Hopeful signs on AI regulation and social media

August 29, 2026 — 8:00pm Photo: Matt GoldingTo submit a letter to The Age, email letters@theage.com.au. Please include your home address and telephone number. No attachments, please include your letter in the body of the email. See here for our rules and tips on getting your letter published.Hopeful signsThe government’s proposed and already legislated actions against AI and social media platforms have been powerfully vindicated by two developments. First, Bill Gates, while acknowledging the enormous potential of AI (“Gates warns global leaders on risks of AI to humanity”, 28/8), identifies many potential dangers due to its “mind blowing” rate of advance. He acts as an industry whistleblower declaring that big business will actively resist government actions to slow or rein in its advance,