The Big Tech Show
Irish Independent
300 episodes
Irish Independent Tech Editor Adrian Weckler hosts this award-winning business podcast which dives deep into the biggest industry advances and tracks the key movers and shakers behind the innovation. From interviewing Big Tech CEOs to investigations into how tech affects our working lives, the show has become Ireland’s most listened-to technology podcast.
Episodes page 1 of 6
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From cash crunch to unicorn — Conor McCarthy's Flipdish story
Flipdish co-founder Conor McCarthy reveals how a simple idea to make ordering food easier grew into a billion-dollar Irish tech business. From a cash crunch that threatened payroll to unicorn status and a new push…
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Get ready for a wave of AI hacking public services
AI could soon make cyber-attacks on public services far more frequent, with Ireland potentially facing serious disruption to everything from healthcare to banking and transport. Adrian speaks to Peter Tanham, analyst…
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From near collapse to Netflix — an amazing Irish scaleup story | Can It Scale?
StoryToys chief executive Emmet O’Neill reveals how the Dublin company came within a thread of collapse before an unexpected email from Lego changed its fortunes. From cutting staff and negotiating million-euro debts…
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The iPhone Duo review: pure delight with one big catch
What is Apple’s new folding iPhone Duo really like to use? Is its huge screen worth the eye watering price, and what compromises come with the design? Adrian Weckler joins Saoirse Hanley to discuss a week of testing…
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The Irish woman at the top of AI's biggest company — OpenAI CFO Sarah Friar on AI doom, AI accounting and using Ireland as a growth base
OpenAI’s chief financial officer Sarah Friar joins us to discuss the company’s growing ambitions in Ireland, where weekly ChatGPT usage has more than doubled to 2.5 million people. She outlines plans for 450…
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Mark Zuckerberg gets the villain treatment in a disappointing Social Network sequel
Aaron Sorkin returns to Facebook with The Social Reckoning, a follow up to The Social Network exploring whistleblower Frances Haugen’s allegations about the platform’s role in extremism. But does the film capture the…
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Will AI kill us all? Yes, says Gates; no, says Huang. Plus: Apple's new Watch Series 12 and Xiaomi's three-day-battery phone reviewed
Bill Gates says AI could contribute to the deaths of a billion people. Geoffrey Hinton, the godfather of AI, says we may have only a year to regulate it. But Meta’s Yann LeCun, Nvidia’s Jensen Huang and Mark…
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'Burn it to the ground' — Mark Little on the future of social media
When Mark Little sold his news verification startup Storyful to Rupert Murdoch for $25m, he was summoned to the Australian's New York office. "Let's go make some f***ing money," Murdoch told him, according to Little.…
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The Irish priest in Silicon Valley advising AI giants on ethics and morality
Today we have the extraordinary story of Fr Brendan McGuire, a priest from Bray who runs a parish in Silicon Valley and has become an advisor o Anthropic and other AI giants on spiritual, moral and ethical matters By…
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How Trinity College is dealing with AI and cheating
On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by Dr. Alan Eustace, an assistant professor at the School of Law in Trinity College Dublin, to explore how AI is changing third level education. They…
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The iPhone Duo: is it worth €2,369?
Apple has unveiled its first foldable iPhone, but is the eye watering price justified? On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler talks to Ben Wood, chief marketing officer with FDM CCS Insight about the…
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The world according to Annrai O'Toole — Iona, AI and how to run a society
Irish tech veteran Annrai O’Toole believes fears about AI becoming a threat to humanity are overblown but says we should be far more concerned about how the technology is affecting society today. On this episode of…
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How a journalist used an AirTag to track a book bought by AI giants to be pulped
On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by Emanuel Maiberg, journalist and co founder of 404 Media, to explore how AI companies are buying up old and rare books for training data. They discuss…
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AI and loneliness
On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by psychotherapist Colman Noctor to explore how social media, algorithms and AI are changing the way we communicate and connect. They discuss the pressure…
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Is AI making us jealous?
On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Katie Byrne is joined by producer JJ Clarke to explore how algorithms shape what we watch, buy and believe, and the digital defences that can help us take back control. They…
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Could Ireland survive a cable attack?
Ireland sits at the heart of the world's digital economy, with most transatlantic data cables passing through or close to its waters. But is Ireland prepared to protect the infrastructure that keeps businesses, banks…
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Blame it on the weatherman? Alan O'Reilly (Carlow Weather) on the technology of forecasting
As the warm weather starts to wane and our days of consistent sunshine look numbered, chances are you’ll check your phone’s weather app to find out what’s next in store. But not all weather apps are created equal: some…
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Avoid “fan fiction” this summer - Adrian Weckler on the cooling devices that actually work
With mixed reports on how likely another heatwave might be, now might be the time to invest in the right tech to keep your home cool in summer. Adrian Weckler gives Dee Reddy the lowdown on how to keep the heat down.…
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Self-driving cars are coming and Ireland is getting ready
Adrian recently climbed into a taxi in California and found nobody behind the wheel. It was a fully autonomous Waymo. So how far is Ireland from seeing the same thing on our roads? Barry Lunn, founder and CEO of…
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The electric car boom has hit a new problem
Electric car sales are climbing but owning one is becoming more complicated. Public charging prices have surged, grants are changing, and thousands of people living in terraced homes still cannot easily charge outside…
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Maybe it's time to ban e-scooters in Ireland
Electric scooters were once seen as the future of urban transport, but growing safety concerns are changing the conversation. On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by former Fine Gael TD Noel…
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America's AI kill switch — why Donald Trump now decides whether we get Claude and ChatGPT in Europe
The United States has ordered Anthropic to restrict access to its most advanced AI model and is now urging other leading developers to give the government early access to new systems before they are released. Is this…
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Dull and robotic or jiu-jitsu tech bro — what is real Mark Zuckerberg like behind the scenes?
Who is Mark Zuckerberg really? Is he the awkward, robotic tech billionaire seen in public, or something very different behind closed doors? Sheera Frenkel, Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times journalist and…
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The Northern Irish man who hunts and shuts down online scammers
The week on The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler, speaks with Jim Browning, the Northern Ireland based digital investigator known for exposing global scam operations. With millions of YouTube subscribers, Browning…
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The uncomfortable truth about banning under 16s from social media
Title • The uncomfortable truth about banning under 16s from social media Description/Copy Should Ireland follow the UK and ban social media for under 16s? Adrian is joined by JJ Clarke to examine why many child…
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WWDC: Why Apple says EU rules are blocking its biggest AI upgrade
Will Apple users in Europe miss out on the company's biggest AI upgrade yet? And what does the growing dispute between Apple and the European Commission mean for consumers? Adrian Weckler spoke to Ben Wood at FDM CCS…
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Why people believe the conspiracy that your phone is listening to you
Is your phone really listening to you or is something more complex going on behind the scenes? Adrian Weckler and JJ Clarke tackle the most enduring tech conspiracy theory, the belief that private conversations…
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Why Pope Leo is right about AI and tech bros
AI was supposed to replace workers at speed. Instead, some of the world’s biggest companies are finding costly problems, poor results and frustrated customers. Adrian Weckler and JJ Clarke examine why firms such as…
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Online features and fighting fraud: should a neobank replace your legacy bank?
Irish consumers are embracing online banks in their droves, but do they trust them with their salaries, savings and investments? Adrian Weckler is joined by Bianca Zwart, chief strategy officer at bunq to discuss the…
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The hidden catch in Ireland’s fibre broadband deals
Why does one fibre broadband package cost nearly twice as much as another using the same line? Are Irish households paying more than they need to for internet access? And do speed guarantees matter when choosing a…
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Is Ireland's multinational tech addiction hurting Irish companies and holding us all back?
Ireland has long relied on multinational tech companies to fuel jobs growth and tax revenue but are we becoming dangerously dependent on them? Professor Joe Haslam, executive director of the Owner´s Scaleup Program at…
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How to save a fortune — a beginners' guide to getting home solar in Ireland, from pricing and grants to batteries and selling energy back to the grid
Electricity bills are soaring and more Irish homeowners are wondering if solar panels are finally worth it. On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Dr Paul Deane, Senior lecturer in clean energy in UCC,…
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The EU tries to regulate deepfake porn and AI
Deepfake pornography is emerging as one of the most urgent challenges in artificial intelligence. On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Aoife White at the European Correspondent, who specialises in EU…
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Was Tim Cook good or bad for the world?
On this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler examines the end of an era as Tim Cook prepares to step down as Apple chief executive after fifteen years. With author of “Apple in China: the capture of the…
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AI music, bot farms and fraud — why we can't tell the difference and how one Irish company is fighting it
Can you really hear the difference between AI and human music anymore? and does it even matter? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to John Corley, chief executive of Spanish Point…
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Trump, Pope Leo and Peter Thiel's obsession with the Antichrist
Why is Peter Thiel talking about the Antichrist in Rome? and what does it reveal about the intersection of tech and belief? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to ?Dr. Massimo Faggioli,…
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From tech to social media influencer: how @WineListGuy Jonathan Staunton pivoted career at age 50
How do you go from tech to wine influencing? What does it take to build a global following online? And can passion become a real business? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to Jonathan…
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Apple at 50: hits, misses and the AI dilemma in journalism
Fifty years on from its creation, what were Apple’s hits? Misses? And is AI use a no-go for journalists? Adrian Weckler is joined by Darragh Nolan on The Big Tech Show to mark 50 years of Apple, from the Macintosh to…
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Richie Sadlier on the manosphere
Why are teenage boys still drawn to online influencers? and what are they really looking for? Psychologist, broadcaster and former professional footballer, Richie Sadlier joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to…
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Dodgy boxes: a new era begins as end users face legal action
Could you be next to face legal action? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss dodgy boxes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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How a floppy disk gave me ransomware
How did the world’s first ransomware attack begin? and why are we still falling for the same tricks today? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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From property deals to AI: Oisín Hanrahan’s €60m startup bet on food
How did an Irish student end up building one of the biggest home-services startups in the US? Irish entrepreneur Oisín Hanrahan joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to discuss his path from buying property in…
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Are Anthropic really AI's good guys? Measuring ethics in a time of chaos
Is Anthropic emerging as the “good guy” of artificial intelligence? And do ethics in AI actually matter to users? Veteran tech journalist Rupert Goodwins joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to discuss the rivalry…
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Hands on with Apple's new MacBook Neo, a competitor-destroying bargain at €699
Is Apple’s MacBook Neo the best value laptop ever? Can it match a MacBook Air? And is €699 all you need for the Mac experience? Darragh Nolan, multimedia reporter at the Irish Independent, joins Adrian on this week’s…
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Who is Sam Altman? Inside his life and his ChatGPT empire
Who is Sam Altman and why does he matter so much to artificial intelligence? What do we really know about his views on risk, control and power in the AI race? Ellen Huet, features writer with Bloomberg News and host of…
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Monty Munford: How I lost £25,000 in crypto with one bad security decision
How safe is your crypto really? And what happens when your private keys fall into the wrong hands? Journalist and crypto commentator Monty Munford joins Adrian on this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show. Adrian and…
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Dings, pings and WhatsApp voice notes - other people’s tech habits that drive us mad
What tech habits drive us absolutely bonkers? Is it a generation gap? And how do we combat it? Saoirse Hanley, journalist at the Irish Independent, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show. See…
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Stranded in the wild: when your EV breaks down
What happens when your electric car breaks down away from home? Do they have technicians to deal with them? And if you're in a very rural area, can you rely on breakdown services or might you be stranded? Darragh…
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Power, platforms, and policy: Minister James Lawless on the challenges of big tech
What is the future of AI in Ireland? Do we have digital sovereignty? And should social media be banned for under sixteens? James Lawless, Minister for further and higher education, research, innovation and science,…
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Inside the system designed to keep you hooked
What is a recommender algorithm? Should they be switched off? And how do they create toxic narrative bubbles? Johnny Ryan, digital rights campaigner and director of Enforce at the Irish Council for Civil Liberties,…
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