TechRadio Best of 2017

Technology news and interviews from Ireland, brought to you by the team at TechCentral.ie.

Tech Radio Ireland

This week we have a look at the big security stories of 2021 with Patrick O'Callaghan of Kontex and take a look at the new Google Pixel 6 and the all-new MacBook Pro.

The year in security with Kontex's Patrick O'Callaghan

On this week's show brought to you by Logicalis in association with IBM, Winston Heeren looks at cyber resilience and the lessons that have been learned from a year of high-profile cyber attacks. Back in the studio Niall and Dusty talk about the pressure we experience when trying to keep on top of our DMs, e-mails and anything else that comes your way.

Logicalis' Winston Heeren on cyber resilience

On this week's show Niall and Dusty look at what Ireland was Googling in 2021, as usual there are more than a few surprises. Sam Mayne from Vipre also sits down to discuss his company's ongoing challenge with hybrid working across territories with different restrictions in place.

VIPRE's Sam Mayne on working across territories

On this week's show Niall and Dusty await the latest on Twitter and bid farewell to the fax machine and Google Hangouts. In more serious news we talk with University College London's Dr Nikolas Pontikos about his project Eye2Gene, a device that can help identify rare eye diseases at the genetic level.

Tech Radio

Dr Nikolas Pontikos on the genetics of eye disease

On this week's packed show Niall and Dusty fly through the stories of the week, including a new threat from fake hacktivists, Australia takes on Twitter's hate speech problem, and Spotify's podcasting woes continue.
We are also joined by senior Lecturer in Artificial Intelligence at UCD Professional Academy Mark James to talk about 'AI literacy'.

UCD Professional Academy's Mark James on AI literacy

This week Niall and Dusty look at proposed measures to retain user data - any user's data - for one year in the name of national security. We also meet Industry chair of the Midlands ICT Cluster Steering Committee Sinead Pillion about innovation outside the traditional tech hives of Dublin, Cork and Galway.

Breaking the law...

This week National Space Centre CEO Rory Fitzpatrick talks about the Big Dish, a giant piece of telecoms history rusting in a field in Cork that could have a role is sending messages to space.

The National Space Centre's Rory Fitzpatrick on Cork's link to the stars

This week Niall and Dusty ask why Windows 11 is lagging behind its predecessor, the latest stupid move from X and ‘social loafing’ explained. Also, Dr Esther Murphy from Trinity College Dublin chats about Digi-ID and a co-created digital skills programme designed with and for people with intellectual disabilities.

Digital skills by and for the people with TCD's Dr Esther Murphy

This week Niall and Dusty go under the hood of the Galaxy S24, Samsung's 'smartest' smartphone to date. We also have more from Maryrose Lyons of the Institute for Ai Studies.

Samsung's Galaxy S24 know-it-all smartphone

This week Ygraine Bright from What A Scream joins Niall Kitson for a top 10 of evil robots and AIs in film.

At the drive-in with Ygraine Bright of What A Scream

This week we have job cuts at Tesla, Humane’s AI pin fails to live up to the hype and social media comes under pressure for failing to protect children … again.
Later, Dimitra Incorporated CEO and founder Jon Trask talks about how farmers can use blockchain to become more profitable.

Social media under the microscope and Dimitra's Jon Trask

President-elect Trump has his own NFTs, his own social network and is deep into crypto. Is this all good for the tech sector as he prepares a return to the White House?  

We discuss this and chat with former chief technology innovation officer with Accenture Paul Daugherty about how organisations can get a handle on AI.

Trump's return and Human + Machine co-author Paul Daugherty

On this week’s show, social network X loses a popularity contest, Apple is on the hook for billions from an unexpected source and Ireland still can’t get its head around passwords.

Later, CEO of The Futures Agency and futurist Gerd Leonhard talks about the challenges to teaching science, technology, engineering and maths when factual solutions (and hallucinations) are a few prompts away.

Rethinking education in the age of AI with futurist Gerd Leonhard

Dusty, Niall and special guest Jason Walsh take a bold leap forecasting the tech trends that will define the year ahead.  
We look at how blockchain will transform secure voting, digital IDs and cryptocurrency. We also ask how long the Trump/Musk bromance can last? We examine the potential for cyberwarfare, drone advancements, and how fragile infrastructure like the cloud could be a target.  Plus with the rise of AI systems making decisions without human input, are we ready to relinquish control?  
Get ready for some bold predictions, sharp insights and a sprinkle of humour in your essential tech guide to the year ahead.

A look forward to 2025

This week Niall and Dusty talk about Sarah Wynn-Williams' new book, Careless People: The story of where I used to work, an explosive account of life at Facebook. The guys look at the claims of sexual harrassment, whistleblower retaliation, and an official response aggressive enough to make you think there is something that Meta doesn't want you to know.

Elsewhere, there is a big departure at Netflix, security headaches in businesses large and small, and a report revealing what it takes to make a living off Spotify.

Rant show: Another day, another Facebook whistleblower

This week we have the highs and lows of WWDC 2025, find out Ireland’s favourite AI and Nasa’s goes all quiet on social media.

Plus, we talk with three start-up founders about how their companies are exploring the boundaries of sustainability.

Was WWDC 25 about keeping up appearances?

This week, Microsoft dropped an emergency patch for a vulnerability in Sharepoint that Chinese hackers have been exploiting since 7 July. Plus, now age verification is here how are social media platforms making sure users are of age?
Lastly, we learn about EdTips, a push to bring science, technology and engineering into primary schools with Keith Nolan from TU Dublin.

Microsoft’s Sharepoint patchwork and Keith Nolan from TU Dublin on EdTips

We often talk about the work people won’t have to do thanks to technologies like automation and AI. However, there are plenty of jobs out there that people shouldn’t be doing in the first place. This week Niall Kitson is joined by Anybotics' senior product manager and Swiss chapter co-lead of Women in Robotics Kateryna Portmann, and technical project manager for Verity Nazrin Aliyeva to talk about the state of the art.

Kateryna Portmann and Nazrin Aliyeva on new directions in robotics

In this episode we look at the many shapes of artificial intelligence, from companies that don’t love us back, to optiistic valuations, and Accenture head of technology in Ireland Austin Boyle shares his thoughts on how AI agents have yet to fulfill their promise. Finally, as Pac-Man turns 45 Niall and Dusty revisit the golden age of arcade games.

Accenture’s Austin Boyle on agentic AI and beyond

This week Google drops a new series of devices including Pixel phones, watches and true wireless ear buds.
Plus, we find out more about AI and the science of longevity with our special guest Kennedy Schaal, CEO & founder of Rejuve.

Google gets smarter with the Pixel 10 and Rejuv's Kennedy Schaal on longevity

This week we look at the role of AI in the tragic death of an American teen and Nvidia’s financials continue to impress.
Later, Orivium’s Emma Clarke talks about her company’s method of extracting and reusing rare earth materials to give new life to devices beyond repair.

Artificial intelligence and a real tragedy, and Orivium's Emma Clarke

Ireland just made space history with its first satellite successfully completing its mission and de-orbiting as we speak. We find out more about some of the serious science it pulled off including gamma-ray burst detection and advanced satellite control systems that would make Nasa jealous.
Elsewhere, we discover why Google’s latest multi million dollar privacy slap actually matters to you and we dig as far as we can into a spyware story involving the Garda Siochana and an Israeli spy firm.
Plus, researchers from Dublin City University, Dawood University in Pakistan, and Munster Technological University are working on an AI content moderation tool designed to protect children from grooming online. We get the lowdown on EdgeAIGuard with DCU project lead Dr Sunder Ali Khowaja.

Eirsat-1 de-orbits and DCU's Dr Sunder Ali Khowaja on protecting children with AI

Apple launched the iPhone Air this week which has Niall and Dusty somewhat excited. We look at all the angles including the new ‘regular’ iPhones, a new Apple Watch and a gaping hole with AirPods. There is also news on the government snooping on your encrypted chats and a Revolut challenger is coming to Ireland. Plus, we get some fascinating insights into the global femtech industry with Dr Tanya Mulcahy, director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland (HIHI). 

Apple full of chat with the iPhone Air and HIHI's Dr Tanya Mulcahy on femtech

This week Meta once again tries to make AR glasses happen, TikTok finally has a buyer in the US and Apple finally embraces touch screens in a laptop. We also talk with IBM’s Elaine Hanley about the state of cyber security in the age of AI.

IBM's Elaine Hanley on cyber security in 2025

This week Apple continues its war with the EU over the Digital Markets Act, the entertainment industry continues its war with AI, and Asahi goes to war after a cyber attack brings its business to a halt. Plus HP Ireland country manager Neil Dover talks about technology and culture in the workplace.

HP's Neil Dover on the power of workplace culture

This week Niall and Dusty unpack Budget 2025's spending commitments, ask when the AI bubble will burst, and wonder why anyone would want to reanimate the dead through deep fakes. Finally, we explore why hosting your data in orbit might be a brilliant idea.Plus, Microsoft national technology officer Kieran McCorry talks about how the workplace is changing in with the advent of AI and why Gen Z is using it less than their elders.

The AI bubble we know is about the burst, and Microsoft's Kieran McCorry on Gen Z and AI

Windows 10 is finally being killed off by Microsoft. We look at what you can do and what Microsoft's strategy is going forward. We also check out the all new M5 chip from Apple, and dig into a surprise move from Google to make nice with the EU over the Digital Markets Act. Plus, we have a fascinating chat about AI in the workplace with Lisa Hunt, microsoft practice director at Viatel Technology Group.

Microsoft says goodbye to Windows 10 and Viatel Technology Group's Lisa Hunt on doing AI right

This week we have the really mundane reason for Monday’s massive AWS outage. Closer to home, an AI-generated deepfake video showed an Irish election candidate withdrawing from the race, complete with a convincing fake Sharon Ní Bheoláin presenting it on RTÉ News. The question everyone’s asking: who made it, and how do we stop this becoming the new normal? Plus, we’ll look at why your driving licence is going digital by 2030.

Grace Dinan from JunieXR on live extended reality

On this week's show we have good news for Microsoft and Nvidia, a new day for OpenAI as a for-profit entity, the Irish Council for Civil Liberties takes it's concern over the latest DPC appointment to Europe, and SpaceX's gift to star gazers. Later, Beta Festival co-founder Aisling Murray talks about what to expect from this year's series of events.

Beta Festival's Aisling Murray on the intersection of art and technology

This week, Collins dictionary reveals its words of the year. We also examine the latest OpenAI-Amazon deal and speculate about what a low-cost Macbook might look like. Plus we find out more about Science Week with Ruth Freeman, director of research for society at Research Ireland.

Research Ireland's Ruth Freeman on Science Week 2025

In this extended interview Niall Kitson meets Bank of Ireland head of design thinking Lesley Tully to find out how business can benefit from a more creative approach to problem solving.

TechRadio Extra: The value of design thinking with Bank of Ireland's Lesley Tully

This week Google gets hit by a record EU fine; ransomware (Not)Petya goes international; and Dusty talks to astronaut Dan Tani as part of Cork Institute of Technology's 2017 Space Studies Programme.

One step beyond with astronaut Dan Tani

Do you have a licence for that hydraulic hand? Can your employer decide how you shouild be rebuilt after an accident on the job? We explore these ideas and more with legal researcher Shane P. McNamee.

Legally cyborg with Shane P. McNamee

Can you be tricked into handing over personal information? Have you ever gotten into a concert without a ticket? How secure are help desks? Jenny Radcliffe is an expert in social engineering who knows all about getting what you want through the power of persuasion. This week Jenny got Niall Kitson to devote an entire show to interviewing her.

Hacking the human with Jenny Radcliffe

Where does the science of data end and the art of data begin? This week Niall explores this idea with Jer Thorp, co-founder of The Office for Creative Research, Adjunct Professor at New York University's ITP programme and innovator in residence at the Library of Congress.
In other news, Facebook, Google and Twitter get a grilling over Russia.

Jer Thorp on the art and science of data

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