How technology led to the rise of HTS and the fall of Assad in Syria HTS presented the removal of a brutal dictatorship that had lasted for five decades as a straightforward task accomplished in a matter of days. Currently, the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) has assumed control in Syria, while former president Bashar al-Assad reportedly resides in Russia. Although the narrative often emphasizes the use of armoured vehicles and firearms, many analyses overlook the significant impact of...
Dec 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 63
Protecting submarine cables, how the big players are now involved Submarine fibre optic cables are responsible for carrying 99% of the world's internet traffic yet they are often subject to damage. Therefore, it is fortunate that a coordinated organisation exists to ensure the resilience of these essential cables. Gareth and Ania discuss why this has only been set up recently. Proton – from VPN’s to data encryption – a different approach to other tech companies The company’s website states “A be...
Dec 10, 2024•34 min•Ep. 62
A new feeding robot could return people’s independence at mealtimes A group of friends is enjoying lunch together, however one of the friends is unable to use their arms so rely on a carer help them eat. Now a new robot – called FIDI – could return their independence at mealtimes. A robotic arm positioned on the table automatically delivers food to their mouth, using AI and cameras to adapt to the user’s movements and behaviours, ensuring that the food reaches its intended destination—the person...
Dec 04, 2024•35 min
Kyiv – a smart city adapting to war As the full-scale Russian invasion surpasses the thousand-day milestone, Ukrainians are keeping the war on the news agenda. One aspect that was discussed at Web Summit is Kyiv's transformation into a self-proclaimed 'smart city', highlighting the increasing availability of digital municipal services for its citizens. Oleg Polovinko, an advisor on digitalization to the mayor of Kyiv, noted that disruption has been a catalyst for innovation and what started as a...
Nov 26, 2024•40 min•Ep. 60
Tech and the rise of autocracies around the word - a Web Summit Special How has technology helped autocracies rise around the world and can it be used to bring democracy back? Angelica spoke to Venezuelan political activist and opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez about how technology has led to the rise of autocracies around the globe and how it can be used to restore democracy. Somewhere on Earth is at Web Summit Lisbon, alongside more than 70,000 attendees. We speak to Karena Walshe, Head of Impa...
Nov 19, 2024•27 min
How reliable are French language AI Chatbots? French is one of the fastest growing languages in the world. About half of all French speakers live in Africa. It’s the official language in 27 countries. So when you find out that French language AI chatbots give the wrong answer a quarter of the time, that’s a problem given the rising popularity of such bots. The anti-misinformation news organisation NewsGuard have just published a report on this. Ania’s been speaking to Chine Labbé, she’s one of t...
Nov 12, 2024•36 min•Ep. 58
Internet shutdowns in Mozambique following election In Mozambique, eleven people have lost their lives as law enforcement intensified its response to protests that erupted after the elections in October. For the second time within a year, authorities have suspended mobile internet services. Felicia Anthonio, the KeepItOn Campaign Manager at the digital rights organisation Access Now, who is based in Ghana, tells us about the impact. Legal digital ID in Namibia to improve access to services Namib...
Nov 05, 2024•33 min•Ep. 57
Why aren’t women embracing AI? Women are not using AI as much as men and appear to be falling behind in using it in the workplace, according to Susi O’Neill. Susi is the Founder and Executive Director of EVA, a responsible technology and communications consultancy building trust in tech. She noticed in the AI Adoption data that women were using AI at work less than men and has been researching into why this is happening and what can be done to stop women falling behind. How to make an audiobook ...
Oct 29, 2024•39 min
What happens when GPS is jammed? Most of us have used GPS – global positioning systems – to navigate to new destinations, but it’s also vital in getting goods delivered to our doors, with the entire aviation and shipping industries reliant upon it. But increasingly the signals are being disrupted – either jammed or spoofed, that’s setting a false location. We hear from Bridget Diakun, Maritime Risk Analyst, Lloyd's List Intelligence and Dr Ramsey Faragher from Cambridge University. SOEP’s new ho...
Oct 22, 2024•38 min•Ep. 55
What’s next for agritech? How lawyers are getting food from farm to table Agriculture is changing, and with it, so is agritech. Incredible new tech solutions are needed as the human population continues to grow and climate change necessitates updates to our traditional farming methods. This week, we have a special podcast from White & Case, an international law firm that is increasingly working with cleantech and greentech clients. These technologies need funding—which usually involves inves...
Oct 17, 2024•33 min
Could making Wikidata 'human' readable lead to better AI? A new project is underway to allow Large Language Models (LLMs) to read Wikidata. The data is currently structured in a way that’s machine readable, but LLMs read data more like humans than machines, meaning this vast amount of human curated, high quality data isn’t accessible to this type of AI. By allowing access to Wikidata, LLMs could become more reliable. Ania spoke to Lydia Pintscher, the Portfolio Lead Product Manager at Wikidata D...
Oct 10, 2024•32 min•Ep. 53
Send us a text Could AI chatbots counter conspiracy theories? If people believe in conspiracy theories, how likely are they to think again when presented with facts and evidence? The good news is that people can shift their view when wacky theories are debunked according to a study just published in the journal Science. The researchers created an AI chatbot that engaged with people and presented them with facts to counter their dodgy beliefs. The study team invited people to state why they belie...
Oct 01, 2024•35 min•Ep. 52
Send us a text The first ever DNA computer engine and storage device A revolutionary approach to computing has just been published by a team of US engineers. Instead of using silicon to underpin our tech, the researchers have used DNA - the very molecules present in all living cells that encode the fundamental aspects of our existence. Teams from North Carolina State University and Johns Hopkins University have achieved this ground-breaking advancement, referring to it as a "primordial DNA store...
Sep 24, 2024•36 min•Ep. 51
Send us a text Electric Vehicles going offline as companies go bust Drivers of electric vehicles are finding their cars are going offline if the parent company is bankrupt. Smartphone apps linked to the cars, which control many features, don't work and when something goes seriously wrong, then there's no garage that can fix the problem. China, the world's biggest market for EV's, has seen government subsidies disappear as well as intense price wars between companies, leading to many startups fai...
Sep 17, 2024•31 min•Ep. 50
Send us a text Is Kamala Harris the AI Tsar? The upcoming debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump is scheduled for next week, where the two candidates for the U.S. presidency will engage in a direct confrontation on the ABC news channel in anticipation of the November election. Should the topic of artificial intelligence arise, it may favour Kamala Harris, given her significant involvement in AI policy as Vice President. This perspective is shared by Bhaskar Chakravorti, Dean of Global Bus...
Sep 10, 2024•34 min•Ep. 49
Send us a text Tiny batteries for tiny robots that could deliver drugs inside our bodies Engineers at MIT have developed a miniature battery that can power cell-sized, autonomous robots for drug delivery within the human body, as well as for other purposes such as detecting leaks in gas pipelines. The batteries measure 0.1 mm in length and 0.002mm in thickness each - that’s about the same thickness as a human hair. The battery captures oxygen from the air and uses it to oxidize zinc, generating ...
Sep 03, 2024•36 min
Send us a text Is the internet in Pakistan behind a firewall? Recently internet speeds throughout Pakistan have significantly diminished, leading to widespread outrage and allegations that the government is covertly implementing a new firewall system to enhance its surveillance and control over the nation’s internet. The government has denied any responsibility for this slowdown, which has impacted millions of users and caused disruptions for businesses nationwide. Founder and Director of Netblo...
Aug 27, 2024•29 min•Ep. 47
Send us a text AI submissions are avoiding detection at a well-respected university in the UK As exam results roll in for pupils across the Northern Hemisphere, a study conducted at the University of Reading showed that 94 percent of the AI-generated exam submissions went unnoticed. On average, these artificial responses received higher grades than those from real students. Dr Peter Scarfe who led the study, is on the show. Wireless monitoring of audience reactions How can a producer ensure a fi...
Aug 20, 2024•36 min•Ep. 46
Send us a text Internet blackout in Equatorial Guinea and social media bans in Venezuela Internet access has been cut off in Equatorial Guinea, specifically in the Annobón province. Residents have been protesting against the government's environmental and human rights violations on the island. Digital rights advocates are urging the government to restore internet services. Our editor Ania Lichtarowicz, has the details. Meanwhile, connectivity issues are also affecting Venezuela. NetBlocks report...
Aug 13, 2024•29 min•Ep. 45
Send us a text Can a booming tech economy help Ukraine in the war against Russia? Ukrainian Independence Day is almost upon us, and as the war with Russia continues well into its third year, we want to look at how everyday tech development continues and is a vital part of the country's economy. We’ve brought together three entrepreneurs to tell us about their work. Andrey Klen is co-founder of a number of tech businesses – including Petcube, O0 Design, and Spend With Ukraine. The platform brings...
Aug 06, 2024•31 min•Ep. 44
Send us a text Would you like more SOEP and also help keep the show going?A little message from Gareth (and the team) to remind you that you can subscribe for even more content from Somewhere on Earth for $10US a month - and you can cancel anytime too. Normal transmissions resume after this short break.Huge THXThe SOEP Team Support the show Editor: Ania LichtarowiczProduction Manager: Liz Tuohy Recording and audio editing : Lansons | Team Farner For new episodes, subscribe wherever you get your ...
Aug 02, 2024•4 min
Send us a text Getting online in Russia – which tech companies are standing up to Putin? The Mozilla Foundation, widely recognised for the Firefox Browser, temporarily took down browser add-ons that assist people in Russia in bypassing state censorship, following a request from the state, according to news reports. It reversed this decision and reinstated the browser add-ons that Russia objected to. Apple though has been criticised by a VPN provider for complying with Russian demands to remove i...
Jul 30, 2024•32 min•Ep. 43
Send us a text Duchenne UK pushes tech to its limits to help those with the condition This week we see the impact one charity is having on development of assistive technology for the degenerative condition Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), which affects more than 300,000 people around the world. The technology is playing a vital role in keeping teenage dreams alive. A mother and son tell their story; he has DMD, she’s founded a charity to tackle some of the big challenges in drug development in...
Jul 23, 2024•34 min•Ep. 42
Send us a text Do we need new laws to control AI? Will current legislation be sufficient to control the development of AI? How is AI affecting our human rights? Is AI good enough to draft legal submissions? Does automation bias make us want to trust the technology more than we should? These are just some the of questions SOEP is asking international human rights attorney Susie Alegre. She’s just published her latest book “Human Rights, Robot Wrongs” and will navigate us through the impact of AI ...
Jul 16, 2024•39 min•Ep. 41
Send us a text Using AI to identify threats to human rights and political activists Political activities such as hustings, campaigns and voting are well underway in many countries, but alongside these come incidents of reprisals and voter intimidation in certain regions. Ushahidi is an NGO based in Kenya that maps these incidents. They’ve collaborated with major AI companies specializing in global risk detection. Dataminr utilises public data through its platform to identify risks in advance. Th...
Jul 10, 2024•35 min•Ep. 40
Send us a text Gen Z, Millennials, technology and the Nairobi protests Following a tumultuous – and violent – series of days in Kenya, President Ruto has reversed his decision on tax hikes that sparked unrest in the streets. The situation has been extremely dire – with law enforcement resorting to tear gas and firearms. Amnesty International, in collaboration with local civic groups in Kenya, has documented a minimum of five fatalities from gunshot wounds and over thirty individuals sustaining i...
Jul 02, 2024•31 min•Ep. 39
Send us a text Detecting cancer at the DNA level with AI New research shows that cancer could be detected in the very building blocks of life – our DNA, possibly leading to a diagnosis when the disease is in its infancy. Dr. Shamith Samara-jiwa from Imperial College London is on the show to discuss how AI can be used to detect tiny changes to our DNA called methylation patterns. Genetic factors play a significant role in the development of cancer, making it essential to analyse disruptions in ou...
Jun 25, 2024•38 min•Ep. 38
Send us a text Podextra - how you can get a bit more of Somewhere on Earth...Just a gentle reminder that we produce two versions of each show of Somewhere on Earth. There's the main show, which is available to everyone for free and there's an extended PODEXTRA edition where we delve a little deeper and chat longer to our guests. That's just $10US a month and you can cancel anytime - there's no tie in period. We welcome your support of any size, any time as without it we simply wouldn't be able t...
Jun 24, 2024•4 min
Send us a text Who is behind the big hack attacks? More than 100 organisations around the world are believed to have been hacked in ransomware attacks since 2022 by a single hacker group. The most recent occurrence of a ransomware attack was on a company responsible for analysing blood tests for the UK's National Health Service which prompted some major London hospitals to declare a 'critical incident', with many operations postponed. It is believed that a criminal organisation known as Qilin, c...
Jun 18, 2024•28 min•Ep. 37
Send us a text Rare earth element boom poisoning Myanmar Growing demand for electric vehicles and wind turbines might look good for emissions, but there’s an environmental cost too. Regions, habitats and livelihoods in Myanmar are facing significant damage because the surge in demand for permanent magnets is driving up mining for rare earth elements according to a report from Global Witness. CEO Mike Davies tells us more. SOEPSUDS and your comments and questions We catch up with our SOEPSUDS num...
Jun 11, 2024•31 min•Ep. 36
