The Business of Tech

In episode 8, we feature an extended interview with Paul James, the government's chief digital officer, and the chief executive officer of Te Tari Taiwhenua Department of Internal Affairs (DIA). James is the man responsible for coordinating how government departments adopt technology and the work DIA does also has a key impact on how digital services are delivered to citizens and how aspects of the digital realm are regulated in Aotearoa. Our chat ranged far and wide, spanning the government’s cloud-first strategy, the Christchurch Call, new digital identity legislation and efforts to address gaps in the regulation of online content. There’s a lot going on when it comes to tech-related policy across government – tune in to get up to speed on some of the latest developments and what they mean for you.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Special guest Marian Johnson, chief executive of the Ministry of Awesome, features in episode 7 to explain the benefits that women founders can bring to NZ's economy, and how we can best support women who decide to follow their own high growth startup dreams. Before that, Ben and Peter talk cybersecurity, with commentary from Microsoft's local national security officer Mark Anderson, following the Privacy Commissioner stating that two-factor authentication is now "a bare minimum" They talk about the growth of cybercrime-as-a-service and business email compromise, and share their own stories of being the victims. Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify. Recommended reading list.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, Ben and Peter are joined by Apple watcher Dr Sarb Johal from A+ Report to talk about the biggest Apple product drop since the Apple Watch - the Vision Pro. They ask what it will take for the device to catch on and who the actual customers could be. Sarb shares what he expects to see for the future of Apple's attempts at mixed reality and why he thinks Apple's share price dropped in response to its 'spatial computer' launch. Plus, they chat about the other news out of the Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC). Subscribe on Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Reading listSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week it's all about generative AI and LLMs on episode five. Ben and Peter dig into the NZ Privacy Commission's 'expecations' around businesses using tools like ChatGPT and consider how it compares it to the EU's regulatory approach. They ask who will win the race to the AI personal assistant (and what does that even mean) and consider who will be the winners in the race to build infrastructure to support the AI revolution. Finally, Peter talks to AI chatbot expert Tim Warren, CEO and founder of Kiwi tech success story Ambit. Find our recommended reading list here. New episodes every Thursday. Follow or subscribe to get it delivered straight to your favourite podcatcher.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week, the state of NZ’s startup scene is on Ben and Peter’s minds following the release of TIN’s 2023 Technology Investment Report. They discuss key points from Ben’s interview with TIN managing director Greg Shanahan. They ask how good the 2023 budget was for tech and science. Then, Capture the Bug founder and CEO Ankita Dhakar explains to Peter why businesses should be putting out bounties for flaws in their systems. New episodes every Thursday. Follow or subscribe to get it delivered straight to your favourite podcatcher. @petergnz @bentm_journo @businessdesk_nzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to episode three of The Business of Tech, hosted by leading tech journalist Peter Griffin and BusinessDesk technology editor Ben Moore. This week we're joined by Mark Callander, chief executive of our sponsor 2degrees. The word of the day is satellites as Mark draws back the curtain on the telco's partnership with Lynk Global for its upcoming satellite-to-mobile tech to deliver cell service to customers out of the range of cell towers. Mark outlines what it does, how it works, and why it’s different from Apple’s Emergency SOS service. But before that, the news of the day is unpacked, including 5G spectrum allocation and rural connectivity, Zenno Astronautics’ success, and Google’s AI announcement Find our recommended reading list here. New episodes every Thursday. Follow or subscribe to get it delivered straight to your favourite podcatcher. @petergnz @bentm_journo @businessdesk_nzSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to episode two of The Business of Tech, hosted by leading tech journalist Peter Griffin and BusinessDesk technology editor Ben Moore. It’s a two-fer this week on The Business of Tech as Peter and Ben pack their second episode full of tech talk. First up is Ashlee Vance, author of When the Heavens Went on Sale – a dive into the history of the commercialisation of space, including New Zealand’s own Peter Beck and Rocket Lab. Second, communications and digital economy minister Ginny Andersen answers a series of questions posed by Ben about where she sees tech in NZ today and tomorrow, and Peter and Ben try to read between the lines. New episodes every Thursday. Follow or subscribe to get it delivered straight to your favourite podcatcher. @petergnz @bentm_journo @businessdesk_nz See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to episode one of The Business of Tech, hosted by leading tech journalist Peter Griffin and BusinessDesk technology editor Ben Moore. This week, the pair talk about Ben's recent trip to Microsoft's HQ in the US and what the company has planned for OpenAI. Then, Peter interviews Judith Collins who shares her views on government's role in the tech sector. New episodes every Thursday. Follow or subscribe to get it delivered straight to your favourite podcatcher. @petergnz @bentm_journo @businessdesk_nz See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.