Good morning future-focused leaders.

I’m sure we’ve all witnessed how quickly people develop rapport with AI systems. It feels like there’s a new article about it every week (1), (2). I recently came across one that gave this tendency a name: the ELIZA Effect.

The term dates back to the 1960s, when Joseph Weizenbaum created ELIZA, the first chatbot. Despite being little more than a script reflecting people’s words back, users became emotionally invested. They confided in the program and perceived empathy where there was none.

Today’s AI is far more sophisticated, which makes the ELIZA Effect even stronger. In care settings, this tendency carries particular weight. We need to remain mindful of it and ensure that ethics guides every step of AI development.

PS: On a separate note, thank you to Jess Sharkie for bringing the report on GenAI transition to my attention. I write about it further down in the newsletter.

What else we cover this week:

• Australia's new GenAI workforce report and aged care

• The ultimate ChatGPT modes and integrations guide

• Upcoming sessions on AI

• Top tools for turning images into marketing videos

• Bill Gates launches $1M AI prize for Alzheimer’s research

• Deep dive course: Microsoft’s Power Up Program

• And more...

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ON THE HORIZON

👷‍♂️ What the latest Aus Gov AI report means for aged care

In brief: The Australian government's latest report, "Our GenAI Transition: Implications for Work and Skills" (Jobs and Skills Australia) examines the entire labour market, but its implications for aged care are particularly significant given the sector's unique challenges. The report refers to aged care directly in places, but I have taken a closer look at its broader findings and consider what they mean for our sector.

You can read my full article here, or see below for the gist:

The details:

• Adoption is early and uneven, with larger providers testing AI while many smaller organisations lag behind; as we have seen before in this newsletter, staff use AI informally, without policy guidance.

• Workforce training must lift digital literacy while also strengthening critical thinking, communication, and ethical judgement to ensure safe oversight of AI outputs.

• Entry-level and clerical jobs will change, with tasks shifting from admin to supervising AI.

• Organisational adaptability will determine success, requiring co-designed approaches with staff and practical, short-form training linked to real-world practice.

• Aged care should be treated as a national priority for AI capability development because of its direct impact on people’s lives, safety, and dignity.

• The sector cannot afford to wait; preparation and structured conversations must begin now to keep pace with fast-moving technology.

Why it matters: The AI transformation of aged care isn't a Jetsons episode any more. It's happening right now, in ways both visible and invisible. What this report makes clear is that we have a choice in how this unfolds. I'm cautiously optimistic, but only if we act with genuine intention and urgency. The organisations that will thrive are those that recognise this isn't just about technology—it's about people, relationships, and the fundamental values that drive good care.

READY TO USE TODAY

🛠️ An all-in-one guide to ChatGPT’s modes and connectors

In brief: Many ChatGPT users are unaware of the full range of modes and integrations available. I started putting this guide together myself, but then I noticed that technologist Kendra Ramirez has already done an excellent job with that. She has put together a clear, practical guide that explains what each mode does, when to use it, and how to stay mindful of privacy.

Her article covers:

• Uploading and working with files like PDFs, Word docs, and spreadsheets.

• Using Agent Mode to automate multi-step workflows.

• Running Deep Research for sourced analysis and market insights.

• Creating images directly inside ChatGPT.

• Connecting cloud apps (Google Drive, Gmail, Teams, Dropbox, Notion, etc.).

• Special actions such as tutoring, web search, Canvas for structured writing, dictation, voice mode, and screen sharing.

Why it matters: It’s a comprehensive resource for anyone wanting to push beyond the basics and make ChatGPT a genuine productivity tool.

^{COMING UP}

🧩 THIS WEEK | Free webinar: your AI roadmap for aged care
Aged care providers are turning to AI—but many face uncertainty when implementing it. This free webinar on 28 August introduces a practical toolkit to guide safe, smart AI integration under the new Support at Home model. All attendees receive templates, tools, and planning resources to take back to their teams.

📍 Hosted by Ageing Australia & AI Adoption in Aged Care Workgroup
🛠️ Includes a 5-part AI toolkit
📅 Register now

🎤 NEXT WEEK |  Invox’s National CHSP Conference 2025: AI & the Human at the Centre
Only 3 weeks to go for Invox’s CHSP Conference in Melbourne (4–5 Sept). The conference promises to bring together sharp minds, innovators, and sector leaders for two days of practical insights and strategy. On the first day (4 September) I’ll be presenting on AI in Aged Care—looking at tools, ethics, and why people need to stay at the centre. If you’re attending, connect with me on LinkedIn and let’s meet in person!

📍 In-person & online
📅 See the program and register

^{QUICK HITS}

🎬 Image-to-video tools are one of 2025’s most exciting AI breakthroughs. With just a single image and a prompt, creators can now generate moving scenes — no camera crew or editing suite required. The potential for aged care marketing is significant, with the ability to showcase diverse casts and settings — all without the usual production costs. If you (or your marketing team) are just getting started, Solan Sync has released a helpful guide comparing the top platforms. With dozens of tools on the market, choosing the right one is critical.

🫣 In a bold essay, Mustafa Suleyman (CEO of Microsoft AI) warns that AI could soon seem conscious — and that illusion may be enough to cause real harm. While these systems won’t actually be conscious, they’ll talk like they are — with memory, personality, and emotion. People may begin treating them like sentient beings, leading to psychosis risks, moral confusion, and political division. His message to AI developers is to avoid marketing AI as conscious and to build AI “for people, not to be a person.”

🧠 Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates is funding the Alzheimer’s Insights AI Prize, a $1M competition to develop AI that can analyse decades of Alzheimer's research data and accelerate discoveries. The competition is seeking AI agents that autonomously plan, reason, and act to “accelerate breakthrough discoveries”, and the winning tool is to be made freely available to scientists around the world.

🎓 For anyone craving a real challenge, Microsoft’s Power Up Program is a free, comprehensive course designed to teach low-code and AI skills—even with no coding background. Expect to spend around 6 hours a week over 2 months learning to build real-world solutions using AI tools. It’s a serious commitment, but if you're looking to future-proof your skills, this might be the opportunity for you.

I'm not here to hype AI. I'm here to help you understand it, use it, and learn as it evolves. Whether you're testing a new tool, using it to lighten your workload, or keeping pace with the changes, I hope you found something here worth your time.

Feel free to forward this to your network or share it with your team.

See you next Tuesday,
George