This week Apple foregoes a big show in favour of big reveals in the form or a new Mac Studio, iPads and a MacBook Air with an M4 processor, just in time for the release of Apple Intelligence in the EU.

We also discuss how agentic AI can change the online learning experience with Knowely CEO Oleksandr Bartosiuk.

Apple gives us the M4 laptop we've all been waiting for

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

Your Butterfly Memories

This week we delve into Amazon's substantial Irish footprint and ask why the new local website is good for techies. We also look at how AI systems like Perplexity have 'unlocked' the conspiracy behind the assassination of JFK, Plus we find out more about Alphabet's record-breaking €32 billion acquisition of security provider Wiz.

Rant show: A trip down the Amazon.ie

Facial recognition technology is becoming a routine part of daily life, from unlocking phones to assisting law enforcement. But as its use expands, so do the ethical and legal dilemmas it presents. 

Today we dive into the mechanics of facial recognition technology—how it works, its limitations, and the biases it can reinforce. From government policies to legal frameworks, and the importance of public awareness in shaping the future of AI-powered surveillance, we break down the pressing issues surrounding this technology.

Joining us are two experts who are working to promote awareness and caution around FRT. They are Assistant Professor at Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology, Dr. Ciara Bracken-Roche, and Senior Policy Officer at ICCL and coordinator of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, Olga Cronin. 

THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT

●	The rise of facial recognition technology in everyday life and law enforcement
●	Concerns about ethics, flaws and AI bias in FRT 
●	Examining government policies, legal challenges, and human rights issues 
●	Potential dangers and misuse of mass surveillance
●	Engaging society to critically think through creative mediums 

GUEST DETAILS

Dr. Ciara Bracken-Roche is an Assistant Professor in the School of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa. She completed her PhD (Queen's University), MA (Warwick), and BSc (Toronto).

Ciara's current line of research explores the adoption and use of drones and other surveillance technologies in Canada and Ireland by policing and public safety agencies. 
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/ciara-bracken-roche 

Olga Cronin is a Senior Policy Officer of Enforce and the coordinator of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO). She is focused on facial recognition technology, encryption, state surveillance, privacy and data protection.

Her work to date, with academics and other NGOs, helped prevent use of the powerful mass surveillance without pre-legislative scrutiny or debate. She also leads ICCL’s work on several EU proposals, including the EU ‘ChatControl’ proposal which could mandate unprecedented mass surveillance of all public and private digital communications. She is leading several complaints to the Data Protection Commission.
https://www.iccl.ie/staff/olga-cronin/ 

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 DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/  

KEYWORDS
#AI #facialrecognition #biometric #data #humanrights #masssurveillance #AIAdvisoryCouncil


Facial Recognition: Innovation or Invasion?

This week, what tech has learned from the leaked Trump chat group which spilled sensitive operational details on Signal. We learn about flying cars and digital radio coming to Ireland. Plus we wonder how Samsung will change after the death of a top exec. 
In our guest slot, we find out what data smart devices gather and share when they call home with our guest Dr Alan McGibney from the Nimbus Research Centre at Munster Technological University.

Sending the wrong Signal

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 Niall and Dusty warn of dark times ahead for Apple customers as tarriffs against China take hold. We also keep you up-to-speed on AI's Irish Invasion, how Minority Report has become reality in the UK, and share some brilliant innovation at Ireland's two main airports.Plus we find out how companies can use blockchain to fend off the security challenges posed by quantum computing, with John Woods, chief technology officer of the Algorand Foundation.

John Woods, chief technology officer of the Algorand Foundation, on post quantum computing

Are all astronauts created equal? This week Niall and Dusty go to the outer reaches of logic to make sense of this week's Blue Origin 'mission'. Elsewhere we have more tarriff news, why services are the next frontier in the trade wars and we mourn the loss of 4chan. In our interview we talk to Dr Brendan Darby, Marama Labs co-founder and CEO, about his company's journey from wine making to pharmaceuticals.

Marama Labs co-founder Dr Brendan Darby on wine and drug discovery

This week, we have the inside scoop on how Intel Ireland may be affected by their global restructuring plan. We look at how bad things have got at Tesla and X, and wrap up with the surprising results from a human v robot half-marathon challenge.
Plus we discover how tech is helping our physical and mental health with guest Stephen Costello, CEO and co-founder of Spectrum.Life.

Uncertainty at Intel and Spectrum.Life CEO Stephen Costello

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