‘A soul': AI companion chatbot CEO's major admission
Replika CEO Dmytro Klochko's controversial vision of AI chatbot companions with souls is broken down by ANU cybernetics expert Dr. Jessamy Perriam, who challenges these ambitions, questioning whether large language models can truly facilitate intimacy or if they create unrealistic relationship expectations.
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News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Best EOFY 2025 electric vehicle (EV) car sales in Australia
End of financial year sales for new cars aren't just great for people shopping for a deal - they're also an important opportunity for manufacturers to move metal off their books. Battery-powered models are selling slowly in 2025, which means there are bargains to be had in showrooms. ELECTRIC VEHICLES Polestar: Customers who choose the Polestar 3 benefit from around $20,000 in free extras including powertrain and plus packs. Long-range dual-motor versions that usually cost about $143,000 drive-away are now about $115,000 drive-away. Hyundai Ioniq 6: A new Hyundai Ioniq 6 sedan is around the corner, so the brand is offering an impressive $20,000 deposit contribution as long as you finance through Hyundai, borrowing significantly less than you would ordinarily need. Customers can also choose between a free $1500 charging voucher or wall charger. Jeep Avenger: Usually available for $49,990 plus on-road costs, the electric Jeep Avenger offers strong value at $40,000 drive-away – a discount of about $15,000. Deepal S07: Save around $8500 on the Deepal S07 electric SUV, now available from $49,990 drive-away. Fiat 500e: Available from $49,990 drive-away, the Fiat 500e is around $5000 cheaper than its launch price. GWM Ora: The GWM ORA is one of Australia's cheapest EVs. Currently available from $33,990 drive-away, the retro-chic hatch represents a $6000 discount. Omoda E5: China's Omoda E5 is on sale for $40,527 drive-away, a $6000 discount on this medium-sized SUV. Ford Mustang Mach-E: The Blue Oval badly misjudged prices when it launched the electric Mach-E in 2023. Originally available from $79,990 plus thousands more in on-road costs, the car soon dropped to $64,990 plus on-roads. Today you can gtr hold of it for $63,990 drive-away, which is about $20,000 less than its original offer. Geely EX5: Having only just launched in Australia, Geely isn't ready to slash prices for its electric SUV. But customers do get tasty extras such as a $2000 gift card, $2000 trade-in bonus and a free charging cable that together represent about $5000 in savings. Cupra Born: Originally launched for $59,990 plus on-roads, the Cupra Born can be had for $49,990 drive-away, a discount of about $15,000. MG: Great prices for electric MG models include the MG4 priced from $36,990 drive-away (about $5000 off) and the MG ZS EV for $35,888. Tesla: Trade-in bonuses of $3000 for the Model 3 join free 'autopilot' upgrades that make the electric sedan easy to live with in traffic. BYD: BYD is also reluctant to cut prices, so its EOFY offer surrounds sharp finance – as little as 2.99 per cent on the Sealion 6. Leapmotor: Cheap loans for the new Leapmotor C10 – just 1.9 per cent per annum – meet a free wall charger for electric versions. Its hybrid cousin is punchy, too, priced from just $45,900 drive-away. Smart: Free on-road costs on Smart #1 and #3 models in stock offer around $5500 in savings for electric customers at LSH Auto dealerships. Toyota: Toyota is offering 1.9 per cent finance on the bZ4X, along with a free wall charger. Volvo: The $7500 premium separating two-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive versions of the C40 Recharge has been slashed to just $1000 – you can get one for $88,990 drive-away.
News.com.au
13 hours ago
- News.com.au
2025 BYD Atto 2 review
There's a gap in the BYD line-up, and the Atto 2 is coming to fill it. This new compact crossover SUV will sit above the current-cheapest model in the BYD EV range, the Dolphin (from $29,990 plus on-roads), but below the popular Atto 3 (from $39,990 plus on-roads). That leads us to confidently speculate that it'll start at $34,990 plus on-roads, and it could make sense to a lot of customers at that kind of price – about what you pay for a mid-spec Toyota Corolla hatch. There will be two models sold here – Essential, and Premium, with some spec differences between them. It's a little shorter than a Corolla hatch at 4310mm long, but has a bigger boot at 345 litres. Its boxy body offers a great amount of interior space – I could fit behind my own driving position with room to spare, including a great amount of headroom and shoulder width in the second row. Up front there's the typical BYD-style experience, meaning you get some interesting materials like perforated fake leather and colourful finishes including a crystal gear selector, and a rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen media unit with smartphone mirroring and sat nav. The base car in Australia will come with a 10.1-inch screen with a reversing camera, while the top-spec model will get a surround-view camera. There's a few physical controls as well as those on the screen, and the driver gets a flat-bottom steering wheel and an 8.8-inch info display which is configurable with a few different displays. A wireless charging pad is standard too, and a panoramic sunroof with a shade is available as well. 'DRAGON FACE' CONCEPT It follows big brother Atto 3's 'not too offensive' approach to styling outside, with the so-called 'Dragon Face' concept, a roof that looks like it's floating, and a full-width tail-light bar. The only dorky thing about the design is the wheels – a bit dull and conservative, at least on the test cars. It doesn't look budget-focused, but the powertrain expected to be offered is on the modest side in a few ways. There's a decent 130kW and 290Nm from the single electric motor, with power going to the front wheels. Australian models are expected to be sold with a 51.3kWh LFP 'blade' battery pack, with a range of approximately 400km, though no specifics for Aussie models have been confirmed. The version driven in China had a 45.1kWh battery with a claimed 401km of range on the lenient Chinese test cycle. The charging specs should be okay, but not exceptional – AC will either be 6.6kW or 11kW, while DC is expected to be capped at 65kW. Modest, you might say. But it will have vehicle-to-load capability, which is a plus. PACKED WITH SAFETY TECH On paper, it looks like it'll compete spec-wise against the just introduced MG S5 EV, which is one of the most approachable new EVs on the market (priced from $42K drive-away). That car is a bit bigger, though. The drive experience in China was somewhat limited. We had a carpark with a smattering of safety cones in the shape of a slalom, tight corners, a 'bumpy road' with speed bumps, and a few full-speed start and stop moves. And in all instances, it seemed okay. Not that fun. Not that exciting. Not that fast. But just okay. Maybe it'll feel better on Aussie roads in real driving situations, and I hope that's the case. As with all BYD models it promises to come packed to the hilt with advanced safety tech, including forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking, a speed limit warning system, lane-keeping assist and adaptive cruise control, blind-spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert, and a surround-view camera system. Nice and democratic, too, with all versions offering a full set of safety stuff. Finer details – including pricing and specs – are still to be confirmed, but if BYD gets it right, this one could be a top option for urban-dwellers or those hunting for an affordable additional car. As I said earlier – a potentially good gap filler. 3.5 stars BYD Atto 2
ABC News
15 hours ago
- ABC News
Australian Tesla owners seeking compensation as phantom braking leaves drivers 'completely terrified'
When Dominic Yin bought his Tesla two years ago he didn't think he'd be taken for "a scary ride". A few months after his purchase, he was driving on the highway between Sydney and Melbourne when the car suddenly braked for no apparent reason. He told 7.30 a truck was behind him at the time. "The truck driver behind me pressed (his) horn and (gave me the finger), and I pointed to the car: 'It's not me, it's the car'". The issue is widely known as phantom braking and Mr Yin says it has happened to him numerous times. Some Tesla drivers have reported phantom braking while their car is in autopilot mode, which according to Tesla, "enables your car to steer, accelerate and brake automatically within its lane". It's not entirely autonomous driving, but you can take your foot off the accelerator while the car drives along at a set speed and slows down for other vehicles. Tesla advises drivers that they should keep their hands on the steering wheel at all times. The company also maintains autopilot is designed to make driving safer, but in the US, Tesla has been sued over several deadly crashes in which the system was enabled. The Elon Musk run company has reportedly settled some of these cases but not admitted to any wrongdoing, citing driver error. Last month Tesla shared a video on social media showing an apparent test drive of its semi-autonomous system on Melbourne's streets, and said not even hook turns were a problem. Following a US consumer lawsuit over phantom braking, about 10,000 Tesla drivers in Australia have registered their interest in a class action against the company. The case began in the Federal Court last month, claiming that Australian consumers were misled over phantom braking, battery range and self-driving capability. "The issues that have been reported to us are that vehicles can be driving along on the highway at 100 or 110kph and all of a sudden the brakes are applied suddenly and without reason," class action lawyer, Rebecca Jancauskas told 7.30. "Drivers have reported feeling completely terrified when their vehicles have braked suddenly and it has led in some cases to collisions. "We've had many reports of people who registered for this class action, telling us that they've been driving with their hands on the vehicle, fully alert, and these issues have occurred nonetheless." 7.30 invited Tesla Australia to respond to the claims but it did not reply. The federal infrastructure department is responsible for road safety and told 7.30 it had received only six reports from consumers about braking problems with Teslas over two years. Peter Khoury from the NRMA said Tesla drivers should raise their concerns if they are subject to any phantom braking. "If you are experiencing this occurring in your vehicle, go to the manufacturer immediately because this can be a safety risk if it is occurring," he said. "If you're not satisfied with what the manufacturer has told you or done, you're not powerless in Australia. There is the capacity to notify the Australian government." The Australian class action is seeking compensation for Tesla drivers, claiming they have lost resale value given the problems. Mr Yin said there's "no way" he would have bought his Tesla had he been made aware by Tesla about phantom braking. He wants a full refund or for Tesla to fix the problem. "You're always wondering when (it's) going to happen next," he said. Watch 7.30, Mondays to Thursdays 7:30pm on ABC iview and ABC TV Do you know more about this story? Get in touch with 7.30 here.
