Latest news with #AnthonyShiner
West Australian
4 days ago
- Business
- West Australian
Telco partnership opens AI-powered search to the masses
Millions of Australians will be offered unlimited access to an AI-powered search engine in a move that could spark fresh competition among artificial intelligence platforms. Optus launched the deal with US firm Perplexity on Monday, becoming the first local telecommunications provider to package premium AI subscriptions with its plans. The move mirrors deals in other countries but also comes after the Business Council of Australia called for action to boost the development of AI regulation, support and training to turn the nation into a global AI leader by 2028. Optus will give small business and individual customers access to Perplexity Pro for 12 months under the deal, which chief customer officer Anthony Shiner said could boost the number of Australians using the technology. "AI take-up in Australia is quite low," he told AAP. "Knowing that AI, in some parts of the world, is being offered free to all citizens ... the time is right here in Australia for us to partner with a high-quality product and start the journey of revolution that we think AI will bring into everyday lives." More than half of Australians have used generative AI services (54 per cent), according to a survey by Deloitte Insights, but its reach is significantly higher in the Asia Pacific region (67 per cent). Rather than offer a chatbot service like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini, Perplexity will deliver a web search engine that can tap into other AI models for answers. Users will be able to ask the service complex queries with follow-up questions, Perplexity business vice-president Ryan Foutty said, or set it tasks such as creating a travel itinerary or coding a basic game. Search results appear alongside their sources of information, he said, but were not presented with advertisements and links, offering users a different type of online experience. "People want a simple, easy-to-use experience that's not cluttered like traditional search has been but also is not influenced by who is willing to pay the most amount of money to get in front of you," he said. "We're excited about Australia because historically we've seen Australia be very early to adopt new technology." Perplexity AI launched a similar deal through a partnership with Optus' parent company Singtel in Singapore and with German provider Deutsche Telekom in January. Rival AI provider Google has offered subscriptions to its Gemini chatbot through Samsung and its own smartphones in the past, while Apple teamed with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into its AI platform. Optus' announcement comes after the Business Council of Australia called for the nation to seize the opportunity presented by artificial intelligence technology and introduce support, training and regulations to encourage its use.
Perth Now
4 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Telco partnership opens AI-powered search to the masses
Millions of Australians will be offered unlimited access to an AI-powered search engine in a move that could spark fresh competition among artificial intelligence platforms. Optus launched the deal with US firm Perplexity on Monday, becoming the first local telecommunications provider to package premium AI subscriptions with its plans. The move mirrors deals in other countries but also comes after the Business Council of Australia called for action to boost the development of AI regulation, support and training to turn the nation into a global AI leader by 2028. Optus will give small business and individual customers access to Perplexity Pro for 12 months under the deal, which chief customer officer Anthony Shiner said could boost the number of Australians using the technology. "AI take-up in Australia is quite low," he told AAP. "Knowing that AI, in some parts of the world, is being offered free to all citizens ... the time is right here in Australia for us to partner with a high-quality product and start the journey of revolution that we think AI will bring into everyday lives." More than half of Australians have used generative AI services (54 per cent), according to a survey by Deloitte Insights, but its reach is significantly higher in the Asia Pacific region (67 per cent). Rather than offer a chatbot service like OpenAI's ChatGPT or Google's Gemini, Perplexity will deliver a web search engine that can tap into other AI models for answers. Users will be able to ask the service complex queries with follow-up questions, Perplexity business vice-president Ryan Foutty said, or set it tasks such as creating a travel itinerary or coding a basic game. Search results appear alongside their sources of information, he said, but were not presented with advertisements and links, offering users a different type of online experience. "People want a simple, easy-to-use experience that's not cluttered like traditional search has been but also is not influenced by who is willing to pay the most amount of money to get in front of you," he said. "We're excited about Australia because historically we've seen Australia be very early to adopt new technology." Perplexity AI launched a similar deal through a partnership with Optus' parent company Singtel in Singapore and with German provider Deutsche Telekom in January. Rival AI provider Google has offered subscriptions to its Gemini chatbot through Samsung and its own smartphones in the past, while Apple teamed with OpenAI to incorporate ChatGPT into its AI platform. Optus' announcement comes after the Business Council of Australia called for the nation to seize the opportunity presented by artificial intelligence technology and introduce support, training and regulations to encourage its use.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Optus to hike prices for Aussie customers in second blow in a year: 'Will receive an email or SMS'
Optus is hiking the price of its monthly mobile phone plans for customers. The telco giant cited investments in its network and technology as the reasons behind the price hike. Australia's second-biggest telco will increase the price of some mobile plans by between $2 and $6 per month from June 4, 2025. The price hike was revealed in an email to customers, which covers some of the telco's popular Choice, Choice Plus and Business Mobile Plus plans. Optus managing director of customer solutions Anthony Shiner told Yahoo Finance the price increases would support the telco's commitment to keeping Australians connected and allow it to 'continue to invest in improving the speed, coverage and reliability of our network, as well as enhancing technology'. RELATED Woolworths shopper's simple trick to get $70 off grocery bill each month: 'Really easy' ATO warning for every Aussie who plays lottery after $70 million Oz Lotto jackpot Pay rise coming for half a million Aussies after 'landmark' ruling: 'Up to 35 per cent' 'Any device payments customers are currently paying will remain the same,' Shiner said. 'Customers whose plans are changing will receive an email or SMS message explaining the changes.' Optus will also increase data inclusions for impacted customers with increases of between 20GB to 40GB per month, depending on the plan."Data inclusions will also be increasing so customers can continue browsing, streaming and enjoying their favourite activities on their mobile devices," Shiner said. 'Optus understands that many of our customers are coping with a range of increases in expenses and for customers in need, or who just have questions, our team is here to help." The change means Aussies on the telco's cheapest postpaid plan, the small Optus Choice Plus plan will see prices increase from $52 to $55 a month. This will still be cheaper than Telstra's mobile plans, which start at $65 per month for 50GB. Vodafone plans start at $39 per month for the first 12 months, $49 per month thereafter, for 100GB, normally 50GB of data. Optus last increased its postpaid phone plans in August last year, with plans increasing by $3 or $6 per service. It cited 'increasing costs' required to maintain and provide its in to access your portfolio
