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It’s high-stakes drama this week as Trump's tariff policies collide with Ireland's tech giants. 
In other  news, we find out how online catfishing could land a five-year prison sentence, Manna takes flight in Cork, and we expose Microsoft's  push to replace your permanent software with never-ending subscriptions.
Plus, our guest David McIntyre shares his story of Cubbie. A multisensory space that could be coming to a school, library or hospital near you.


Tar-iff or not tar-iff? That is the question

This week we have an expensive race for talent in AI; the Trump Organisation gets into mobile; and ask how long Irish people are willing to go without Internet connectivity.Plus, we talk with three more start-up founders from BnM's Accelerate Green programme.

How long could you go without the Internet?

Claire O'Connell hosts a discussion on AI and digital propaganda with media historians Nelson Riviero and Professor Aphra Kerr. 

They highlight the prevalence and hyper-personalisation of digital propaganda, which polarises public discourse and undermines democracy. AI accelerates the creation and dissemination of disinformation, often targeting specific demographics. Recent events in Ireland and Spain exemplify this, with false narratives spreading rapidly. Both experts stress the need for media literacy, early education, and regulatory action to combat this threat. 

They also discuss the role of universities in training students in both tech and ethics, and the importance of a multi-faceted approach to counter digital propaganda effectively.

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

●	AI's Role in Digital Propaganda
●	Impact on Democratic Processes
●	Media Literacy and Education
●	Targeted Disinformation Strategies
●	Regulation and Platform Accountability


GUEST DETAILS

Aphra Kerr is Full Professor of Digital Media & Communication and a senior adviser at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy. She is an adjunct Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University and a co-PI at the ADAPT Research Ireland Centre for AI and Digital Content Technology. 

Vice-Rector for Transformation, Collaboration and International Affairs at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Dr. Ribeiro coordinates the Doctoral Program in Communication Sciences and the research group “Media Narratives and Cultural Memory” at the Center for Communication and Culture Studies ( CECC). He was the Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences between 2016 and 2025


MORE INFORMATION

You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/ 

Adapt Radio is produced by https://dustpod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie


QUOTES

Negative content often drives engagement, and then the algorithms will actually boost that even more - Professor Aphra Kerr

The role that AI is playing… is that it actually helps speed up the process of creating propaganda content. - Professor Nelson Ribero

Younger generations… they know how to use those tools, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they understand how those tools work. - Professor Nelson Ribero

You can’t fight propaganda with propaganda — you fight propaganda with education and media literacy. - Professor Nelson Ribero

Media literacy isn’t about blaming individuals — it’s about equipping people to navigate a complex digital world. - Professor Aphra Kerr



KEYWORDS
#DigitalPropaganda #AIDisinformation #MediaLiteracy #AlgorithmManipulation #ElectionInterference #SocialMedia #TargetedMessaging #TechnologicalEthics #Democracy #Misinformation

Digital Propaganda: How AI is Reshaping Public Discourse

This week Niall and Dusty chat about the wedding of the year courtesy of Jeff Bezos. Trump Mobile’s ‘American’ phone fails to meet expectations and with Tesla’s robotaxi has a mixed start in Austin. Also up for discussion are two cases tackling AI, copyright and fair use.
We also find out more about early-stage Irish startups, who are driving transformative solutions for a greener future with BnM’s Accelerate Green Grow Programme. Sharing their stories are Frank Daly from JTM Energy; Paul Mahon from Watt Footprint; and Michael O’Shea from Pulse Market. 

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This week Jason and Dusty find out more about the dark side of WeTransfer; the EU’s digital passport you may need to access the Internet; and the dark reality of AI replacing workers, starting with the people who built it.

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Adam Aleksic Responds To Callers' Words

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.

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Technology news from Ireland to the world

Tar-iff or not tar-iff? That is the question

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