The Big Tech Show

What makes a tech founder? When is the right time to pivot? and how do they perfect their elevator pitch? Co-founder and head of technology at Kreoh, an AI engine, Fareed Idris, joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the scale of disinformation in the runup to the US election? Who is behind it? And has it got its claws into Europe? Reporter for WIRED magazine, David Gilbert, joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show today. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is YouTube Premium worth sticking with despite the price hike? What does Ireland get out of the Amazon.ie launch? And why is Meta’s Nick Clegg calling Ireland’s Data Protection Commissioner a mailbox? Producer, JJ Clarke, joined Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Max Fosh amass a YouTube following of over four million? Is sneaking into London Fashion week easy? And how close did he come to being Mayor of London? YouTuber, Max Fosh joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week to discuss his new European tour Loophole. During the interview, Adrian asked Max about his knowledge of the YouTube algorithim and what does well on the platform. Fosh explained that negative emotions play better than positive ones on YouTube. He said, titles like the ‘worst restaurant’ or ‘worst experience’ tend to trend higher than positive title descriptions. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s does the life of a tech reviewer involve? Do you get to keep any of it? And are the AirPods 4 worth a purchase? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian to discuss the life of a tech reviewer on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is artificial intelligence all it’s cracked up to be for business? Does it move the needle when it comes to enterprise? And is the belief that AI isn’t ready for commercial application accurate? There's a growing trend to say that AI isn't yet ready for enterprise business because it makes too many mistakes, or it can't turn jumbled silos of information into something reliably simple for business executives to use. Cofounders of NOAN, Neal Mann and Markham Nolan joined Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did Apple do enough to impress people at its iPhone 16 event? Will people buy one for the Apple intelligence features alone? And will the standoff between Apple and the EU stop people upgrading? Adrian is currently in Cupertino at Apple Park, California, where Apple just showcased their latest product upgrades. There were three main areas of focus; iPhones, Air Pods and watches. Freelance tech journalist, Britta O’Boyle, CCS Insight analysts, Ben Wood and Leo Gebbie, joined Adrian to discuss the new products. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is Sky Mobile’s new budget plan worth ditching your current service for? What are the tech essentials for college? And should you splurge or save on your first laptop? Producer, JJ Clarke, joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can anything be done about dynamic pricing for concert tickets? Or age restrictions for teenagers online? And is the arrest of Telegram’s Pavel Durov a warning shot for Mark Zuckerberg and Elon Musk? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the best camera to get? Is it still worth getting one in an era where many feel they’re dead? If so, what are the advantages and disadvantages? This week, Adrian is joined by John Bilbao, a staff writer with Petapixel and a professional photographer and cinematographer in his own right. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How did Rent the Runway become a NASDAQ listed company? What does its CEO think of diversity becoming a focal point in the US election? And why was Galway chosen as one of its bases? The CEO and co-founder of Rent the Runway, Jennifer Hyman joined Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where would you be without your smartwatch? What’s the best way to listen to music in your kitchen? Who’s going to vacuum the living room when you learn a surprise guest is on the way? In this episode, Adrian talks through his choices with producer Dee Reddy and shares a few more for good measure. From robot vacuums, to low technology coffee making – some of the best technology are in the items we use every day. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are Google’s latest Pixel 9, Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL phones worth getting? Adrian Weckler goes through all of the pros and cons, including some of the dystopian new AI features baked in. On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by producer Dee Reddy to discuss. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What might Apple’s new robotic iPad do? Will we see long lasting EV batteries? And are AI glasses finally about to become a real thing? Adrian looks at the tech that might inspire or give us hope over the coming months and years. Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on today’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss. Head to www.mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey to be in with the chance of winning a €500 OneforAll voucher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What is the next big thing in tech? Is it AI? Is it Apple’s Vision Pro? Or might 2024 be the most boring year for tech ever? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss what might be tech’s blandest year. How would you like to win a €500 OneforAll voucher? Head to mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey. You can also find the survey link in the show notes. Don't miss out on your chance to win!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before we go, how would you like to win a €500 OneforAll voucher? Head to mypodcastfeedback.com, pop in code TECH and fill out the short survey. You can also find the survey link in the show notes. Don't miss out on your chance to win!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to build a startup? What do you have to give up or sacrifice? How many extra hours do you have to work? What about the loss of things like holidays, sick pay? And what's the pressure like from loved ones who might want a stable and predictable present and future? Adrian is joined on The Big Tech Show this week by co-founders of AI accessibility platform, DevA11y, Cormac Chisholm and Patrick Guiney-Fox. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is now the time to buy a Mac in the wake of the Crowdstrike blue screen of death? Is a Mac better than a Windows PC? And what are the pros and cons of each? Editor at large with TechRadar, Lance Ulanoff, joined Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. During last month's global IT outage, one cohort of computer owners didn’t bat an eyelid and that was Apple Mac computer owners. They were unaffected by this meltdown. Prompted by this Adrian and Lance debate the good and the bad of Apple and Windows. The TechRadar writer recently swapped Windows for Mac but pointed out that Windows has always been a platform for productivity. He questioned why it is called Windows because you reach in and do stuff. When Ulanoff began working on a Mac a year ago, he said the tech never stops working, there is no blue screen of death equivalent. Additionally, the New York based journalist pointed out that what you get with the Mac is incredible efficiency and battery life. Adrian pushed back saying that the one area where Windows is clearly in pole position is with gaming. He explained that any gamer he has ever talked to uses Windows because of its customisability. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you feel like a mug for paying your TV licence? Are you going to end up covering those that don’t? And what’s going on at the National Cyber Security centre? This week the Irish Independent published internal documents from the National Cyber Security Centre that showed serious problems within the security body. These included management issues but more specifically a hiring crisis that is starting to affect this institution that is supposed to protect this country from cyber attacks. Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are killer robots a realistic threat? We hear reports of things like drones using AI in war zones, but how advanced is the technology generally now? and what sort of guardrails are in place? Adrian is joined on The Big Tech Show this week by software engineer and lethal autonomous weapons expert, Laura Nolan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the IDA worried about a Trump presidency? What would his tariffs do to Irish business? And should Ireland be looking to grow domestic rather than foreign investment? CEO of the IDA, Michael Lohan joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week. Adrian began by asking what a Trump 10% tariff would mean for Ireland as an open economy which is vulnerable to fluctuations in the global market. The CEO said that he sees tariffs as counterproductive to global trade and innovation. Lohan made the point that Ireland is the ninth largest investor in the US economy, and it isn’t proactive to put levies on trade between the two nations. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the EU strangling tech services such as Meta AI and Apple AI with regulation? Is it doing the same to startups here? Is the phrase 'America innovates, Europe regulates' accurate? Venture partner at Sure Valley Ventures, Donal Cahalane, joined Adrian on the show. Adrian opened with the question is Europe a bad place for budding startups. DC answered that start-ups in Europe must fight against more regulation than their US counterparts. He added that in the States there is an attitude of asking for forgiveness rather than permission. The venture partner argued that Europe has a different approach, they will often look to regulate first and seek to take advantage of the wave of innovation second. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last week Ford relaunched the Capri model. Instead of being the exciting, lust worthy, affordable sports car we saw in the 1970s, it's a middle of the road, small, bland SUV that's almost indistinguishable from anything. Why did they play it safe? Is the bland SUV design more popular? And has the badge of this iconic car been sunk? Adrian is joined on the show this week by partnerships director of Nevo Ireland and founder of Nevo EV Review YouTube channel, Derek Reilly. Derek spoke about the motor companies' knack for taking names of former models and relaunching them with a modern twist. The original Ford Capri model began production in 1968 as a coupé, however the 2024 iteration is an SUV. The EV expert explained that Ford is trading on name recognition and that the new Chinese electric car companies entering the western market don’t have this advantage. He did add that when he posted a review video of the Capri, 90% of responses and comments were people giving out about the new look. The Michigan company has enlisted the star power of Eric Cantona with the hashtag of #Jesuiscapri, with the aim of boosting sales. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has Samsung’s Galaxy Ring kicked off the “smart ring” era? How much is it? And what other products did the tech giant release? On The Big Tech Show this week Adrian is joined by producer, JJ Clarke. The electronics company revealed a new range of foldable smarthphones, smartwatches and a smart ring at its Unpacked event this week. Adrian spoke about this being a significant move by Samsung into the smart ring space which has largely been dominated by market leader Oura. The Galaxy Ring however is more discreet and more sleek than previous smart rings. The wearable will be coming to Ireland later in the year and is largely aimed at those that don’t want a smartwatch that pings and beeps endlessly. The Ring, will cost €459 and will be available in nine sizes and three colours: silver, black and gold. The “smart ring” era has kicked off in earnest with Samsung’s announcement of its Galaxy Ring. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For many people, a well-paid, high-flying career in a firm like Davy's Stockbrokers is considered a destination job in life. But not Rosanne Longmore, who went from being chief operating officer at Davy Wealth Management to leading and starting her own startup based on a concern that mothers and babies weren't getting proper attention when feeding with breast milk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the Apple Vision Pro a flop? Are fully autonomous cars still a decade away? And will Elon’s Musk’s August announcement shake up the self-driving car market? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by producer, JJ Clarke. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you have a thick phone wallet? Do you use a novelty ringtone or set notifications to ping constantly? Is the crying laughing emoji one of your go-to texting characters? Well, you may not think of yourself this way, but you're middle aged. On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by assistant producer, JJ Clarke. Adrian kicked off the conversation by talking about the older generations' annoying habit of leaving their ringtone on in public places. There was some daylight here between Adrian’s and JJ’s view on this, with the latter stating that he believed it was the time it took to stop the ringing was the issue. Overuse of certain emojis is a hallmark of people who have aged out of the zeitgeist. Adrian spoke about the overuse of the crying laughing emoji. He said it was used like punctuation by this type of phone user and that every message from one of these senders will include it. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is brain hacking and tracking just science-fiction? Or has emotion-sensing neurotech already arrived? And what are the applications, good and bad? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by Duke University Professor and Author of ‘The Battle for Your Brain: Defending the Right to Think Freely in the Age of Neurotechnology,’ Nita Farahany. The Law professor first came to neurotech as a result of being a self-described chronic migrainer. She began using neurostimulation devices and neurotechnology to treat the pain and this allowed her to physically move through the migraines without using drugs with negative side effects. In the second part of the conversation Adrian asked about the negative applications of this novel technology. The author made the point that a lot of this futuristic neurotech is already operational in society. She gave the example of an Australian company that has been selling a device for over a decade that can tell employers if their staff are wide awake or falling asleep. There are more recent reports of workers in China wearing these devices, being exposed to communist messaging and punished if they display a negative reaction. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you ever been tempted to get into meme stocks? Have you heard of friends making or losing money on Gamestop stocks? Or is the whole thing just a giant ponzi scheme? Adrian is joined on The Big Tech Show this week by chief investment officer and senior portfolio manager at Gresham House Ireland, Derek Heffernan. A meme stock is a stock that gains popularity among retail investors through social media. The popularity of meme stocks is generally based on internet memes shared among traders, on platforms such as Reddit. Investors in such stocks are often young and inexperienced investors. Examples of some memestocks are Gamestop, AMC, Nokia and Bed Bath and Beyond. Derek says that memestocks became popular in 2021 because people were sitting at home, furloughed, with more disposable income and they began betting on those stocks. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Where have all the late-night cafes gone? What's the alternative for a non-drinker? And what impact is it having on newly minted tech startups? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by assistant producer, JJ Clarke. In Adrian’s most recent article, he laments the disappearing cafe culture in Dublin and how they were a useful place to go or meet people, early or late if you didn’t want to go to a pub. There are very few cafes today, that open later than 11pm or do business before 6am. When asked what effect this may have on the budding tech entrepreneurs of today. Adrian pointed to Foursquare cofounders Dennis Crowley and Naveen Selvadurai. They divided much of their early coding time between a handful of Manhattan cafes, which was partly connected to them creating a ‘mayor’ feature for the social check-in platform. He made the point that tech founders who want to meet or collaborate in 2024 have nowhere to do so. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Irish tech industry grabbed its popcorn when Intercom co-founder and CEO, Eoghan McCabe, posted a thumbs-up photo with Donald Trump, endorsing the recently-convicted ex-president. McCabe isn’t alone. Across Silicon Valley, there’s a clear drift of senior figures toward Donald Trump in the upcoming presidential election.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How can we deal with no-shows in healthcare? Does it impact patient wait times? And can AI receptionists improve attendance? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by Spryt, chief operations officer and co-founder, Neill Dunwoody. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What’s the latest from Apple’s WWDC conference? Is user data still a priority? And why did they go big on AI? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian joins the show from Cupertino, California at Apple's WWDC conference. Joining him on the episode are tech industry analysts from CCS Insight, Leo Gebbie and Ben Wood. The big news from the conference is that the tech giant has done a deal with Open AI. It’s essentially acknowledged that its own research and training models are limited. Contingent on user permission, Open AI will be able to reach into apple products and support the user in some core functions. Adrian was particularly impressed by Siri. Now it's more of a device assistant than a voice assistant. It can access your messages, emails, photos. Apple calls this a semantic index which isn’t used singularly but can help with everyday tasks. Great pains were taken to underscore how private the new cloud setup used for its AI purposes. It uses what was described as an almost blockchain-like process. When the user asks AI a question or inputs some information, the data is anonymised, your IP address is masked and not tracked. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What are the telltale signs of a Revolut scam? How can we avoid them? And is the app a safe place for your money? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by security expert and chief information security officer at Waystone, Conor Flynn. The problem of financial scams has become an issue for Irish banking customers recently, with an upsurge in fraud cases for Revolut users. The Banking and Payments Federation says that fraudsters stole about 100 million euro through frauds and scams last year. However that was from customers of AIB, Bank of Ireland and permanent TSB and didn’t include fraudulent activity on Irish Revolut accounts. Conor highlighted to Adrian that a typical Revolut scam will have certain features. They will purport to be Revolut, a family member or close friend and will create a sense of urgency to send them money. The cyber security expert warns that scammers use social engineering to get you to operate quickly and in response to an emergency trigger of some sort. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are there global rules for AI? How is Ireland contributing? And why is telecoms mogul David McCourt getting involved? On The Big Tech Show this week Adrian speaks to chairman and founder of Granahan McCourt and chairman and founder of the National Broadband Ireland, David McCourt. The businessman is attempting to set up global rules governing AI use by bringing together experts in the field to make the technology safer and more equitable. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How do we separate fact from fiction with AI? What is an AI hallucination? And how is an Irish startup fighting faulty AI? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by Inspeq AI founders Ramanujam Macharla Vijayakumar and Apoorva Kumar. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The restaurant business is notoriously fickle in Ireland with high rents, tight margins and staffing issues. How is one entrepreneur using AI to turn a profit? How does it work? And where do most restaurateurs go wrong? CEO of Nory and founder of chicken fast food chain, Mad Egg, Conor Sheridan joined Adrian on The Big Tech Show this week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When will the new Range Rover EV land? Is it a good time for the brand to go full EV? And what is being worked on in their centre for excellence in Shannon? Jaguar Land Rover has achieved its highest ever yearly sales and its biggest profit in almost a decade. This is driven by record sales, particularly of Range Rovers with around 133,000 vehicles ordered at the end of the financial year (2023), and three quarters of those were Range Rovers, range Rover Sport and Defender models. Adrian was joined on The Big Tech Show this week by General Manager at the Jaguar Land Rover facility in Shannon, Paul Girr. When asked by Adrian about concerns about long term take up of EVs, Girr responded that the company has no real concerns in terms of adoption of electric vehicles in the future. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some companies still see remote working as a positive force for their workforce? How can leadership teams adapt? And how is Ireland informing the culture as a global powerhouse? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by eBay Ireland Site Leader and Senior Director of Customer Experience, Siobhan Curtin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is remote working creating a mental health crisis? Are those working from home overeating? And what can be done to improve mental health in the digital workforce? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by the CEO of mental health and wellbeing platform Kara Connect, Tobba Vigfusdottir. Kara Connect has done research this year showing that in 2024 mental health issues cost an employer €1,500 per employee per annum. Vigfusdottir says that since the pandemic we have seen a surge in mental health issues because of two factors: our relationship with phones changing and the de-stigmatization of mental health issues. The latter has led more people to enlist the help of mental health services. The Icelander pointed out that the younger generation of workers beginning their careers are arriving in the world of work very stressed. She gave the statistic that almost 46 percent of young workers feel bad or anxious most of the time which is contributing to psychiatric waiting lists. Tobba stated that those who work from home have most difficulty in physical health and nutrition. She said that nutrition issues then compound, and the worker feels a sense of shame at the prospect of returning to the office. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What tech do you bring abroad when you travel? How do you avoid getting completely ripped off on roaming charges? And what are some of the hacks you should know about? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by the travel editor of the Irish Independent, Pól Ó Conghaile. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What can Irish consumers expect from Amazon.ie? Why is Elon Musk under investigation by the US Justice Department? And do we really miss phone calls? This week on The Big Tech Show, Adrian discusses the tech stories hitting the news.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How common is romance fraud? Are the victims likely to report? And how can you spot the scammers? On The Big Tech Show podcast this week, Adrian spoke to cyber security expert, Dr Jessica Barker MBE.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple’s latest launch event took place in London yesterday, with four new iPads and a new Apple Pencil Pro among the latest innovations unveiled to journalists. It was once largely accepted that iPads were for leisure use and that most users (and indeed companies) would always favour laptops for business tasks but could this new generation of tablets from the tech behemoth mark a sea change in how tablets are used? On The Big Tech Show this week Adrian speaks to producer Dee Reddy on the latest from Apple’s Let Loose event. He breaks down; the new products on offer, how the technology has expanded and why the newest tablets come with a hefty price tag. He also catches up with Jeff Blaber and Stuart Mills at the event, to find out if he’s the only one who prefers his iPad to his laptop for work? You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with self-driving cars? What is the current status of the technology behind it? And can it be used in other ways? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by Barry Lunn, the founder and CEO of Provizio, which is a Limerick based company best known for its technology around autonomous driving. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is TikTok a security risk? Should the Taoiseach be using it against the advice of the National Cyber Security Council? Or is he one of the exceptional cases that is allowed? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What does it take to build a startup? What kind of personality does it require? What kind of mentality do you have to have? And what do you do when you get there? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by CEO and co-founder of Glitch, Aisling Browne.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are social media platforms unduly skewing the minds of young males? What is the harmful content they see? And is it unprompted? On The Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by postdoctoral researcher with the Observatory on Cyberbullying, Cyberhate & Online Harassment at DCU Anti-Bullying Centre, Dr Catherine Baker. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What's going on with artificial intelligence? Has EU legislation helped or hindered the AI space? and why has OpenAI updated GPT-4? Adrian is joined on The Big Tech Show this week by head of growth at Human Loop, Conor Kelly.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How were Eir complaints staff instructed to treat a complaint? Why are Eir saying this instruction is being used ‘out of context?’ And how does this effect Eir customers? Telecoms company Eir was fined €7,500 in court today after pleading guilty to 12 counts of breaching regulations governing how complaints should be handled by providers. However, it says the paragraph relating to staff instructions around customer complaint telephone numbers and websites was “taken out of context”. It added that this was part of “training material for new customer service agents”, requiring agents to transfer a call rather than asking a customer to call a second time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.