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How a Small Aussie AI Player is Fighting Silicon Valley’s ‘Slop’

The Australian

ENRICHED

Description

A $20m Brisbane-based company claims to have cracked AI’s biggest flaw after discovering every major model gives the same ‘random’ answer.

Summary

This reporting examines a Brisbane-based startup, Springboard, which claims to have addressed a fundamental flaw in major Large Language Models related to deterministic and repetitive outputs, often referred to as 'digital slop.' By identifying patterns where frontier models provide identical 'random' answers, the company aims to enhance the reliability and diversity of AI-generated content. These findings touch on technical safety and robustness by highlighting inherent biases and limitations in the architectures of globally dominant AI models. The development suggests a growing sovereign capability in Australia to audit and improve the performance of frontier AI systems against industry-standard benchmarks.

Body

How a small Aussie AI player is fighting Silicon Valley’s ‘slop’A $20m Brisbane-based company claims to have cracked AI’s biggest flaw after discovering every major model gives the same ‘random’ answer. All your news for a great price Unlock this story and more with your subscription Digital Access What’s included Unlimited access on app & web A digital version of Today’s paper Daily puzzles & Mind Games Complimentary access to The Wall Street Journal Subscriber-exclusive newsletters & early access to tomorrow’s front pages Pay As You Go No lock-in contract $1 a week for 4 weeks($4 min. cost). Then $44 charged every 4 weeks.* *Read the fine print The Australian Digital subscription costs $4 charged for a duration of 4 weeks, after which it automatically renews to $44 charged every 4 weeks. Renewals occur unless cancelled as per full Terms and Conditions. Each payment, once made, is non-refundable, subject to law. Not in conjunction with any other offer. New customers only. Prices after any early discounted periods may be varied as per full Terms and Conditions. See www.theaustralian.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. 12 Month Plan Lock in & save $7 a week for the first 12 months($364 min. cost) charged as $28 every 4 weeks. Then $28 charged every 4 weeks.* *Read the fine print The Australian Digital 12 Month Plan costs $364 (min. cost) for the first 12 months, charged as $28 every 4 weeks. This automatically renews after the first 12 months to be charged as $28 (min. cost) every 4 weeks unless cancelled as per full Terms and Conditions. No cancellations during the first 12 months. Each payment, once made, is non-refundable, subject to law.  Not in conjunction with any other offer. Prices after the first 12 months may be varied as per full Terms and Conditions. Seewww.theaustralian.com.au/subscriptionterms for full details. Benefits of Full Digital Access Unlimited access Expert news and commentary, accessible anytime on web & app. Today’s paper Swipe through the digital newspaper, liftouts, and archive. Newsletters Be in the know with subscriber-exclusive news emails. The Wall Street Journal Enjoy complimentary access to The Wall Street Journal. Mind Games Play daily crosswords, sudoku and more with Mind Games. Unlimited access Expert news and commentary, accessible anytime on web & app. Today’s paper Swipe through the digital newspaper, liftouts, and archive. Newsletters Be in the know with subscriber-exclusive news emails. The Wall Street Journal Enjoy complimentary access to The Wall Street Journal. Mind Games Play daily crosswords, sudoku and more with Mind Games. Subscribe Other subscription options Print + Digital Subscriptions Corporate Subscriptions One bundle. Three trusted sources. Subscribe today to access quality journalism in one powerful digital bundle View offers View offers The voices you trust to tell the stories that matter Meet some of the fearless, curious, world-class journalists of The Australian. They cut through spin, verify facts and tell the full story from many viewpoints – bringing clarity when it counts and insight you can rely on, every day. Vesna Poljak Business Editor Vesna Poljak has over two decades of experience in Australian business journalism, specializing in the investment industry, hedge funds and accounting. She has covered financial services, transport and infrastructure, magazine writing, commentary, podcasts, and events. Hedley Thomas National Chief Correspondent Hedley Thomas, an award-winning investigative journalist, focuses on legal issues, corruption, and politics. He's won eight Walkleys and is famed for his true crime podcasts "The Teacher’s Pet" and "Bronwyn". Claire Harvey Editorial Director Claire Harvey is Editorial Director of The Australian and hosts the daily news podcast The Front. She has been a foreign correspondent, deputy editor, columnist and reporter for over 30 years. Claire is a leading innovator in digital storytelling. Caroline Overington Literary Editor Caroline Overington, a celebrated Australian writer and journalist, is a two-time Walkley winner. She's authored 16 books, hosted true crime documentaries, and topped Audible charts with her thrillers. As literary editor for The Weekend Australian Review, she now champions fellow writers. Simon Benson Political Editor Simon Benson, an award-winning journalist, has been The Australian's Political Editor and National Affairs Editor. He was also the Daily Telegraph’s NSW political editor and led the NSW Press Gallery. Your Selection: $0 Your Selection – Change selection Today’s Total $0 Read the fine print Terms and Conditions Sorry, we are unable to process your request at this time. Please try again later.