Explore every episode of the podcast The Big Tech Show

How big is the rift emerging between the US and EU over AI? Why are tech giants going big on nuclear AI data centres? And are we witnessing the end of the non-robotic taxi? To discuss, Adrian was joined by head of growth at Humanloop and founder of Taxbot.ie, Conor Kelly, on the Big Tech Show. Conor began by talking about his recent move to San Francisco and the attitude there to Europe. He said that all the innovation in the artificial intelligence space is coming out of Silicon Valley with all big tech companies releasing new AI models there. The Dublin native noted that Europe is so far behind the US that the newer models can’t even be brought to Europe anymore. You can listen to the full episode here on the Irish Independent website or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Is the answer to Ireland’s data center energy problem nuclear power? Why are Google and Microsoft investing in it? And why are 15 data centres across the country paused? Adrian was joined by Senior Lecturer in Clean Energy at University College Cork, Dr. Paul Deane, to discuss the issue.

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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.

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What was the Web Summit like without Paddy Cosgrave? Will it survive? Was it worth going to the event in Portugal this week? Adrian discusses the highs and lows of the convention in Lisbon, where he has been for the past four days.

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In the world of privacy, why are messaging apps like Signal fighting to stop governments creating back doors into its app? How does this affect the user's privacy? And can messages that are not encrypted be turned over to law enforcement? Adrian spoke to Signal’s president, Meredith Whittaker, at the Web Summit in Portugal.

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What is the EU’s right to repair proposal? Will it help an age group that don’t know how to change a lightbulb? And will it save the average customer money when fixing their tech? Adrian is joined by technology presenter on Ireland AM, Gadget guy and CEO of back from the future, Colin Baker.

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Has technology made us compulsive trackers? Fitness wearables, electricity monitoring apps, travelling at the most efficient speed in your EV and the list goes on. Have we become obsessed? Can the constant pinging of your fitness watch be good for you? Professor of psychiatry at Trinity College, Brendan Kelly, looks at the unhealthy side of constantly measuring and when to give them up.

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Does the news still happen on twitter? Do journalists still hang out there? Can the new name, logo and freedom of speech policy prove successful? Or has disinformation, reinstated banned accounts and trying to be the ‘’everything app’’, led to demise of X? Under Elon Musk's ownership, sweeping changes have meant one thing for the company – controversy. Adrian chats to producer, JJ Clarke, about the year that was at X under Elon’s governance.

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What is Web 3? What will this new era of the internet mean for the average web user? And what technologies will come with it? Alex Tapscott, who has just written a book on the top, peels back the layers of Web 3 jargon to explain what works and what’s hype.

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Are you getting the most out of your iPhone 15? What are the unknown functions on the device that Apple doesn’t advertise? On the show today, Adrian runs through the features you probably didn’t know were available.

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On the Big Tech Show this week, we investigate baby monitors. How much do they cost? What do they measure? And which are the top picks? One technology that has emerged to aid parents during this nervy time is the baby monitor. Adrian was joined on the show today by Freelance Lifestyle Journalist, Cat Hufton to discuss the parenting aid. 

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Thousands of motorists' sensitive data was accessible to hackers in a major Garda towing firm IT breach. Over a half a million documents of drivers’, including vehicle registration certs, card details and insurance information were accessible. Joining Adrian to discuss the breach is international cyber-security researcher, Jeremiah Fowler, who discovered the issue.

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Following claims last week by Web Summit founder Paddy Cosgrave that Israel was engaging in “war crimes” in the Gaza Strip, a number of big-name guests have withdrawn from the tech conference in Lisbon next month. On the Big Tech Show today Adrian speaks to Irish Independent reporter, Tabitha Monahan, about the impact that this will have on the organisation.

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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. 

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What lessons did the downfall of Blackberry teach the tech sector? Is the next generation coming to unsettle the tech giants of today? Will Apple and Google become cautionary tales as Blackberry did? Reporter with the Globe and Mail and co-Author of ‘Losing the Signal: The Untold Story Behind the Extraordinary Rise and Spectacular Fall of Blackberry’, Sean Silcoff, joins Adrian to discuss.

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Are online reviews to be trusted, given the amount of fakes ones posted? Consumer affairs correspondent with the Guardian, Sarah Marsh, joins Adrian to talk about it.

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On this weeks Big Tech show, is GoFundMe a vital resource for raising much needed funds, or a service that’s papering over the cracks in our creaking welfare and medical systems? GoFundMe CEO Tim Cadogan joins Adrian to talk about it.

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Today on the Big Tech Show, Adrian dives into the clandestine world of spyware. This follows the disclosure of the Predator files which is a new investigation into the global surveillance crisis by the European Investigative Collaborations media network, with technical assistance from Amnesty International’s Security Lab. Offaly native and head of the Security Lab at Amnesty International, Donncha O'Cearbhaill spoke to Adrian about the negative impact of the Predator spyware application.

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What's next for Apple? Who's the next CEO going to be? And are they still working on a car or are they facing trouble in China? And will its mixed reality headset the Vision Pro be a success? Journalist and founder of the price comparison platform Squirrel, Stuart Miles, joined me on the Big Tech show to discuss what are the next moves for the Tech

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The iPhone 15 Pro which has scarcely been out for two weeks has encountered issues with some users reporting the device is overheating. The tech company has blamed a bug in its operating system as a main reason for this problem. On the Big Tech Show, Adrian reviews the Ray-Ban Meta Smart glasses and how the technology become more seamless. Finally, Adrian dives into the tweets of Elon Musk over the past 72 hours (about 3 days) and their increasingly extreme nature.

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In recent months it's emerged that a syndicate of Silicon Valley billionaires, including Ireland's Patrick and John Collison, have bought 55,000 acres of farmland in California with the purpose of starting a new city from scratch. Is this a dystopian idea or a fresh way to tackling San Francisco’s housing crisis? Adrian is joined by J.K Dineen from the San Francisco Chronicle to discuss.

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There’s plenty to consider before adding a smart doorbell to your home – what brand to go for, what you’ll use it for, wired or rechargeable. It’s not quite as simple as sticking the bell on the door either, with some models coming with monthly subscription services. With the added security could come concerns around privacy. Is a smart doorbell right for you? Adrian Weckler is joined by Belfast Telegraph technology columnist Kurtis Reid.

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How do you run a successful startup while studying in college? And what happens when you try to pitch to one of the Collison brothers when you're doing so? On the Big Tech Show this week, Adrian is joined by entrepreneur Robert Davitt who just won Trinity College's Launchpad competition with his startup Fam World, formerly known as HEBE Adventures. It's self-described as the Airbnb of student travel.

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While a lot of focus was on the new iPhone and Apple Watch releases last week, Apple also released a new AirPods Pro model. With the USB-C charging port the most obvious change, are the earbuds worth upgrading too? iOS 17 was also released this week with some notable updates for your current iPhone. Adrian takes a look at the updates, reviews the new AirPods and examines the new WhatsApp social media feed, Channels.

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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.

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This week Apple held its annual launch at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. Among the releases is the new iPhone 15 Pro Max which offers an improved zoom function. Surprisingly, all iPhone euro prices have fallen, and the iPhone 15 Pro is cheaper than last year’s iPhone 14 Pro. There are also updates to the Apple Watch with a more powerful processor and a new way to control it. Are these latest releases worth your money? Adrian Weckler is joined by Stuart Miles and Leo Gebbie in Cupertino.

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Is Ireland introducing the penalty of a thought crime? Could you be arrested and prosecuted for something you’ve written or drawn or just imagined, but never shared online or with another person? Irish Council of Civil Liberties Director Liam Herrick and Fine Gael Senator Barry Ward join Adrian for a spirited debate.

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A new wave of crackdowns on TV ‘dodgy boxes’ is under way, with legal warnings being sent out in seven counties so will a garda be calling to your door? Adrian speaks to Irish Independent Business Journalist Caoimhe Gordon about the latest developments.

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Earlier this month, an IT blunder allowed Bank of Ireland customers to withdraw 'free' cash at ATMs. The incident gained global attention. But it’s not just the banks. The HSE, telecoms companies and all sorts of other Irish ultilities and pillar institutions seem to suffer from recurring IT problems. Irish Independent journalist Sarah Collins joins Adrian to find out why many Irish organisations are so bad when it comes to everyday service-oriented tech.

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There are seven deadly words you have never been allowed use for your website. The reason? Someone might be offended. Co-founder and CEO of Ireland’s biggest web domains company, Blacknight, Michele Neylon joins Adrian to explain the rules.

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Disney is going to hike the price of its online streaming service by around €2 following others like Netflix, which have done the same in recent months. Will consumers still pay when the prices go up? Are there any decent alternatives? Adrian speaks to Deirdre Molumby, Audience Editor at Independent.ie and arts journalist Dave Hanratty.

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What will next month's iPhone 15 bring? Are there any interesting new features we should be getting excited about at this point? And what else of interest is there out there in the smartphone world? Adrian looks ahead to the next iPhone launch.

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Ireland’s electric car charging network has come in for significant criticism over the years. As demand for EVs has risen, the number of public charging points has not increased fast enough to keep up. What's going on with Ireland's electric car charging network? Are we stuck with one of the worst networks in Europe or might things actually start to look up very soon. Adrian Weckler is joined by the CEO of EasyGo, Chris Kelly, to discuss.

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Since Elon Musk challenged Mark Zuckerberg to a cage fight back in June, there have been questions over whether the fight would ever actually go ahead. Now though, it looks like the battle of the tech bros is off, after Zuckerberg posting online that he was moving on, saying Musk “isn’t serious” about the bout. Is this whole thing the cringiest thing to happen in the tech world this year? Does it have any signals for what's happening with the companies involved? Adrian Weckler discusses.

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With artificial intelligence now a part of most people’s daily lives in some capacity, there are some that are using developments in the technology to have relationships with AI. Is love possible with an AI creation? Could you date one for example? Is there anything wrong with the idea of dating one? Adrian is joined by clinical psychologist Dr Malie Coyne to discuss.

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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.

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Calls to Ireland’s emergency calls system rose by as much as 50pc this year because of a Samsung smartphone glitch that causes mistaken calls from pockets. Meanwhile, Zoom has asked its staff to return to the office at least two days a week, if they live within an 80km radius of the office. And Irish people spend €108m per month on video streaming services, with the average person spending €28.26 per month. Adrian takes a look at the latest tech news.

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From starting a TikTok house in Ireland to creating a payments company for influencers and then selling that company to an Irish unicorn, Jake Browne is on a very interesting trajectory through the marketing and tech world. Now he's building the next big ad startup. Jake Browne, founder and CEO of Veblen Giffen joins Adrian on the Big Tech Show.

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Elon Musk says he wants X, formerly known as Twitter, to be a super app. But is Revolut getting there first? This week the payments app added car insurance to its list of offerings, which now includes things like credit cards, stock trading, crypto and loans. But things haven't been all positive in tech this week. Accenture has announced 890 jobs at its Irish operation, which is in addition to the 400 cuts announced earlier this year. Can we expect more layoffs in the tech industry or is the tide beginning to turn? Adrian takes a look at the story making headlines in tech this week.

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This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by one of the best-known tech entrepreneurs in Ireland, Bobby Healy, to discuss his vision for the future and how the next drone delivery trial in Blanchardstown will make Manna the biggest drone delivery operation in the world.

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Elon Musk has unveiled Twitter's new logo. X will now replace the famous blue bird. There are also plans for the name Twitter to retire and X to replace it as the new brand name for the platform. Meanwhile, TikTok is to introduce new text-only posts on its platform as a rival service to Twitter. And Spotify has announced it will increase the price of some of its most popular subscriptions. On the Big Tech Show, Adrian takes a look at the tech stories making the news this week.

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What are the best most important gadgets that you may have overlooked in daily life? From home security to lost and found tags we go through the tech you might have missed.

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Twitter has seen a 50pc drop in ad revenue since Elon Musk took over at the social media platform. Now, Twitter has begun paying part of its ad revenue to some profiles with large followings. Is this a way to generate income lost to dwindling advertisers? Meanwhile, Microsoft is set to face its first antitrust probe by the European Union in over a decade for how it has 'bundled' its teams app with the overall Office suite. What could this mean for Microsoft if it is found to have breached anti competition rules? Now that we are the other side of the ChatGPT hype, Google has launched its answer to the AI chatbot, called Google Bard. Is it any good and are the same concerns around misinformation as much a problem for Bard as it is ChatGPT? Adrian takes a look at the big tech stories making the news this week.

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The sale of electric cars in Ireland has been on the rise in recent years, but for those who haven’t turned to EVs, it can be tricky figuring out what you need to know. Adrian is joined by Derek Reilly, founded of Nevo and the EV Ireland YouTube Channel to discuss.

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It's been six days since Meta launched its new platform Threads. A rival to Twitter, it has already gained over 100 million users. What is Threads like and can Irish users sign up? Adrian Weckler takes a look at the much hyped new social media platform.

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Online safety is a topic that we’re yet to find the answer to. Self-regulation by the online platforms doesn’t seem to be cutting it. Now, Ireland has its own online safety commissioner who is tasked with bringing these tech companies in line. Adrian is joined by Ireland’s first online safety commissioner, Niamh Hodnett.

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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.

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What's the transition from sports superstar to tech actually like? Bernard Brogan knows more than most. He has won four all-star awards, seven all-Irelands and had a glittering career in the GAA. Now he has just got funding for his startup PepTalk and is looking to grow the business in the US. Adrian is joined by Bernard Brogan for this week’s Big Tech Show.

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When people talk about quantum computing, they often move quickly to the science fiction area. Stuff like time travel or multiverses. But what is it actually really all about? Adrian is joined by Dr. John Goold, Associate Professor in Physics at Trinity College Dublin.

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Why are we so prone to panicking over new technology? Where once we freaked out about video games, the Internet and 5G, now it's artificial intelligence which we worry will cause the end of civilisation. Has our fear of AI gone too far or is it merely healthy scepticism? Adrian is joined by Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at TCD and Barry Lunn, Founder & CEO of Provizio AI.

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