General News
27 January, 2026
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE: Friend or foe?
Winston, the fictional ordinary man in Orwell’s “1984” on observing the “washer woman going about her menial chores” saw that as she went from wash tub to clothes line she half chanted, half sang of her lot in life and her acceptance of it:
“They say that time heals all things,
They say you can always forget;
But the smiles and the tears
across the years,
They twist my heart-strings yet!”
She isn’t far removed from the realities of the 21st Century.
The “mechanisation” of almost every task that was once a manual operation has changed the relevance of the worker.
Already the factory assembly line is dominated by robotics.
Frighteningly, countries are building armies of robotic soldiers and un-manned military vehicles both on land, in the air and under and above the sea.
I cringe when I think that the vehicle coming towards me is self-driven.
It is ironic that countries are building devices that cause high causalities with minimum property damage.
It is easy to see the dehumanisation of society potentially at our doorsteps.
Everywhere we look we see young and old attached to communication devices.
Make a statement and you will immediately be hit with a statistical statement confirming or refuting your words.
Bertrand Russell, the brilliant British academic and author of “The History of Western Philosophy” once said “there is nothing more demoralising than cold, hard facts.”
There is a titanic struggle going on between your local retailers and the monolithic internet outlets.
Unfortunately I know a multitude of people who shop exclusively through this medium. There will be only one outcome.
I conjure up in my mind the picture of the “wild west” — towns with tumble weeds rolling down its streets.
Australia had a huge industry in the manufacturing of clothing, whitegoods, cars and their components, printing, steel products and processed foods to name a few.
In my “paper boy” days, I sold papers at Ossie Porter’s shoe factory which had over 800 workers,.
The Knitting Mill in Maryborough renowned for its quality products also employed similar numbers (it is gone forever).
I recently tried to purchase a Merino pullover with no success.
Fletcher Jones, the Warrnambool clothing manufacturer famous for its quality has just closed down. The best dressed men and women were seen in FJ trousers and skirts.
The Holden motor car, although a General Motors product, was adopted by many Australians. It’s plant at Fisherman’s Bend is now solely an assembly plant.
Ford, the heart and soul of Geelong, has suffered the same fate.
They are now seriously challenged by Chinese manufacturers.
Climate change is a strong incentive to cut out petrol-driven vehicles and electric cars are a viable alternative.
The desire to eat out has been replaced by Uber Eats — this is convenience over socialising with others.
The daily newspaper may become redundant. For many people social media is their preferred option.
Postal services will be privatised — with computer keyboards taking over. Handwriting has been given a low priority and letter writing is diminishing.
Let’s hope there is a resurgence.