Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the biggest strategic investments for major companies.

Sean Aylmer speaks with Telstra CFO Michael Ackland, fresh from winning the Investor Engagement Excellence Award at the CFO Awards, about how the telco is using AI to improve customer service, increase productivity and train its workforce, while avoiding the risk of over-investing in a rapidly evolving technology.

Artificial intelligence is quickly becoming one of the biggest strategic investments for major companies. Sean Aylmer speaks with Telstra CFO Michael Ackland, fresh from winning the Investor Engagement Excellence Award at the CFO Awards, about how the telco is using AI to improve customer service, increase productivity and train its workforce, while avoiding the risk of over-investing in a rapidly evolving technology.

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Business news you can use. A daily business news podcast with journalists <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0wu3ezGEfBZFYspJbTTaYL">Sean Aylmer</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw08pZ8jZ88rHJgCfbHkTr5k">Michael Thompson</a>.&nbsp;Find out more at&nbsp;<a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain%3Dfearandgreed.com.au/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1689199223540000&amp;usg=AOvVaw1DLq_FuqjEt3HC-ZK1704H">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Fear and Greed is Australia's most popular business podcast.

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Fear & Greed Q+A

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist Sean Aylmer and Michael Thompson. Find out more at https://fearandgreed.com.au

Daily business news for people who make their own decisions, with business journalist <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-aylmer-9922068/">Sean Aylmer</a> and <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mcwthompson/">Michael Thompson</a>. Find out more at <a href="https://protect-au.mimecast.com/s/7AmQCOMxmAtl5q0qiE-KY7?domain=fearandgreed.com.au/">https://fearandgreed.com.au</a>

Q+A: Telstra’s AI strategy explained

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/201296e9-cd95-4407-a0f2-b40b00c871bd/transcript

Australia’s FY26 reporting season looked reasonably strong on the surface, with aggregate profits rising by around 11.6%. But underneath the headline numbers, the recovery was much narrower - and investors were often more interested in what companies said about FY27 than the profits they had just reported.

Michael Thompson speaks with Roger Montgomery, founder and Chief Investment Officer at Montgomery Investment Management, about his 10 lessons from reporting season. They discuss why consumers are still spending but demanding value, expensive bank valuations, the limits of cost-cutting, opportunities in healthcare and why stock selection is becoming increasingly important.

This is general information only, and you should seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.

Australia&rsquo;s FY26 reporting season looked reasonably strong on the surface, with aggregate profits rising by around 11.6%. But underneath the headline numbers, the recovery was much narrower - and investors were often more interested in what companies said about FY27 than the profits they had just reported. Michael Thompson speaks with Roger Montgomery, founder and Chief Investment Officer at Montgomery Investment Management, about his 10 lessons from reporting season. They discuss why consumers are still spending but demanding value, expensive bank valuations, the limits of cost-cutting, opportunities in healthcare and why stock selection is becoming increasingly important. This is general information only, and you should seek advice tailored to your circumstances before making investment decisions.

Q+A: The 10 lessons from reporting season

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/9fa7d885-2787-4dd4-af0d-b4b700cc2c1f/transcript

This is the Fear & Greed Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.


ASX dips on talk of US rate hike


Monash IVF profit plunges


Hanson accuses PM of inciting violence


Music giants sue Anthropic


15-metre rugby flyover raises eyebrows

Join our free daily newsletter here.

This is the <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/">Fear &amp; Greed</a> Afternoon Report - everything you need to know about what happened in the markets, economy and world of business today, in just a few minutes.
<ol>
<li aria-level="1">
ASX dips on talk of US rate hike
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Monash IVF profit plunges
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Hanson accuses PM of inciting violence
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
Music giants sue Anthropic
</li>
<li aria-level="1">
15-metre rugby flyover raises eyebrows
</li>
</ol>
Join our <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">free daily newsletter here</a>.

Afternoon Report | ASX dips; music giants sue Anthropic

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/8c0f012a-f96d-48f9-b773-b4b7007060ea/transcript

Monday 31 August 2026

August earnings season wraps up, with profit growth rebounding, but wariness about the year ahead. 
One Nation’s win in a state by-election sends the major parties scrambling
The US strikes a deal for partial control of Venezuela’s oilfields
Auction clearance rates soften as we head into spring
Australia Post warns we could be heading to weekly deliveries and $4 stamps.

 

Hit follow on the podcast so you don’t miss the latest news, and join our free daily newsletter here. 

 

And don’t miss the latest episode of How Do They Afford That?- are you taking the right amount of risk? Get the episode from Apple, Spotify or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Monday 31 August 2026
August earnings season wraps up, with profit growth rebounding, but wariness about the year ahead.&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">One Nation&rsquo;s win in a state by-election sends the major parties scrambling</li>
<li aria-level="1">The US strikes a deal for partial control of Venezuela&rsquo;s oilfields</li>
<li aria-level="1">Auction clearance rates soften as we head into spring</li>
<li aria-level="1">Australia Post warns we could be heading to weekly deliveries and $4 stamps.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Hit follow on the podcast so you don&rsquo;t miss the latest news, and join our free <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/newsletter-signup">daily newsletter here</a>.&nbsp;
&nbsp;
And don&rsquo;t miss the latest episode of <a href="https://fearandgreed.com.au/how-do-they-afford-that-sugar-mamma-canna-campbell/">How Do They Afford That?</a> - are you taking the right amount of risk? Get the episode from <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/how-do-they-afford-that/id1644255235">Apple</a>, <a href="https://open.spotify.com/show/1EW5WRlRh7MovSBNkk6dG8?si=b2203ec2fa934a14">Spotify</a> or anywhere you listen to podcasts.

Profit growth rebounds; One Nation’s by-election blitz; $4 stamps on the way

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/2fb3740d-3436-44af-8cc0-a91900716aa5/clips/6e33ffba-7599-40b4-af7d-b4b600d2d96d/transcript

Q+A: Telstra’s AI strategy explained

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