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🗞️ AI brain fry
A Boston Consulting Group study has identified AI “brain fry” as a fast-acting cognitive overload condition that increases major workplace errors by 40% and raises workers’ intention to quit by 39%.
Pick & Scroll News
July 07, 2026
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Good morning. Researchers drove a Tesla on Full Self-Driving around Queensland roads every day for more than 100 days and never once completed a trip without having to take over.
While it nailed the hard stuff with a precision most humans can't match, it also proceed to weave across a small bridge, misread school-zone times and nearly stopped on a railway crossing.
The conclusion was that autonomous cars are pretty much ready but our roads and traffic infrastructure need clearer lane markings and less ambiguous signage if we’re to go live.
All the headlines and more below...
THE REGULATOR INVESTIGATING KPMG WORKED THERE FOR 25 YEARS AND DIDN'T TELL HIS BOARD AN AUDIT PARTNER CALLED HIM
The head of the Tax Practitioners Board spent nearly a quarter-century at KPMG before becoming the person responsible for investigating whether the firm broke the law. Peter de Cure left in 2013. He's now confirmed the TPB has upgraded its KPMG data misuse probe to a formal investigation, but he didn't declare to his own board that a KPMG audit partner rang him about the scandal.
De Cure referred to the KPMG whistleblower as an aggrieved employee as recently as 2 weeks ago.
That's the same framing KPMG executives used internally and with clients to downplay allegations that have since been partly substantiated. The firm initially treated the whistleblower's disclosure as an HR issue, then apologised. De Cure says the comment was part of a "generic discussion" and doesn't reflect on whether the allegations are true. He's recused himself from the board committee that will decide on sanctions, but not from earlier stages. The call he didn't disclose came through his role as chair of the audit committee for Royal Flying Doctor Service SA/NT, which KPMG audits.
The TPB is the only regulator with power to investigate KPMG as a whole. It was central to exposing the PwC tax leaks scandal. Its former CEO, who led that work, was reassigned to a junior role at another agency late last year after 6 attempts to remove him. De Cure previously told parliament the KPMG matter wasn't a formal investigation because it appeared to involve audit work, not tax services.
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
Australia’s economy is growing at 2.5% with strong jobs, falling inflation and steady shares, yet consumer sentiment is rock bottom and voters are turning to Pauline Hanson. LINK
Australia has recorded the second highest core inflation among advanced economies, with trimmed mean at 3.6% and headline at 4% to May, increasing pressure on the RBA to lift rates. LINK
The ASX has listed a record 72 new ETFs in the past financial year, up from 50, as Australian ETF funds under management reach $350B. LINK
New research from IAB Australia and Pureprofile has found that 60% of online shoppers use AI tools, while 35% now shop online weekly compared to 29% in 2025. LINK
CBA has warned that falling house prices and stubborn inflation will slow Australia’s economy, with GDP growth seen at 1.5% and unemployment peaking at 4.8% by 2027. LINK
AI "BRAIN FRY" LINKED TO 40% JUMP IN MAJOR WORKPLACE ERRORS
A Harvard Business Review report on a Boston Consulting Group study has identified AI “brain fry” as a fast-acting cognitive overload condition that increases major workplace errors by 40% and raises workers’ intention to quit by 39%.
Workers using AI intensively report a buzzing sensation, mental fog and slower decision-making within single sessions. It's not burnout. It hits fast when working memory and attention systems are pushed past their limits by constant AI oversight.
Workers experiencing brain fry are 39% more likely to quit.
The condition appears when AI gets added on top of existing workloads without redesigning the work around it. 77% of employees say AI increases their workload, even as managers expect them to take on more responsibilities in return for automation handling lower-order tasks.
NSW passed the first Australian law in February naming algorithms and AI as explicit WHS risks. Under the Digital Work Systems Act, organisations are legally responsible if their AI systems create psychological harm through excessive demands or intrusive monitoring.
COMPANY NEWS
The ABC has updated its AI guidelines, signed a deal with Anthropic and begun trials of AI newswriting tools as experts warn misuse could damage audience trust. LINK
Target has staged a fashion-led turnaround among Australian women over 30 as Wesfarmers keeps it within the merged Kmart Group, despite apparel earnings remaining under pressure. LINK
Dexus estimated a $24M or 0.2% valuation decline across its 175-asset portfolio for the June half as office values fell 0.4% while industrial values rose 0.5%. LINK
Aristocrat has used AI to accelerate game production while keeping headcount stable, with Product Madness artists falling from 128 to 103 as annual creative assets rose from 8,000 to 14,000. LINK
Zeus Street Greek has sold a 65% stake to private equity firm Whiteoak Capital for $18.3M, as rising costs and competition drive its nationwide expansion funding needs. LINK
Receivers from FTI Consulting are negotiating with NAB, suppliers, freight forwarders and a third-party logistics provider owed money to unlock stock and fulfil stranded Stax customer orders. LINK
Residents at more than 50 Arcare aged care facilities have launched a federal court class action alleging illegal daily “additional services fees” were charged for unusable or already mandated services. LINK
Novartis has agreed to acquire London-based cancer therapy biotech Myricx for over US$1.5B as Brandon Capital and Australian super funds are set to receive more than $300M. LINK
Bet365 accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from AUSTRAC to overhaul its anti-money laundering systems after an investigation found serious gaps, with breaches attracting civil penalties. LINK
2026 AUSCORP SALARY SURVEY
Since late 2022, your employer can no longer stop you discussing your pay. But most people still have no idea what the person next to them earns. We're trying to fix that.
This is our biggest survey yet and the more people who contribute, the harder it gets for anyone to be underpaid without knowing it. Anonymous, takes 2 minutes, and the results go straight back to the community.
ONE MORE SCROLL
Editor’s Pick: Harry Styles has set a Guinness World Record for the longest residency by a musician at Wembley Stadium with 12 shows in a single run, surpassing Coldplay and Taylor Swift. LINK
Draft Pick: Charles Leclerc has taken a dramatic British Grand Prix victory for Ferrari as a late crash for Max Verstappen brought out a Safety Car and a car issue dropped Mercedes’ Kimi Antonelli to P16. LINK
Doctor’s Pick: Leading causes of death in Australia. LINK
BRAINTEASER
If it takes 5 machines exactly 5 minutes to make 5 widgets, how long would it take 100 machines to make 100 widgets?
Answer below
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ANSWER
5 minutes. (It takes exactly one machine 5 minutes to make one widget. Therefore, 100 machines working simultaneously will also take 5 minutes to make 100 widgets).
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