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🗞️ AI for dating
The founder of Hinge has raised $18 million for a new AI dating service called Overtone, funded in part by Match Group, which owns Hinge, Tinder and OkCupid.
Pick & Scroll News
July 15, 2026
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Good morning. The founder of Hinge has raised $18 million for a new AI dating service called Overtone, funded in part by Match Group, which owns Hinge, Tinder and OkCupid.
There are no profiles, no swiping and no algorithmic feeds, just voice-based conversations with an AI that decides who's worth introducing you to.
The man who built the swipe economy now says people are burnt out by it, which is a clever way to sell the cure.
All the headlines and more below…
AUSTRALIAN NEWS
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has created a new Office of AI within his department as he unveils a single national AI framework and tighter expectations for data centres. LINK
Telstra has opened a dedicated hotline for small businesses to seek compensation for revenue lost during last week’s nationwide outage as many customers report significant income hits. LINK
Super Consumers Australia has found major super funds are failing basic customer service standards in a 1,000-call test averaging 49.9% satisfaction, prompting renewed calls for mandatory service rules. LINK
Australian critical infrastructure is being probed by Russian state-backed hackers exploiting something basic - devices that are still running on factory-default passwords. LINK
ATLASSIAN CUTS EQUITY REFRESH GRANTS, MOVES TO CASH AFTER 70% SHARE PRICE DROP
Atlassian told staff Tuesday it will no longer issue annual equity refresh grants - shares given during performance reviews to retain top performers - and will instead pay a mix of cash and equity, or cash only, depending on role and performance. The move follows a 70% share price drop over 12 months, driven by investor fears that AI tools like Claude and ChatGPT will make its flagship products obsolete.
Employees who exceed expectations will now receive 50% equity and 50% cash. Those who meet expectations get 100% cash. Staff who don't meet expectations receive nothing. Some roles will move to 100% cash permanently. Base salaries, annual adjustments and existing equity awards are unaffected.
The company also moved all Australian staff into its highest pay zone, delivering a pay rise to several hundred remote workers outside NSW, Victoria and the ACT. Atlassian cut 1,600 staff in March, citing AI's impact on skill requirements, and posted an adjusted profit of US$456.5M for the quarter to March 31, beating estimates.
COMPANY NEWS
Telstra, CBA, Ashurst Perkins Coie and Deloitte are funding a 3-year University of Sydney study into workplace AI impacts. LINK
KPMG is preparing to cut at least several hundred jobs and reduce partner pay by up to 20% as the audit leaks scandal and weaker demand hit its FY26-27 outlook. LINK
Origin Energy has been ordered by the ACCC to refund $270,000 to more than 4,500 customers after its Ongoing Saver electricity plan charged higher prices than its Basic plan. LINK
Endeavour is pursuing a radical cost-cutting overhaul, selling wineries and axing grape production. LINK
IBM warned that Q2 revenue will be US$17.2B, up just 1% year-on-year, as shifting corporate spending and AI pressures trigger a 25% share slump. LINK
A US judge has dismissed a proposed class action against Apple over child sexual abuse material on iCloud, ruling Section 230 immunises the company from US$32.8B in claimed damages. LINK
Former employees have sued Meta Platforms in a US federal court alleging its AI-driven layoff selection unlawfully discriminated against 26 workers with medical-related absences. LINK
AXS has taken over ticketing for Sydney’s 100-year-old Hordern Pavilion from next month, ending a more than 20-year relationship between operator Playbill Venues and Ticketek. LINK
McPherson's has warned of FY26 asset impairments of $15M to $20M and a revenue slump to $115M to $120M as CEO Brett Charlton faces an ASIC court case. LINK
TOGETHER WITH
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TRIVIA
Today, you need to put the below events in chronological order (and guess the year if you're that way inclined):
Wall St Journal founded
First solar powered flight
Atlantis space shuttle launched
Last bare knuckle heavyweight flight
Spice Girls release, 'Wannabe'
Answers below
OUR SOCIALS
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ANSWERS
1889 - Last bare knuckle heavyweight flight
1889 - Wall St Journal founded
1981 - First solar powered flight
1996 - Spice Girls release, 'Wannabe'
2011 - Atlantis space shuttle launched
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