Universities embrace AI as an essential skill
UNSW has announced plans to give all students access to ChatGPT Edu, following a trial period and initial rollout to staff and select courses. ChatGPT Edu is OpenAI’s version of ChatGPT for universities, giving students and staff access to more advanced AI tools. UNSW says it will be used across learning, research and industry projects, reflecting the growing role AI is expected to play in future careers. The university was also the first in Australia to partner with OpenAI on ChatGPT Edu in 2025.
The announcement comes as other universities make similar moves. The University of Sydney announced within days of UNSW that all students and staff will receive free access to ChatGPT Edu across teaching, research and university operations. It shows how AI is becoming a more regular part of university life, with institutions preparing students to use the technology in their future working lives.
There are still questions about the role AI should play in higher education, particularly whether greater use of tools like ChatGPT could reduce opportunities for critical thinking and independent learning. Others argue that AI has a place in education, but needs clear expectations around how it is used in study and research with strict protections on data.
Memes become a corporate communications tool
Instagram’s decision to include memes alongside traditional media assets in product announcement packs shows how brands are changing the way they communicate with audiences online. Rather than relying on polished product content alone, platforms are using internet culture and humour to make updates feel more familiar, shareable and relevant.
It’s part of a wider move away from the traditional corporate approach to communications. As it gets harder to hold people’s attention, brands are thinking more about how their content will actually land with the people they’re trying to reach.
PepsiCo recently demonstrated how brands are borrowing creator-style content and trend-led storytelling to communicate major business updates. The company teased a significant brand refresh announcement using a social format that felt native to Instagram and aligned with how audiences typically consume content online.
For communicators, the shift shows that brands don’t always need to stick to traditional corporate formats to get a company message across. Memes are becoming useful ways to explain updates and make them feel more relevant to how people consume content online.
Backlash highlights the impact of shock value marketing
The strong response to Sydney Sweeney’s Novig campaign shows how quickly attention-grabbing creative can become a reputational challenge. While provocative advertising has long been used to cut through media clutter, the backlash from prominent female athletes has been widely supported online, with many echoing concerns about the ad’s portrayal of women in sport.
The response has come from female athletes in Australia and overseas, including Olympian swimmer and English sprinter Amy Hunt, who have publicly criticised the campaign. Hunt’s declaration, “Sydney Sweeney, this is what women in sport look like,” sparked a social movement that captured the sentiment behind much of the ad’s criticism and in contrast to it, accurately represent female athletes.
While Novig may have been aiming for wide-spread awareness through this campaign, the response from female athletes has created a powerful counter-narrative, with women in sport uniting to highlight the strength, commitment and skill behind their achievements and chosen field.
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