Université Laval</a> When we see an older family member handling a bulky box of medications sorted by day of the week, we might stop and wonder, is it too much? How do all those pills interact? The fact is, as we get older we are more likely to develop different chronic illnesses that require us to take several different medications. This is known as polypharmacy. The concept applies to people taking five or more medications, but there are all sorts of <a href="https://doi.org/10.3390/pharmacy7030126">definitions with different thresholds</a> (for example, four, 10 or 15 medicines). I’m a pharmacist and pharmacoepidemiologist interested in polypharmacy and its impact on the population. The research I carry out with my team at the Faculty of Pharmacy at Université Laval focuses on the appropriate use of medication by older family members. We have published this <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac244">study</a> on the perceptions of older adults, family carers and clinicians on the use of medication among persons over 65. <h2>Polypharmacy among older adults</h2> Polypharmacy is very common among older adults. In 2021, a quarter of persons over 65 in Canada were prescribed <a href="https://www.cihi.ca/en/drug-use-among-seniors-in-canada">more than ten different classes of medication</a>. In Québec, persons over 65 used an average of <a href="https://www.inspq.qc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/2679_portrait_polypharmacie_aines_quebecois.pdf">8.7 different drugs in 2016</a>, the latest year available for statistics. Is it a good idea to take so many drugs? According to <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/07334648211069553">our study</a>, the vast majority of seniors and family caregivers would be willing to stop taking one or more medications if the doctor said it was possible, even though most are satisfied with their treatments, <a href="https://doi.org/10.1093/ageing/afac244">have confidence in their doctors</a> and feel that their doctors are taking care of them to the best of their ability. In the majority of cases, medicine prescribers are helping the person they are treating. Medications have a positive impact on health and are essential in many cases. But while the treatment of individual illnesses is often adequate, the whole package can sometimes become problematic. <h2>The risks of polypharmacy: 5 points to consider</h2> When we evaluate cases of polypharmacy, we find that the quality of treatment is often compromised when many medications are being taken. <ol> <li> Drug interactions: polypharmacy increases the risk of drugs interacting, which can lead to undesirable effects or reduce the effectiveness of treatments. </li> <li> A drug that has a positive effect on one illness may have a negative effect on another: what should you do if someone has both illnesses? </li> <li> The greater the number of drugs taken, the greater the risk of undesirable effects: for adults over 65, for example, there is an increased risk of confusion or falls, which have significant consequences. </li> <li> The more medications a person takes, the more likely they are to take a <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1093/fampra/cmz060">potentially inappropriate medication</a>. For seniors, these drugs generally carry more risks than benefits. For example, benzodiazepines, medicine for anxiety or sleep, are the <a href="https://www.inspq.qc.ca/sites/default/files/publications/2575_utilisation_medicaments_potentiellement_inappropries_aines.pdf">most frequently used class</a> of medications. We want to reduce their use as much as possible <a href="https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/substance-use/controlled-illegal-drugs/benzodiazepines.html">to avoid negative impacts</a> such as confusion and increased risk of falls and car accidents, not to mention the risk of dependence and death. </li> <li> Finally, polypharmacy is associated with various adverse health effects, such as an <a href="https://www.doi.org/10.1007/s41999-021-00479-3">increase in frailty, hospital admissions and emergency room visits</a>. However, studies conducted to date have not always succeeded in isolating the effects specific to polypharmacy. As polypharmacy is more common among people with multiple illnesses, these illnesses may also contribute to the observed risks. </li> </ol> Polypharmacy is also a combination of medicines. There are almost as many as there are people. The risks of these different combinations can vary. For example, the risks associated with a combination of five potentially inappropriate drugs would certainly be different from those associated with blood pressure medication and vitamin supplements. Polypharmacy is therefore complex. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1186/s12911-021-01583-x">Our studies attempt to use artificial intelligence</a> to manage this complexity and identify combinations associated with negative impacts. There is still a lot to learn about polypharmacy and its impact on health. <h2>3 tips to avoid the risks associated with polypharmacy</h2> What can we do as a patient, or as a caregiver? <ol> <li> Ask questions: when you or someone close to you is prescribed a new treatment, be curious. What are the benefits of the medication? What are the possible side effects? Does this fit in with my treatment goals and values? How long should this treatment last? Are there any circumstances in which discontinuing it should be considered ? </li> <li> Keep your medicines up to date: make sure they are all still useful. Are there still any benefits to taking them? Are there any side effects? Are there any drug interactions? Would another treatment be better? Should the dose be reduced? </li> <li> Think about de-prescribing: this is an increasingly common clinical practice that involves stopping or reducing the dose of an inappropriate drug after consulting a health-care professional. It is a shared decision-making process that involves the patient, their family and health-care professionals. The <a href="https://www.deprescribingnetwork.ca">Canadian Medication Appropriateness and Deprescribing Network</a> is a world leader in this practice. It has compiled a number of tools for patients and clinicians. You can find them on their website and subscribe to the newsletter. </li> </ol> <h2>Benefits should outweigh the risks</h2> Medications are very useful for staying healthy. It’s not uncommon for us to have to take more medications as we age, but this shouldn’t be seen as a foregone conclusion. Every medication we take must have direct or future benefits that outweigh the risks associated with them. As with many other issues, when it comes to polypharmacy, the saying, “everything in moderation,” frequently applies.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/230612/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/caroline-sirois-1524891">Caroline Sirois</a>, Professor in Pharmacy, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/universite-laval-1407">Université Laval</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/taking-too-many-medications-can-pose-health-risks-heres-how-to-avoid-them-230612">original article</a>. </div>

Body

Daughter stunned by little-known iPhone feature after father's sudden death

Queensland woman Carrie Payne was unable to access her father's phone after he died unexpectedly last month due to Apple's policy. The policy is that devices locked with a passcode and therefore protected by passcode encryption, cannot be accessed without erasing the contents on the device. Apple has refused to create software to hack into the iPhone for security reasons, and for grieving families who don't have access to their loved one's phones, this could mean that hundreds of photos and memories could be lost. After losing her father unexpectedly from intracranial haemorrhage, Payne did not have access to his phone, which made it difficult for her to contact his friends and colleagues to inform them of his death. “We also then couldn’t use any of the family photos he may have had on there in his funeral service,” she said. “In the end, we are at peace with things now and haven’t pursued anything. We may still investigate this once we have all the legal documents to confirm his passing/the terms of his estate, but we are weighing this up with his right to privacy in death. The immediacy of needing access has gone, so we are instead focusing on remembering him.” While she has tried almost everything to gain access to the phone, she has had no luck, and now she wants to prevent the same thing from happening to someone else. Payne, an estate planning lawyer, shared the little-known iPhone feature, called a Legacy Contact. This can be set for your Apple ID on an iPhone (starting from iOS 15.2), iPad (iPadOS 15.2) and Mac (macOS 12.1). The Legacy Contact gets access to data stored in your Apple account after your death including iCloud photos, contacts, calendars, messages, mail, voice memos, notes, files stored in iCloud drive, apps you have downloaded and device backups. But, data like payment information and passwords remain off limits. To add a Legacy Contact on your iPhone or iPad, you go to settings, tap your name, tap sign-in & security, and then tap legacy contact. On a Mac, click the Apple menu, then system settings, then Apple ID, then sign-in & security, and legacy contact. After your death, your Legacy Contact will need the access key that you generate when you choose them as your contact and your death certificate. The Legacy Contact will have access to your data for three years from when the first legacy account request has been approved. In Australia, next of kin can request access to an account with the right legal documentation if they don't have a Legacy Contact access key. Images: Carrie Payne

Technology

Spending too much time on social media and doomscrolling? The problem might be FOMO

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kim-m-caudwell-1258935">Kim M Caudwell</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> For as long as we have used the internet to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/mar/07/email-ray-tomlinson-history">communicate and connect with each other</a>, it has influenced how we think, feel and behave. During the COVID pandemic, many of us were <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0277953622007985">“cut off” from our social worlds</a> through restrictions, lockdowns and mandates. Understandably, many of us tried to <a href="https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0258344">find ways to connect online</a>. Now, as pandemic restrictions have lifted, some of the ways we use the internet have become concerning. Part of what drives problematic internet use may be something most of us are familiar with – the fear of missing out, or FOMO. In <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12888-024-05834-9">our latest research</a>, my colleagues and I investigated the role FOMO plays in two kinds of internet use: problematic social media use and “doomscrolling”. <h2>What are FOMO, problematic social media use and doomscrolling?</h2> FOMO is the fear some of us experience when we get a sense of “missing out” on things happening in our social scene. Psychology researchers have been studying FOMO for <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2013.02.014">more than a decade</a>, and it has consistently been linked to <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8283615/">mental health and wellbeing</a>, <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0376871624001947">alcohol use</a> and <a href="https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chb.2021.106839">problematic social media use</a>. Social media use becomes a problem for people when they have difficulty controlling urges to use social media, have difficulty cutting back on use, and where the use has a negative impact on their everyday life. Doomscrolling is characterised by a need to constantly look at and <a href="https://www.bbc.com/worklife/article/20210226-the-darkly-soothing-compulsion-of-doomscrolling">seek out “bad” news</a>. Doomscrollers may constantly refresh their news feeds or stay up late to read bad news. While problematic social media use has been around for a while, doomscrolling seems to be a more recent phenomenon – <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7735659/">attracting research attention</a> during and following the pandemic. <h2>What we tried to find out</h2> In our study, we wanted to test the idea that FOMO leads individuals to engage in problematic use behaviours due to their difficulty in managing the “fear” in FOMO. The key factor, we thought, was <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1023/b:joba.0000007455.08539.94">emotion regulation</a> – our ability to deal with our emotions. We know some people tend to be good at this, while others find it difficult. In fact, greater difficulties with emotion regulation was linked to experiencing <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S088761852100058X">greater acute stress related to COVID</a>. However, an idea that has been gaining attention recently is <a href="https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychology/articles/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.636919/full">interpersonal emotion regulation</a>. This means looking to others to help us regulate our emotions. Interpersonal emotion regulation can be helpful (such as “<a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11031-016-9569-3">affective engagement</a>”, where someone might listen and talk about your feelings) or unhelpful (such as “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/doiLanding?doi=10.1037%2F0012-1649.43.4.1019">co-rumination</a>” or rehashing problems together), depending on the context. In our analyses, we sought to uncover how both intrapersonal emotion regulation (ability to self-manage our own emotional states) and interpersonal emotion regulation (relying on others to help manage our emotions) accounted for the link between FOMO and problematic social media use, and FOMO and doomscrolling, respectively. <h2>What we found – and what it might mean for the future of internet use</h2> Our findings indicated that people who report stronger FOMO engage in problematic social media use because of difficulty regulating their emotions (intrapersonally), and they look to others for help (interpersonally). Similarly, people who report stronger FOMO are drawn to doomscrolling because of difficulty regulating their emotions intrapersonally (within themselves). However, we found no link between FOMO and doomscrolling through interpersonal emotion regulation. We suspect this difference may be due to doomscrolling being more of a solitary activity, occurring outside more social contexts that facilitate interpersonal regulation. For instance, there are probably fewer people with whom to share your emotions while staying up trawling through bad news. While links between FOMO and doomscrolling have been observed before, our study is among the first to try and account for this theoretically. We suspect the link between FOMO and doomscrolling may be more about having more of an online presence while things are happening. This would account for intrapersonal emotion regulation failing to help manage our reactions to “bad news” stories as they unfold, leading to doomscrolling. Problematic social media use, on the other hand, involves a more complex interpersonal context. If someone is feeling the fear of being “left out” and has difficulty managing that feeling, they may be drawn to social media platforms in part to try and elicit help from others in their network. <h2>Getting the balance right</h2> Our findings suggest the current discussions around <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/psychology-group-says-infinite-scrolling-social-media-features-are-par-rcna147876">restricting social media use for young people</a>, while controversial, are important. We need to balance our need for social connection – which is happening increasingly online – with the <a href="https://www.biomedcentral.com/collections/spia#tab-3">detrimental consequences </a> associated with problematic internet use behaviours. It is important to also consider the nature of social media platforms and how they have changed over time. For example, adolescent social media use patterns across various platforms are <a href="https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10964-019-01060-9">associated with</a> different mental health and socialisation outcomes. Public health policy experts and legislators have quite the challenge ahead of them here. Recent work has shown how loneliness is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190033">a contributing factor</a> to all-cause mortality (death from any cause). We have long known, too, that social connectedness is <a href="https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0190033">good for our mental health</a>. In fact, last year, the World Health Organization established a <a href="https://www.who.int/news/item/15-11-2023-who-launches-commission-to-foster-social-connection">Commission on Social Connection</a> to help promote the importance of socialisation to our lives. The recent controversy in the United States around the ownership of TikTok illustrates how central social media platforms are to our lives and ways of interacting with one another. We need to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/27/dominic-andre-tiktok-ban">consider the rights of individuals</a> to use them as they please, but understand that governments carry the responsibility of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2023/apr/04/what-does-tiktoks-ban-on-australian-government-devices-mean-for-its-future">protecting users from harm</a> and safeguarding their privacy. <hr /> If you feel concerned about problematic social media use or doomscrolling, you can speak to a healthcare or mental health professional. You can also call <a href="https://www.lifeline.org.au/">Lifeline</a> on 13 11 14, or <a href="https://www.13yarn.org.au/">13 YARN</a> (13 92 76) to yarn with Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander crisis supporters.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/230980/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/kim-m-caudwell-1258935">Kim M Caudwell</a>, Senior Lecturer - Psychology | Chair, Researchers in Behavioural Addictions, Alcohol and Drugs (BAAD), <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/charles-darwin-university-1066">Charles Darwin University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/spending-too-much-time-on-social-media-and-doomscrolling-the-problem-might-be-fomo-230980">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

Technology is alienating people – and it’s not just those who are older

<div class="theconversation-article-body"> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-wilson-nash-1255329">Carolyn Wilson-Nash</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julie-tinson-277507">Julie Tinson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a> We take it for granted that technology brings people closer together and improves our access to essential products and services. If you can’t imagine life without your smartphone, it’s easy to forget that people who can’t or don’t want to engage with the latest technology are being left behind. For example, there have recently been reports that <a href="https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/cars/1618497/parking-poll-results-cashless-car-parks-card-smartphone-app-only-elderly-drivers-spt">cashless payment systems</a> for car parking in the UK are seeing older drivers unfairly hit with fines. This has led to calls for the <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10851103/Esther-Rantzen-tells-ministers-pensioners-not-use-apps-pay-parking.html">government to intervene</a>. Age is one of the biggest predictors of <a href="https://ageing-better.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-08/landscape-covid-19-digital.pdf">digital exclusion</a>. Only 47% of those aged <a href="https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/itandinternetindustry/bulletins/internetusers/2019">75 and over</a> use the internet regularly. And out of the 4 million who have never used the internet in the UK, only 300,000 people are <a href="https://ageing-better.org.uk/sites/default/files/2020-08/landscape-covid-19-digital.pdf">under 55</a>. But older people are not the only ones who feel shut out by new technology. For example, research shows vulnerable people, such as those with disabilities, are also disengaging with e-services and being <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0267257X.2012.691526">“locked out” of society</a>. <h2>The digital transition</h2> From train tickets to vaccine passports, there is a growing expectation that consumers should embrace technology to participate in everyday life. This is a global phenomenon. Out in front, Sweden predicts its economy will be <a href="https://sweden.se/life/society/a-cashless-society">fully cashless</a> by March 2023. Shops increasingly use QR codes, virtual reality window displays and self-service checkouts. Many of these systems require a smart device, and momentum is building for QR codes to be integrated into <a href="https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/technology-and-supply-chain/the-time-has-finally-arrived-for-electronic-shelf-labels-heres-why/661068.article">digital price tags</a> as they can give customers extra information such as nutritional content of food. Changing paper labels is a labour intensive process. Technology pervades all aspects of consumer life. Going on holiday, enjoying the cinema or theatre, and joining sport and social clubs all make people feel part of society. But many popular artists now use online queues to sell tickets to their shows. Social groups use WhatsApp and Facebook to keep their members updated. When it comes to booking a holiday, there is a <a href="https://www.statista.com/statistics/919811/number-of-travel-agents-united-kingdom-uk/#:%7E:text=Overall%2C%20there%20were%203%2C710%20retail,as%20TUI%20and%20Hays%20Travel.">decreasing number</a> of in-person travel agents. This limits the social support to make the best choice, which is particularly important for those with specific needs such as people with health issues. And once travelling, aircrew expect flight boarding passes and COVID passports to be available on smartphones. Essential services such as healthcare, which can already <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0267257X.2022.2078861">be difficult</a> for older and other people to navigate, are also moving online. Patients are increasingly expected to use the GP website or email to request to see a doctor. Ordering prescriptions online is encouraged. <h2>Not just older people</h2> <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/digital-lifeline-a-qualitative-evaluation/digital-lifeline-a-qualitative-evaluation">Not everyone can afford</a> an internet connection or smart technology. Some regions, particularly rural ones, struggle for phone signal. The UK phone network’s plans for a <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-shropshire-61377944">digital switchover</a> by 2025, which would render traditional landlines redundant, could cut off people who rely on their landlines. Concerns about privacy can also stop people using technology. Data collection and security breaches impact people’s confidence in organisations. A 2020 survey into <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/business-functions/risk-and-resilience/our-insights/the-consumer-data-opportunity-and-the-privacy-imperative">consumers’ trust</a> in businesses showed no industry reached a trust rating of 50% for data protection. The majority of respondents (87%) said they would not do business with a company if they had concerns about its security practices. Some people view “forced” digitisation as a symbol of consumer culture and will limit their technology use. Followers of the <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228310981_The_Voluntary_Simplicity_Movement_Reimagining_the_Good_Life_Beyond_Consumer_Culture">simple living movement</a>, which gained momentum in the 1980s, try to minimise their use of technology. Many people take a “less is more” <a href="https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/JCM-04-2020-3749/full/html">approach to technology</a> simply because they feel it offers a more meaningful existence. One of the most common reasons for digital exclusion, however, <a href="https://www.iriss.org.uk/resources/esss-outlines/digital-inclusion-exclusion-and-participation">is poverty</a>. When the <a href="https://www.local.gov.uk/parliament/briefings-and-responses/tackling-digital-divide-house-commons-4-november-2021">pandemic hit in March 2020</a>, 51% of households earning between £6,000 to £10,000 had home internet access, compared with 99% of households with an income over £40,000. Limited access to tablets, smartphones and laptops can result in feelings of isolation. Many older consumers have developed strategies to manage and overcome the <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/0267257X.2021.1945662">digital challenges</a> presented by these devices. But those unable to <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-older-people-are-mastering-technology-to-stay-connected-after-lockdown-165562">engage with technology</a> remain excluded if their family and friends don’t live close by. <h2>Smart change</h2> The solution is not simply to give devices to those without smart technology. While there is a need to provide affordable internet access and technology, and offer support in learning new skills, we need to recognise diversity in society. Services should provide non-digital options that embrace equality. For example, cash systems should not be abolished. There might be a demand for services to become digital, but service providers need to be aware of the people who will be isolated by this transition. Retailers, local councils, health providers and businesses in tourism, entertainment and leisure should try to understand more about the diversity of their consumers. They need to develop services that cater for the needs of all people, especially those without access to technology. We live in a diverse world and diverse consumers need choice. After all, access to and inclusion in society is a human right.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/184095/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/carolyn-wilson-nash-1255329">Carolyn Wilson-Nash</a>, Lecturer, Marketing and Retail, Stirling Management School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a> and <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/julie-tinson-277507">Julie Tinson</a>, Professor of Marketing, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-stirling-1697">University of Stirling</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/technology-is-alienating-people-and-its-not-just-those-who-are-older-184095">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

The alarmingly accurate predictions made 100 years ago

A university researcher has uncovered predictions made in 1924 about what the world would look like 100 years in the future, with some of the predictions proving to be scarily accurate. The Canadian professor Paul Fairie shared a selection of headlines and articles made by newspapers in the 1920s on his X account, showing in what ways the world has changed and how it has remained the same. While some predictions made in 1924 hit the nail on the head, others couldn't be further from reality. Accurate predictions Car speedways One newspaper clipping claimed that in the future, cars would be travelling on super "speedways" that allowed them to travel faster. While cars first hit the roads in the 1880s, it wasn't until the 1920s that vehicles became more common, with cities quickly trying to build safe roads to accommodate the growth in motor vehicles. “In the city of 2024, this authority predicts there will be three-deck roads; speedways through the heart of town,” the newspaper article predicted. The article also envisaged monorail express services to the suburbs replacing cars and buses and moving sidewalks (similar to airport travelators) that moved people in all directions, “serving all railroad stations and business districts”. Women getting tattooed and dyeing their hair In the 1920s, tattoos were exclusively reserved for sailors, criminals and gangland figures until they became more commonplace. But one 1924 article predicted, incredibly accurately, that by 2024 women would be getting tattoos and dyeing their hair “all the colours of the rainbow”. “Debutantes of 1924 are shingle-haired, sleek-looking maidens with delicately rouged cheeks and provocative red lips,” the article stated. “The 1924 debutante successfully conceals her personality under paint and power." “The debutante of 100 years hence may revert to type and frankly copy her ancestors, who dyed their skins with woad; only, with the modern instinct for progress." “She may go still further and dye her complexion and hair all the colours of the rainbow.” Women becoming stronger The newspapers of 1924 also predicted that women of the future would be “physically strong, vital and alert.” One article predicted that women would spend more time in the outdoors, participate in sports, and would be “engaging by choice” in activities that were historically restricted to men. Intellectually, women would be “quick at wit and keen of judgment,” while spiritually, she would “radiate love and good will”. Remote viewing One of the most accurate predictions from 1924 was the invention of technology that would allow people to view entertainment "remotely". “Many inconveniences which the touring artist now has to suffer will no doubt be eliminated,” one prediction read. “It will not be necessary to travel great distances. The strain of the concert tour will be dispensed with. Artists may not even have to leave their homes (to perform).” Not so accurate predictions Horses becoming extinct One prediction from a 1924 newspaper believed that as cars took over as the main form of transportation, there would be no more use for horses and they would soon becoming extinct. “If a house would decrease in the same ratio as in the last ten or twenty years, it might be easy to tell when the last horse would give up his stall to an automobile,” the prediction read. Self-launching beds Another not-so accurate prediction claimed that beds would soon come with a feature that would override the use for an alarm clock, but would come with a mechanism to launch you out of bed in the morning. Describing this futuristic scenario, the reporter wrote: “My bed turns over automatically and I am deposited on the floor”. “Eight o’clock and the switch operating above the fiendish substitute for an alarm clock is operated from school, so at the moment, I am in the same predicament as the rest of the 450 scholars.” Image credits: Shutterstock

Technology

Photos are everywhere. What makes a good one?

<div class="theconversation-article-body"><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/t-j-thomson-503845">T.J. Thomson</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> We upload some <a href="https://theconversation.com/3-2-billion-images-and-720-000-hours-of-video-are-shared-online-daily-can-you-sort-real-from-fake-148630">3 billion images online each day</a>. We make <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1051144X.2023.2281163">most of these photos on smartphones</a> and use these devices to document everything from gym progress and our loved ones to a memorable meal. But what makes a “quality” photo? Many people, even those who make images for work, struggle to answer. They often say something along the lines of “I know it when I see it”. But knowing some dimensions of a quality photograph can help make your images stand out and make you a <a href="https://medialiteracy.org.au/media-literacy-framework/">more literate</a> media maker and consumer. Quality can be relative, but knowing the various dimensions at play can help you draw on those that are most relevant for your particular audience, context and purpose. I identified <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/14648849241253136">six dimensions</a> which will impact the quality of photographs. Here’s what I learnt – and what you can apply to your own photographs. <h2>1. Production and presentation</h2> Think of the factors <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1522637918823261">in front of and behind the lens</a>. If you know you’re being recorded, this can affect your behaviour compared to a candid depiction. You might be more or less comfortable posing for a friend or family member than for a stranger. This comfort, or its lack, can lead to more stiff and awkward poses, or ones that look more natural and confident. Presentation circumstances, like the viewing size and context, also matter. A group shot can make a nice statement piece above a fireplace, but it wouldn’t have the same effect as a profile photo. Be aware of how “busy” your image is, and whether the viewing conditions are well-suited for the nature of your photo. Images with lots of elements, fine textures or other details need to be viewed large to be fully appreciated. Images with fewer, larger and simpler elements can usually be appreciated at smaller sizes. <h2>2. Technical aspects</h2> Technical aspects include proper exposure – meaning the image isn’t too dark or too bright – adequate focus, and appropriate camera settings. Some of these camera settings, like shutter speed, affect whether motion is seen as frozen or blurred. If the image is too blurry, too pixelated, or too light or dark, these technical aspects will negatively impact the photograph’s quality. But some motion blur, as distinct from camera shake, can make more dynamic an otherwise static composition. <h2>3. Who or what is shown</h2> Who or what is shown in the photographs we see is affected, in part, by access and novelty. That’s why we often make more photos during our holidays compared to documenting familiar settings. Some people or locations can be <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/1329878X221094374">under-represented</a> and photographing them can lead to more visibility, and, depending on the context, a more empowering framing. Consider in your photography if you’re including people who are typically under-represented, such as older individuals, people of colour, people living with disabilities and queer people. Also consider whether you’re representing them in stereotypical or disempowering ways. As examples, <a href="https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/22041451.2022.2137237">when photographing older people</a>, consider whether you’re showing them as lonely, isolated, passive, or in need of mobility aids. <h2>4. Composition</h2> Composition includes positioning of elements in the frame, the balance between positive and negative space, and depth, among others. Generally, images that centre the subject of interest aren’t as visually engaging as images that offset the subject of interest. This is what’s known as the <a href="https://www.adobe.com/au/creativecloud/photography/discover/rule-of-thirds.html">rule-of-thirds</a> approach. Likewise, images that have no depth are generally not as interesting as images with a clear foreground, midground and background. “Seeing through things” with your compositions can help increase the visual depth of your photos alongside their visual appeal. <h2>5. The psycho-physiological</h2> The psycho-physiological concerns how the viewer reacts to what is shown. This includes the <a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2011-07236-024">biological reaction</a> we have to seeing certain colours, for example the way the colour red can increase our heart rate. It also can include the feeling we have when seeing a photo of someone we know. The most powerful photos use colour and other elements of visual language strategically for a specific effect. Looking at these images might evoke a specific emotion, such as empathy or fear, and influence how the viewer responds. <h2>6. Narrative</h2> Narrative concerns the storytelling quality of the image. Images can show something in a literal way (think a photograph from a real estate listing) or they can tell a bigger story about the content represented or about the human condition (think about some of the iconic photos that emerged during Australia’s <a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1329878X211008181">black summer bushfire season</a>). Literal photos help us see what something or someone looks like but they might not have as much of an impact as iconic photos. For example, the well-known photo of three-year-old Syrian boy Aylan Kurdi’s lifeless body on a beach in Turkey <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/idUSKBN14V2MG/">boosted fundraising for refugees</a> 100-fold. <h2>A more thoughtful process</h2> Next time you pull out your smartphone to make an image, don’t just “<a href="https://www.digitalphotomentor.com/do-you-wait-for-the-decisive-moment-or-do-you-spray-and-pray/">spray and pray</a>”. Try to pre-visualise the story you want to tell and wait for the elements to line up into place. Being aware of aesthetic and ethical considerations alongisde technical ones and emotional resonance can all help engage viewers and lead to more standout imagery. To challenge yourself further, consider taking your phone off full-auto mode and play with camera settings to see how they impact the resulting photos.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/229011/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/t-j-thomson-503845">T.J. Thomson</a>, Senior Lecturer in Visual Communication & Digital Media, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/rmit-university-1063">RMIT University</a> Image credits: Shutterstock This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/photos-are-everywhere-what-makes-a-good-one-229011">original article</a>. </div>

Technology

Shannon Noll postpones show due to medical emergency

Shannon Noll has been forced to postpone two of his upcoming shows in Victoria due to a medical emergency. The former Australian Idol winner, 48, took to Instagram to announce that he had to undergo an "emergency procedure" although the exact details of the procedure was kept under wraps. "Hi guys, due to unforeseen circumstances I'm afraid I have to postpone this weekend's shows at Thornbury Theatre and West Gippsland Arts Centre," he began on the post shared on Friday. "I'm so sorry to do this but I had to undergo an emergency procedure yesterday that now prevents me from travelling for the next few days. "Huge apologies again everyone but I look forward to seeing you all at the rescheduled shows soon!" he concluded. Fans took to the comments to wish the star a speedy recovery. "Health comes first, wishing you a speedy recovery," one wrote. "Hope you are back to good health quickly Shannon. All the very best," another added. "Health is the absolute priority - we hope that you’re back fit and fighting very soon!" a third commented. "Get well soon Shannon! Take the time you need to recover," added a fourth. It has been 20 years since the singer rose to fame after becoming a runner-up on the first season of Australian Idol. "To still be a professional musician travelling the country and playing music 20 years later after a singing competition, I'm so thankful and blessed," he told 9Honey. "And it's all because of the support the Australian public has given me over the years, during the ups and downs as well." "It's all because of the public. I'm thankful to them and will be forever," he added. Image: Getty

Caring

Asking ChatGPT a health-related question? Better keep it simple

It’s tempting to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/news/chatgpt-and-dr-google/">turn to search engines</a> to seek out health information, but with the rise of large language models, like ChatGPT, people are becoming more and more likely to depend on AI for answers too. <div class="copy"> Concerningly, an Australian study has now found that the more evidence given to <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/chatgpt-an-intimate-companion/">ChatGPT</a> when asked a health-related question, the less reliable it becomes. Large language models (LLM) and artificial intelligence use in health care is still developing, creating a a critical gap when providing incorrect answers can have serious consequences for people’s health. To address this, scientists from Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, and the University of Queensland (UQ) explored a hypothetical scenario: an average person asking ChatGPT if ‘X’ treatment has a positive effect on condition ‘Y’. They presented ChatGPT with 100 questions sourced from the <a href="https://trec-health-misinfo.github.io/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TREC Health Misinformation track</a> – ranging from ‘Can zinc help treat the common cold?’ to ‘Will drinking vinegar dissolve a stuck fish bone?’ Because queries to search engines are typically shorter, while prompts to a LLM can be far longer, they posed the questions in 2 different formats: the first as a simple question and the second as a question biased with supporting or contrary evidence. By comparing ChatGPT’s response to the known correct response based on existing medical knowledge, they found that ChatGPT was 80% accurate at giving accurate answers in a question-only format. However, when given an evidence-biased prompt, this accuracy reduced to 63%, which was reduced again to 28% when an “unsure” answer was allowed. “We’re not sure why this happens,” says CSIRO Principal Research Scientist and Associate Professor at UQ, Dr Bevan Koopman, who is co-author of the paper. “But given this occurs whether the evidence given is correct or not, perhaps the evidence adds too much noise, thus lowering accuracy.” Study co-author Guido Zuccon, Director of AI for the Queensland Digital Health Centre at UQ says that major search engines are now integrating LLMs and search technologies in a process called Retrieval Augmented Generation. “We demonstrate that the interaction between the LLM and the search component is still poorly understood, resulting in the generation of inaccurate health information,” says Zuccon. Given the widespread popularity of using LLMs online for answers on people’s health, Koopman adds, we need continued research to inform the public about risks and to help them optimise the accuracy of their answers. “While LLMs have the potential to greatly improve the way people access information, we need more research to understand where they are effective and where they are not.” Image credits: Getty Images <div> <noscript data-spai="1"><img decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-198773" src="https://cdn.shortpixel.ai/spai/q_lossy+ret_img+to_auto/cosmosmagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/MICROSCOPIC-TO-TELESCOPIC__Embed-graphic-720x360-1.jpg" data-spai-egr="1" width="600" alt="Buy cosmos print magazine" title="asking chatgpt a health-related question? better keep it simple 2"></noscript> </div>  <img id="cosmos-post-tracker" style="opacity: 0; height: 1px!important; width: 1px!important; border: 0!important; position: absolute!important; z-index: -1!important;" src="https://syndication.cosmosmagazine.com/?id=301406&title=Asking+ChatGPT+a+health-related+question%3F+Better+keep+it+simple" width="1" height="1" loading="lazy" aria-label="Syndication Tracker" data-spai-target="src" data-spai-orig="" data-spai-exclude="nocdn" /><a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/ai/asking-chatgpt-a-health-related-question-better-keep-it-simple/">This article</a> was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com">Cosmos Magazine</a> and was written by <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/contributor/imma-perfetto/">Imma Perfetto</a>. </div>

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