AI Agents, Trade Threats, Tax

By the Orchestra editors · 4 min read

TL;DR

Meta threatens trade action against Australia over proposed tech platform tax
Australian DTA issues first guidance on agentic AI risks in government
TSMC warns it can't keep up with AI chip demand, calling itself a potential bottleneck
CGT reform bills pass the House while startup impact questions loom in Senate estimates

Australian Tech

Meta threatens US trade action over Australia's proposed platform tax

Meta has accused Australia of breaching its free trade agreement with the US by proposing a 2.25% tax on tech platforms that don't strike licensing deals with local media. The company explicitly invoked the prospect of US trade action, escalating a dispute that's been simmering for five years.

DTA warns government agencies on agentic AI risks

The Digital Transformation Agency has published its first technical guidance on agentic AI, warning departments to keep humans in the loop to prevent cascading errors and uncontrolled execution chains. The guidance comes as more agencies experiment with AI agents for service delivery.

CGT reform bills pass the House, startup sector watches Senate

The Albanese government pushed two capital gains tax reform bills through the House of Representatives, but a showdown over their impact on startups and venture capital is brewing in Senate estimates.

AI · Worldwide

TSMC says AI demand is outstripping capacity

TSMC's CEO told shareholders that customer demand is so high the company risks becoming a bottleneck, even with its US factory buildout underway. The chip squeeze compounds existing memory shortages expected to last years.

UK regulators force Google to let publishers opt out of AI search

UK regulators will require Google to offer publishers a tool to opt out of generative AI search features like AI Overviews. The mechanism will be tested in the UK first, then rolled out globally, setting a precedent other markets may follow.