Good morning future-focused leaders.

Over 130 aged care professionals have already registered for the free online session next week that focuses on responsible AI use in aged care operations. The session includes a practical framework, a customisable AI policy template, and a step-by-step guide. With AI tools being used (and misused) across the sector, now’s the time to get clear on what good practice looks like—before things get too creative. Make sure you attend, if you haven’t registered yet. 

What else we cover this week:

• Australia’s AI landscape—examining the political push and regulatory gap

• Spreadsheets made simple—how AI can save you hours in Excel

• Virtual assistant pilot—Silverchain trials AI voice calls for home care

• New AI scams—why you and your team need to be vigilant 

• Microsoft’s diagnostic AI outperforms doctors on complex cases

• AI boosts brain scan accuracy in neurodegenerative diagnosis

• And more...

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ON THE HORIZON

🦘 The Australian political landscape: AI adoption accelerates while regulation lags

Australia’s political and industry leaders are increasingly supportive of AI development, but with minimal regulatory intervention for the time being. The federal government (as Treasurer Jim Chalmers indicated last month) is leaning towards an industry-led framework, with Industry Minister Tim Ayres warning that the country has “no alternative” but to embrace AI. The Opposition leader Sussan Ley has also taken a position in favour of AI. At the same time, many political analysts call for a proactive strategy that prioritises social cohesion over rapid technological adoption.

Pressure is mounting from business, with the Business Council of Australia calling for urgent action to avoid falling behind global competitors (which is timely, as Australia’s productivity growth ranking 27th amongst 31 rich countries in 2023). At the same time, the Productivity Commission has launched an inquiry into AI’s economic implications. 

Australia’s aged care sector should prepare for increased AI integration driven by industry momentum and government support, with little (immediate) regulatory constraint. With national leaders and business groups urging rapid adoption, providers will need to balance innovation with internal governance to ensure ethical and effective implementation.

READY TO USE TODAY

📊 Spreadsheets, but with less stress, thanks to AI

In brief: AI chatbots like ChatGPT are transforming the way we work with spreadsheets, making tools like Excel and Google Sheets easier to use, even for beginners. I thought, with the beginning of the financial year, this is a timely article as to how to use AI with Excel.

The details:

• Structured data: ChatGPT can instantly convert unstructured data (like PDFs) into clean spreadsheet tables or CSV files.

• Formula support: ChatGPT helps write, debug, and explain spreadsheet formulas in plain English, saving time and frustration.

• Learning tool: Whether it's VLOOKUP, pivot tables or ImportXML, AI can acts as a tutor.

• Flexibility: Works across platforms—Excel, Google Sheets, and others—and supports various input formats (text, images, PDFs).Decrease in use of physical restraints and pressure ulcers in residents.

Why it matters: Spreadsheets are essential, but many of us find them frustrating (cough, couch). AI tools like ChatGPT can simplify most processes process: turning messy data into clean tables, decoding formulas, and help you learn. And with free AI chatbots available, these upgrades are within everyone's reach.

ON THE HORIZON

🤖 AI takes the call – Silverchain pilots virtual assistant in WA

In brief: Starting last month, Silverchain is piloting an AI-powered virtual assistant in Western Australia to streamline appointment scheduling and improve communication with home care clients.

The details:

• The pilot is a collaboration between Silverchain and Queensland-based medtech company Talius.

• The assistant, CuriousThing, can confirm, reschedule, or postpone appointments via voice calls.

• It has been co-designed with Silverchain to suit the needs of older adults and their carers.

• The three-month trial begins in June and aims to inform a broader national rollout.

• Silverchain expects improvements in client satisfaction, reduced scheduling issues, and increased efficiency.

• The tool is part of a larger push to make home care more proactive and person-centred.

Why it matters: Appointment scheduling and communication are ongoing challenges in aged care. Silverchain’s pilot of an AI voice assistant is aiming to streamline these processes and empower clients to manage their own appointments. The trial reflects the different ways that automation can be used in aged care to handle routine tasks and improve operational efficiency.

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🔊 Turn documents into voiceovers with ElevenReader – This new app by ElevenLabs lets you convert reports, PDFs, articles—even newsletters—into lifelike audio. Whether you need to “read” a research paper, a report, or policy brief before a meeting, you can now listen instead. One of the features is GenFM, which turns any text into a podcast-style conversation between two AI hosts. The app is quite similar to NotebookLM which I have featured previously, but its main advantage is that it comes with a Mobile App version which makes it easier to use.

⚠️ AI tools are now being used to create fake emails, websites, and even people –making online scams harder to spot and more convincing. Be particularly vigilant when visiting login pages, as any login page can now be spoofed in only a few minutes. Think ATO, your bank, your organisation’s intranet. Staying alert to these tactics is key to protecting both personal data and organisational systems.

🧬 Microsoft has unveiled MAI-DxO, a new diagnostic AI system built with OpenAI's latest model – In testing, it outperformed unaided physicians on complex cases from the New England Journal of Medicine, solving over 80%. While more healthcare than aged care, imagine how such tools could support remote older Australians—bringing specialist insight to places where doctors are scarce.

🎯 Researchers introduced StateViewer – an AI tool trained on over 3,600 FDG-PET brain scans to help clinicians diagnose nine neurodegenerative diseases. It significantly improved diagnostic accuracy, with clinicians over three times more likely to make correct diagnoses using the tool.

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