AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

AI Ireland

Join host Mark Kelly on the AI Ireland podcast as he explores the impactful applications of AI in both business and society.

Discover groundbreaking research, innovative technologies, and thought-provoking discussions on the ethical implications of AI.

Gain valuable insights into how AI is being applied to business and society, as Ireland drives positive change and fosters innovation in this dynamic podcast.

Play

Open in

23 episodes
weekly
Avg 21 min
English

Episodes 23

Newest Oldest Longest

All20 Unplayed20 In progress0 Played0

Counted on this page — what you have heard stays on this device, so it is not something the list can be paged by.

Thursday · 24 min
E249 The Future of Drones in Ireland: AI and Security with Drone Space's Ian Kiely & Joe
Today’s guest is Ian Kiely, Leading UAV specialist, Founder of Drone Space Limited and ESA project contributor. He is also joined by Joe, a veteran in national security, maritime navigation and airborne law enforcement. In an ever-evolving digital landscape where drones and AI take centre stage, understanding their impact on airspace, security, and everyday life is crucial. This episode brings to light the sophisticated integration of AI into drone technology and its implications, particularly in Ireland. Topics include: 0:00 Ireland’s drone boom, Manna’s exit and a billion-euro opportunity lost 5:03 How Ireland races to defend against evolving autonomous drone threats 7:19 AI transforms battlefield drones as Ireland hosts EU defence hackathon 11:03 How Drone Space brings industry together for safer, compliant drone operations 12:20 Building a skilled, connected network for safer drone adoption 13:32 Drone innovation accelerates alongside growing security and criminal threats 15:54 Drone technology evolves faster than regulation can keep pace 18:27 AI drone swarms adapt, coordinate and overwhelm traditional defences 20:07 Goal-driven AI drones expose dangerous gaps in Ireland’s defences This episode is sponsored by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, helping Irish businesses close AI skills gaps through practical, funded training and bespoke programmes for their teams. Learn more at https://ictskillnet.ie/
September 3 · 28 min
E248 The Rise of AI Agents: Building the Future of Autonomous Work with Glitch's Kingsley Kelly
Today's guest is Kingsley Kelly, Founder and CTO at Glitch. As AI continues to revolutionise how companies operate, innovate and compete, Kingsley is at the forefront of this change. In this podcast, he shares insights into how Glitch is transforming the advertising landscape and leveraging AI to build a platform that stands resilient amidst the oscillating demands of the modern digital market. Topics include: 0:00 The journey to building a platform simplifying digital advertising 4:47 Building goal-oriented AI agents to simplify marketing automation 6:25 How AI agents face real-world complexity beyond technical capabilities 8:24 How AI supercharges engineers, creating highly productive AI collaborators 11:38 Why AI companies must evolve continuously with advancing AI capabilities 15:15 Building AI knowledge systems through human feedback and continuous learning 17:53 How AI requires embracing uncertainty, complexity and human oversight1 9:43 AI governance, multi-model strategies and strong AI harnesses 24:10 Measuring AI progress through autonomous task length and agent capabilities
August 27 · 23 min
E247 How AI Is Transforming Interviews for Neurodivergent Job Seekers with URhired’s Owen Murray
Today's guest is Owen Murray, Commercial Director at URhired. URhired is not just another AI tool; it is a lifeline designed purposely for neurodivergent job seekers. With over 85% of the neurodivergent community in the UK and Ireland facing unemployment or underemployment, Owen’s mission through URhired is clear and critical.Topics include: 0:00 His role as an AI interview coach empowering neurodivergent job seekers to succeed 5:42 Encouraging neurodivergent hiring through AI-powered talent solutions 8:31 Helping organisations scale inclusive employment through AI support 11:02 How AI interview coaching is helping neurodivergent candidates navigate hiring 14:02 Using Customer feedback to shape AI solution and validate market demand 16:42 Scaling URhired through product refinement and investment 18:20 How entrepreneurial growth is supported by mentorship, networking and curiosity
August 13 · 23 min
E246 How AI Is Transforming Email Security with CyberCheck360's Vinodh Kumar Balaraman
Today's guest is Vinodh Kumar Balaraman, Founder & CEO at CyberCheck360. In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, email security remains a critical line of defence for organisations worldwide. In today’s episode, Vinodh talks us through the evolving landscape of email security and his company’s innovative solutions to protect against cyber attacks.Topics include: 0:00 How CyberCheck360 protects users from sophisticated AI-powered email attacks 7:42 Using sandboxed browser isolation to safely open email links remotely 8:39 Building a hybrid SaaS platform for secure email link isolation 11:35 Targeting regulated organisations with scalable email security for all sizes 14:33 Continuously evolving their platform using AI to detect phishing 16:50 How email security evolving towards AI-powered threat isolation 19:13 Working with Enterprise Ireland for validation, mentorship and growth support 20:38 Advice for entrepreneurs to start early, validate, adapt and evolve
August 6 · 16 min
E245 Small Language Models, Contextual Intelligence and AI Sovereignty with Guglielmo Iozzia
Today's guest is Guglielmo Iozzia, Director, ML/AI and Applied Mathematics at MSD. In the ever-evolving domain of artificial intelligence, small language models pose a revolutionary alternative to the expansive and resource-intensive large-scale models. In this enlightening podcast episode, Guglielmo shares insights from his new book, "Domain-Specific Small Language Models: Efficient AI for Local Deployment,” as we dive deep into the advantages and challenges of small language models. Topics include: 0:00 Optimising Small Language Models for Real-World Edge Applications 3:39 When Small Models Outperform Large Ones 6:16 Fine-Tuning AI with Domain-Specific Data 7:23 Why AI Benchmarks Don't Tell the Full Story 9:02 Lessons Learned After Writing the Book 10:52 Contextual Intelligence in Agentic AI Systems 12:23 How AI Books Are Written and Reviewed in PracticeLink to buy Guglielmo's latest book: https://www.amazon.com/Domain-Specific-Language-Models-Guglielmo-Iozzia/dp/1633436705
July 30 · 19 min
E244 The Rise of Agentic AI: Security, Governance & Enterprise Risk with Sector8’s Kammil Mahajan
Today’s guest is Kammil Mahajan, Co-Founder and CEO at Sector8. Businesses across the globe are confronted with the need to integrate AI into their operations, whether they explicitly choose to or not. However, the challenge extends beyond just implementation; it's about understanding the actions AI systems can autonomously undertake. Kammil’s company Sector8 is at the forefront of addressing these concerns, as he explores the essence of AI security and how Sector8 is paving the way for future enterprises.Topics include: 0:00 His startup lessons from action to failure and resilience 2:12 How Sector8 secures AI adoption through governance and cybersecurity 4:02 Why Agentic AI expands risks through autonomous actions and access 6:48 How Prompt injection evolves into AI-driven actions and risks 8:33 Securing AI starts with visibility, access control and guardrails 10:13 Sector8’s role in enabling secure AI adoption with real-time controls 13:26 How AI security is shifting towards agentic governance and real-time controls 14:40 Partnering with Enterprise Ireland to scale globally 16:12 How entrepreneurship requires resilience, discipline and staying focused
July 23 · 17 min
E243 Why Continuous Security Testing Is the Future of Cybersecurity with WhatsExposed's Elena Donea
Today’s guest is Elena Donea, CEO at WhatsExposed. With AI changing cybersecurity faster than ever before, Elena joins us on today’s podcast to explore how organisations can stay ahead of an evolving threat landscape. From why getting the cybersecurity basics right still matters, to how AI is reshaping offensive and defensive security, Elena shares practical insights drawn from years of experience helping businesses identify and reduce cyber risk. Topics include: 0:00 Building WhatsExposed to deliver expert offensive cybersecurity services 1:52 Bootstrapped growth before securing angel investment and early customers 3:14 Continuous offensive security over one-off compliance-driven testing 5:48 How AI accelerates cyber threats, making strong security fundamentals essential 9:29 How AI helps detect threats faster by cutting through security noise 10:24 Helping companies identify exposure and prioritise continuous security improvements 12:56 How Enterprise Ireland helped accelerate their growth 13:58 Plans to scale internationally as AI reshapes offensive cybersecurity and defense
July 16 · 23 min
E242 Building an AI Platform Transforming Social Media Content Creation with coso.ai’s James Flynn
Today's guest is James Flynn, Co-Founder and CEO at coso.ai. Social media has become a cornerstone for businesses aiming to enhance their reach and engagement with target audiences. However, navigating the ever-changing landscape of social media marketing can be a cumbersome task for many businesses. Enter Coso AI, an innovative Irish startup that aims to transform how small businesses approach social media automation through the power of artificial intelligence.Topics include: 0:00 His journey as an AI founder pivoting from failed models to LLM-powered success 4:20 Tailoring social media content using business data and brand insights at Coso.ai 5:05 How Coso.ai combines AI, content strategy, data and design into one platform 9:40 Automating onboarding by analysing existing business data and content 11:25 Driving measurable growth while building AI and partnership moats 15:55 Combining multiple AI models to create flexible content workflows 18:32 Preparing for funding with partnerships, growth and market pull
July 9 · 16 min
E241 AI in Healthcare: AI Agents to Cut Doctors’ Admin Time by Hours with Microdoc's Brian Kelleher
Today’s guest is Brian Kelleher, Founder at MicroDoc. From automating time-consuming documentation to enhancing clinical decision-making, AI has the potential to transform healthcare efficiency while addressing some of the sector’s biggest challenges. In today’s episode, Brian discusses the role of AI in modern healthcare, how solutions like MicroDoc are improving clinical workflows, and what it takes to successfully adopt AI in a highly regulated industry. Topics include: 0:00 Building AI-powered clinical workflows that streamline medical documentation 2:54 How personalised AI dictation reduces document editing time 4:17 How AI learns from corrections to improve accuracy 5:27 Seeing doctors save hours daily through AI documentation 6:19 Driving AI adoption through intuitive clinical workflows 8:30 Building trust through security, compliance and governance 9:59 Embedding AI across the entire clinic workflow 12:11 Pricing AI based on high-value clinical time savings, not compute cost 13:29 Specialised AI agents for clinical tasks with human-in-the-loop oversight
July 2 · 32 min
E240 Ireland’s AI Opportunity Agents, Jobs & the Future of Work with Salesforce’s Mick Costigan
Today’s guest is Mick Costigan, Vice President, Salesforce Futures at Salesforce. As we step into an era increasingly defined by artificial intelligence, businesses globally are striving to adapt, innovate and stay ahead of the curve. In this episode, Mick sheds light on how enterprises can effectively navigate these turbulent waters, offering valuable insights into the intersection of AI, strategy and business transformation. Topics include: 0:00 How the Salesforce Futures team uses foresight to navigate uncertainty 4:40 How AI agents are forcing organisations to rethink workflows 6:53 Why leaders must balance quick AI wins with transformation 8:04 How AI harnesses provide context, trust and enterprise functionality 10:38 How Salesforce rapidly shifted focus to enterprise AI agents 11:52 Without guardrails, AI agents create security, coordination and governance risks at scale 14:33 Why leaders must balance experimentation, action and purpose in AI execution 18:43 How Jobs are evolving bundles of tasks, not shrinking due to AI 21:08 Unlocking new service models and scale through AI Agents 23:42 How AI could help Ireland address labour shortages and scale SMEs globally 25:34 Predicting AI agents will proactively manage work, coordination, and decisions by 2030 30:13 Why the best way to reskill is through hands-on AI use and iterative learning
June 25 · 19 min
E239 From AI Experimentation to Enterprise Transformation with Microsoft Ireland's Kieran McCorry
Today’s guest is Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Ireland. Artificial Intelligence is not just a new frontier but a paradigm shift that's reshaping business models globally. At the recent Dublin Tech Summit, these themes took centre stage as Kieran joined host Mark Kelly on the podcast to explore the current state and potential of AI diffusion in Ireland, highlighting both the progress and the obstacles that lie ahead. Topics include: 0:00 The latest findings in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report 2:43 Seeing businesses shift from AI experimentation to productivity gains 4:40 Why AI transformation requires business redesign, not just tools 8:23 AI adoption requires incentives, measurement and cultural change 11:08 AI adoption grows when usage is measured and rewarded 12:42 How Enterprise AI unlocks greater value than consumer tools 14:47 AI-driven process redesign is coming to business and government 15:50 Why leadership engagement is critical to successful AI adoption
June 18 · 19 min
E238 Building Trusted AI at Enterprise Scale with Workday's Graham Abell
Today’s guest is Graham Abell, VP, Software Engineering & Ireland Site Lead at Workday. As continues to transform the landscape of business operations in our rapidly evolving digital world, Graham joins today’s episode to share insights about Workday's AI initiatives, their contribution to the EU AI Act and the broader implications of AI for businesses. Topics include: 0:00 His journey from test automation engineer to product and engineering leader 2:54 Seeing Workday Dublin grow into a major global R&D hub 5:11 How Workday is building trusted, human-guided AI automation at scale 8:20 How AI is creating smaller, more versatile teams focused on business impact 9:37 Why Responsible AI must be built in from the start, not added later 11:19 Why leadership requires empathy, measurable outcomes and investing in future talent 13:00 His belief that AI should augment jobs, freeing people for higher-value work 15:16 Using AI as a personalised assistant for learning, productivity and decision support
June 11 · 29 min
E237 Inside Enterprise AI Transformation: Agents, ROI, and Co-Creation with Version 1's Brad Mallard
Today’s guest is Brad Mallard, Chief Technology Officer at Version 1. In a world driven by rapid technological change, AI is not just about the technology itself; it’s about people, transformation, and real-world application. In today’s podcast, Brad shares how Version 1 is harnessing artificial intelligence to redefine business processes and educational experiences.Topics include: 0:00 Driving AI transformation across regulated industries worldwide at Version 2:39 Leading AI transformation through internal adoption and public sector innovation 5:12 How they prioritise AI adoption through people, education and change management 7:42 Emphasising AI governance, measurement and business value realisation 11:30 Addressing rising AI costs through token optimisation and model efficiency 15:25 How Version 1 enables AI agents across enterprise workflows and functions 19:06 Plans for continued AI-driven growth, job creation and investment in co-creation spaces 20:39 How Version 1's co-creation studios enable AI-powered, rapid prototype development with clients 23:09 Co-creating AI solutions with clients focused on early ROI validation 25:10 Delivering AI-for-good solutions improving education and productivity globally
June 4 · 22 min
E236 The Impact of General Purpose AI Agents with Jentic’s Sean Blanchfield and Michael Cordner
Today’s guests are Sean Blanchfield CEO and Michael Cordner, CTO at Jentic. In a world driven by innovation and technological advancement, few developments stand as transformative as the emergence of general-purpose artificial intelligence agents. This shift is highlighted in today’s episode live from Dublin Tech Summit, as Michael and Sean chat about the profound implications of AI on both business and society. Topics include: 0:00 How OpenClaw signals the arrival of universal AI agents 5:14 Using OpenClaw to validate Jentic's Vision for Governed AI 7:23 Why the Real Breakthrough Is Agents Working Together 8:58 Without Governance, AI Agents Create Organisational Chaos 11:54 Building AI Demands Perspectives Beyond the Tech Bubble 14:23 Staying Ahead in AI Requires Constant Experimentation 15:49 Their Vision that the Future Isn't Software, It's Agent Organisations 20:00 Why Traditional Org Charts Don't Fit the AI Era
May 7 · 17 min
E235 'AI in Irish Business: Insights from Trinity College & Microsoft Report' with Ashish Kumar Jha
Today’s guest is Ashish Kumar Jha, Professor In Business Analytics at Trinity College Dublin. Trinity College Dublin and Microsoft Ireland recently released their latest AI Economy Ireland 2026 report, showing that Ireland continues to perform strongly in AI adoption, but is falling behind in skills investment and organisational readiness. Ashish joins host Mark Kelly to discuss the key findings from the report, the increasing use of AI across different sectors, the main challenges organisations are facing, and practical strategies for effective AI integration.Topics include: 0:00 Finding widespread AI adoption, but uneven benefits between firms 2:46 Why AI needs structured processes and unified, well-managed data 4:44 The need to audit data, ensure rights, assess AI use and assign accountability 6:24 His advice to focus on real problems first, not AI novelty 8:14 How AI frees time if used well but misuse adds workload 9:36 Reengineer processes first and apply AI where it transforms work 10:47 Deciding to augment or redesign processes, experiment, then scale what works 12:42 Leaders must show AI’s value to allow teams build confidence 15:42 How to access the report available on Trinity College Dublin's website
April 24 · 30 min
E234 'Generative AI, AI Strategy and Work Life Balance' with Darren Redmond
Today’s guest is Darren Redmond, a Generative AI Specialist and experienced Engineering Leader. In the fast-paced world of technology, the lines between professional obligations and personal aspirations can often blur. However, Darren is at the forefront of leveraging AI to redefine his work-life balance. In this episode, Darren delves into his journey of using artificial intelligence to create efficiencies in his work, allowing for more personal time spent with his family. Topics include: 0:00 His journey as an experienced engineer connecting systems to now applying AI principles 4:42 Using AI to AI enable rapid automation, experimentation and scalable decision-making workflows 8:02 How a health scare reshaped priorities toward family, lifestyle and intentional work 9:20 Enabling 10x productivity with AI, shifting developers to orchestration roles 12:00 A multi-agent AI shifts software roles toward orchestration, quality and customer-focused design 14:41 Non-technical AI skills automate content, emails and daily workflows at scale 17:40 Working on a mix of projects with shared reusable skills, each with tailored instructions and outputs 20:06 Applying AI to automate work and build income, prioritising time with children and lifestyle design 22:13 Using an AI-enabled business flywheel across Lego content, consultancy and automation 26:03 As AI costs vary, governance and literacy help reduce token usage
April 9 · 25 min
E233 ‘AI Tools That Boost Productivity and Creativity’ with Get Started with AI’s Jonathan McCrea
Today’s guest is Jonathan McCrea, Experienced Broadcaster and Founder at Get Started With AI. As AI is revolutionising industries and redefining how we approach both personal and professional tasks, Jonathan shares his enlightening journey with AI, illustrating not just the power of technology but also the creativity it unleashes.Topics include: 0:00 His journey from starting curious, learning by doing, embracing failure and growth 4:21 How his tech curiosity drives building, teaching and using AI tools 8:33 Using AI to build custom tools, boosting productivity and innovation 13:06 How AI tools enable rapid app-building, solving simple problems profitably 15:42 Why personal AI projects unlock powerful insights, but gets underused 19:24 Advice to adopt AI gradually through practice, personalisation and building habits 22:48 Empowering employees with AI while preserving their personal knowledge
April 2 · 22 min
E232 ‘AI for SMEs: How to Use AI in Your Business’ with Straitéis AI’s Stephen Redmond
Today’s guest is Stephen Redmond, Founder and Chief AI Officer at Straitéis AI. Joining us for a third appearance on the AI Ireland podcast, Stephen discusses his continuous contributions to the field of artificial intelligence and its application across industries, as well as what to expect in his latest book, AI: Curious to Capable, Moving from AI Curiosity to Measurable Business Value. Topics include: 0:00 His ambition to set up a company to drive deeper AI adoption 5:11 His new book which guides SMEs on AI strategy, training and adoption 10:00 How AI sped up writing, improved clarity, enabled self-publishing and iteration 14:09 Setting up custom AI and agent workflows to improve insights and scalability 15:23 Advice to use AI iteratively, track progress and start with simple use cases 18:26 Refine and personalise AI that generates drafts from your knowledge
March 26 · 15 min
E231 'The Future of AI in Media Production' with That's That Productions' Paul Harney
Today’s guest is Paul Harney, Director at That’s That Productions. In this episode, we talk about world of AI in film production, where creativity meets cutting-edge technology. Paul discusses the transformative role of AI in video creation and digital advertising, providing a fascinating insight into how advancements in AI are reshaping the industry. Topics include: 0:00 His background as a veteran videographer using AI tools for editing and experiments 4:32 How AI video tools use tokens, combine media and require human creativity 7:58 Making humorous AI spec ads with mascot characters, such as Chicken Fillet Charlie 9:45 Receiving majority of negative feedback as critics warned AI lowers standards 11:00 How AI in video will rapidly evolve, transforming production and effects 12:18 His plans to evolve with AI while continuing traditional work
March 12 · 27 min
E230 'Building the Future of AI Sales Tools' with Overpath's Dermot O'Connor and Ross Keating
Today’s guests are Ross Keating and Dermot O'Connor, Co-Founders at Overpath. In this episode, Ross and Dermot discuss how they’re steering the ship at Overpath, a company poised to redefine how sales teams operate. They share insights into their innovative approach to integrating AI into the sales process, along with lessons from their journey and their strategic vision for the future. Topics include: 0:00 Combining their sales expertise and technical leadership to found Overpath 4:40 Using funding to acquire an experienced AI product team 6:15 Building an AI startup focusing on speed, brand and proprietary sales expertise 8:15 How their AI sales assistant “Molly” integrates messy, multi-source context intelligently 14:51 Aligning their pricing strategy on usage-based, teammate-style AI agent model 18:18 How sales reps increasingly use AI to improve performance feedback. 20:06 Challenges to differentiate, distribute and humanise AI in crowded market

Showing 1–20 of 23 episodes