👋 Good morning from Shenzhen, a city that lives in the future!

Over the past week in Shenzhen, I tested exoskeletons, stair-climbing wheelchairs, and had a robot make me coffee with my face printed on it. I've been driven by driverless taxis, watching the steering wheel turn itself through busy intersections whilst I sat there stressed in the back seat. I arrived at each destination only a few minutes late, as my autonomous cars politely gave way to EVERY human driver. At Talent Park, I watched drones descending with food delivery orders for people picnicking. (I have attached a photo in this week’s main article).

Shenzhen lives in the future. And whilst I'll admit I'm the type who enjoys chatting with everyone, including baristas and taxi drivers, I can’t deny the excitement of what I‘ve been experiencing. And I appreciated the city’s commitment to innovators, as inscribed in Talent Park: “Encourage innovation and tolerate failure.”

PS 1: The newsletter is a little shorter today as I’m packing my bags for the next leg of my trip.

PS 2: Today is the last chance to fill out the survey and help me out! Please tap the banner below, it will only take you 3 minutes. 🙏

What we cover this week:

CHINA INSIGHTS

Japan spent over $300 million developing care robots over two decades. By 2019, only 10% of elder care institutions were using them—many purchased devices sat unused. The problem was that they didn't save labour. They just changed its nature, with staff spending less time with residents and more time managing machines.

China faces similar workforce pressures but is taking a different approach—strategic industrial policy that encourages innovation whilst preventing the market from flooding with nearly identical products.

Australia risks making our own distinct mistakes. We're paralysed by regulatory caution, treating logistics solutions like stair-climbing wheelchairs the same as social companion robots. Meanwhile, technologies proven across Europe and North America face unnecessary delays entering our market.

There's a straightforward solution—but it requires understanding what each country is getting right and wrong.

Read Part II of China Insights

For last week’s article on China’s Direct Tech Subsidy, click here

TECH FOR AGED CARE

I recently met Dr Mandy Salomon from Mentia Health, and we had an excellent discussion about technology and dementia care. Her team has developed CarePlay, a video game designed to train aged care staff in understanding and responding to behavioural changes caused by dementia.

The game offers interactive scenarios with virtual residents. Each character has their own history and personality (like Mr Roberts, a retired Marine who resists clothing changes and plays loud music). Players must observe, respond, and learn that their choices have immediate consequences, mirroring real-world care situations.

What makes this work is the trial-and-error approach. There's no single "correct" solution to each scenario, just as there isn't in actual care settings. Staff learn communication techniques that de-escalate tension rather than heighten it, building skills through practice in what participants describe as a "safe space" without real-world risk.

Read the full interview with Dr Salomon here to learn more about how CarePlay was developed and why games might be the future of dementia care training.

ON THE HORIZON

Lutheran Services Queensland are trialling Smilo.ai, an AI-powered app that delivers instant dental checks using a smartphone. Staff photograph a resident's mouth, AI analyses the images, then a dentist reviews and generates a detailed report with treatment recommendations. The 12-month trial across 11 Queensland sites includes staff training on oral health best practices. (Story featured on page 38 of Ageing Australia's Aged Care Today magazine)

OpenAI has released ChatGPT Atlas (only available for macOS at the moment, with the Windows and Android versions coming soon) with ChatGPT integrated into its core functionality. Atlas includes an Agent Mode that allows ChatGPT to open tabs, fill forms, and complete tasks under user supervision, and a memory function that retains context about sites, topics, and previous tasks across browsing sessions. Practically, when you need something, you just ask the browser. For example

Every Tuesday I’m looking into some of the changes shaping ageing and aged care, and sharing ideas you can apply in practice. Whether you’re exploring AI tools, rethinking services, or looking ahead to what’s coming, I hope you found something here worth your time.

If this issue was useful, share it with your team or contacts.

See you next Tuesday,
George