The Big Tech Show - podcast cover

The Big Tech Show

Irish Independentwww.independent.ie
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.
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Episodes

Going solar: A beginner’s guide to solar panels

This week the VAT on solar panels was scrapped, making them cheaper for those looking to invest. Is now the time to go solar and what do you need to know before you do? This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by Brian McIntyre from the SEAI. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

May 04, 202330 min

Great expectations: Apple glasses and everything we know so far

What's the next big thing in tech? A lot of people think Apple's new headset, set to be announced in June could be it. But can Apple make augmented reality a success where so many others have flopped? Adrian Weckler is joined by Stuart Miles, journalist and the founder of the price comparison widget, Squirrel. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 27, 202321 min

The killing of Bob Lee: what happened to the tech founder?

Earlier this month, the 43 year old founder of the Cash app, Bob Lee, was killed in San Francisco. It took police a few days to arrest another tech worker, Nima Momeni, who police say was known to the deceased. But by then, a narrative had spread across the media about Lee being a victim of San Francisco's decline into lawlessness, homelessness and chaos. This week Adrian is joined by the editor of San Francisco’s Mission Local news website, Joe Eskenazi to discuss the case and the coverage that...

Apr 20, 202324 min

Being a young tech founder in Ireland: 'When I'm working on lots of things, I'll forget to hang out with friends'

What does the next generation of tech founders look like in Ireland? What are they making? How do they think? This week Adrian is joined by one such founder, Jack O’Regan Kenny. At the age of 20, Jack has already founded and exited one company and is now managing director of the Dublin based accelerator, Patch. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 13, 202325 min

From recipes to basic work tasks: a beginner’s guide to using ChatGPT

Since the launch of GPT4 last month, the world over has been talking about ChatGPT and how it will change our lives as we know it. Aside from the potential negative sides that have been widely covered, are there everyday tasks that this AI tech can help us with? Adrian Weckler takes a look at some of the best examples of ChatGPT making life easier. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apr 06, 202322 min

Elon, experts and that open letter: Could AI pose a risk to society and if so, what?

This week Elon Musk joined AI experts in signing an open letter, calling for a pause on the development of artificial intelligence technology more powerful than Open AI's GPT-4. Could future progress in AI pose a threat to society and are those developing the tech considering the implications of their work? Adrian Weckler discusses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 31, 202324 min

Crypto CEO arrested and celebrities being fined: is the currency in chaos?

Do Kwon, the founder of Terraform Labs was charged in the US with fraud, after his arrested in Montenegro last week. Now legal action is being taken against Binance, with US regulators accusing the company of operating illegally in the country. What is happening in crypto and we going to see more scandals coming from the industry? Host: Adrian Weckler. Guest: FT’s Scott Chipolina See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 30, 202314 min

From Bao Fan to Jack Ma: Why are Chinese tech billionaires going missing?

Last month, Chinese billionaire tech banker Bao Fan was reported missing after his company Chinese Renaissance, said they were unable to contact him. His disappearance is not the first time this has happened. Back in November 2020, Jack Ma, founder of the online retail giant Alibaba vanished for months. Why are these powerful figures in China’s tech industry disappearing? Adrian Weckler is joined by journalist Clifford Coonan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 23, 202323 min

GPT-4 and the new era of AI

This week, OpenAI released the newest version of its artificial intelligence technology, ChatGPT. Will it live up to the hype, or will the main focus still be around writing college essays for students? Adrian Weckler is joined by co-founder of Caliber AI, Neil Brady to discuss this and the new era of AI we are now in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 16, 202317 min

Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank: how will Ireland be impacted?

In the last 72 hours, the world has been consumed with the threat of a possible banking crisis.It all started with a hitherto little-known U.S. lender called Silicon Valley Bank. What happened for the bank to collapse and will Ireland be impacted? Adrian Weckler is joined by Irish Independent's business editor, Donal O'Donovan. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 13, 202313 min

Bonus: Dodgy box downfall: are Irish users in trouble?

A crackdown on illegal TV streaming networks, also known as ‘dodgy boxes’ is taking place in 12 counties across Ireland. The main targets are a number of online portals and services that provide illegal access to premium TV content. Is this the beginning of the end for the dodgy box? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 13, 20239 min

Could TikTok be banned in Ireland?

It's been a busy news week in tech. After the European Commission banned TikTok on staff phones, Irish data watchdogs met this week to assess if the social media giant poses a cyber risk here. Could TikTok be facing some kind of ban in Ireland? Adrian looks at this, along with other stories hitting the news, including drones causing chaos in Dublin airport and more tech layoffs on the horizon. The Big Tech Show is in association with Square. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Mar 09, 202325 min

‘They stole my bank card and phone and then went on a spending spree’

Charlotte Morgan's story went viral when thieves used her phone to get at her bank card’s pin number, leaving her thousands of pounds out of pocket. Charlotte tells us how to stop the same thing happening to you. This episode was first published on 23rd Sept 2022 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mar 02, 202323 min

Why Elon Musk made me too embarrassed to buy a Tesla

Has Elon Musk’s personal brand affected the sales of Tesla? Since Musk’s Twitter takeover, more people are questioning the values of his other companies, like Tesla – including Adrian Weckler. Steve Dempsey of the Irish Independent joins to discuss the shifting brand perception. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 23, 202317 min

Drive my car: the company preventing crashes with AI

This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian is joined by Barry Lunn, founder and CEO at Provizio, a company trying to save lives with radar technology that can help prevent car crashes. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 16, 202317 min

Nothing personal: What it's like to be laid off by email

The tech industry has been hit with a spate of mass layoffs. One trend emerging from this, is the approach some of these companies take, using email to deliver the news to employees. This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to one of the 12,000 Google employees in the US who woke up to an email telling him he was being let go. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 09, 202322 min

Hooked: behind the algorithms that keep us scrolling

They’re the secretive tech that social media companies use to keep us engaging with the platforms. How much do we know about algorithms and what exactly are they used for? This week Adrian is joined by Damien Mulley to discuss the good, the bad and the potentially harmful way the algorithms could influence users. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Feb 02, 202319 min

Jamie Heaslip: From rugby to startups to Stripe

He is one of Ireland’s most recognisable rugby stars. Now Jamie Heaslip has become a successful startup investor. This week on the Big Tech Show, Jamie joins Adrian to discuss his move from sport to tech and now working for Stripe. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 26, 202325 min

ChatGPT – What's all the hype about?

When ChatGPT launched last year, the hype around the new AI chatbot has grown and grown. It can write poems, screenplays, articles and even do children’s homework. Not only does it have teachers worried, but companies like Google have increased investment in generative AI, so they can keep up. Adrian Weckler takes a look at the chatbot and what all the hype is about. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 17, 202316 min

AC? DC? You charge me all night long: a beginners guide to EVs

Are you thinking of getting an electric car in 2023? This week on the Big Tech Show we have a beginner's guide on all you need to know about going electric. From the best models, to charging them and a million other questions in between. Host: Adrian Weckler. Guest: Derek Reilly. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 12, 202326 min

Metaverse to crypto: what does 2023 have in store for tech?

Last year was a turbulent one for the tech industry. Could 2023 be as dramatic? This week on the Big Tech Show, Adrian looks at what we can expect from tech this year, including the possibility of more layoffs, what we can expect from cryptocurrency and if this year is the year the Metaverse will catch on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jan 05, 202325 min

Martina Fitzgerald on making the move from RTE to tech CEO

Formerly RTÉ's political correspondent, Martina Fitzgerald made the move into the tech industry when she took the job of CEO in Scale Ireland in 2020. A not-for-profit organisation, she now represents start-ups and growing businesses. This week Martina joins Adrian to discuss her time as a journalist, her decision to move into tech and how the industry is treated both by politicians and the media. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....

Dec 29, 202227 min

Neuralink and Elon Musk's big plans for brain implants

It's been a busy week for Elon Musk, with his Twitter poll calling for him to step down as CEO of the social network. But this month the tech billionaire revealed what his other company Neuralink has been working on. Adrian Weckler is joined by journalist Antonio Regalado to discuss the possibility of brain chip implants being made available by the company. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 22, 202224 min

5th Anniversary Special: Mark Little on Twitter, his career and the future of Journalism

This week marks the 5th Anniversary of the Big Tech Show. Joining us for this extended episode is our first-ever guest, broadcaster and founder of Storyful and Kinzen, Mark Little. Mark joins Adrian to chat about Twitter and Elon Musk, the future of journalism and his new role in Spotify. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 15, 202237 min

The Best Tech of 2022

Now that we're in the final weeks of 2022, Adrian takes a look back at the best tech of the year, including smartwatches, home appliances and headphones. Is Bitcoin doomed? Or are we in the midst of a crypto winter, the trough of another cycle, with canny investors waiting it out? Adrian is also joined by the Managing Director of Bitpanda Alex Batlin to discuss. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 08, 202229 min

Ask Adrian: Is my phone listening to me?

This week on the Big Tech Show, as part of our new Ask Adrian segment, we ask if our phones are really listening to us, how we can stop scam calls and discuss some of the tech news stories of the week. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dec 01, 202229 min

Signal’s boss on why WhatsApp can’t be trusted

How concerned are you about your messages to friends or family staying private? On this week’s Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by CEO of messaging app Signal, Meredith Whittaker to talk about absolute privacy – is it always a good thing, would people abandon WhatsApp or iMessage in favour of it and can it sometimes help criminals? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 24, 202219 min

The ‘Free Now’ boss on taxi delays and banning cars

On this week’s Big Tech Show With Adrian Weckler, we talk to the global CEO of the taxi company Free Now about cities banning cars and the likelihood of autonomous vehicles soon. Thomas Zimmerman also answers questions about taxi shortages and whether the name ‘Free Now’ is often used in frustration by customers left waiting. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nov 17, 202216 min

Dropbox CEO on the tech wreck and the death of the traditional office

Adrian sits down with the billionaire tech CEO of Dropbox, Drew Houston, to talk about his new revamped office in Dublin, the future of work, what’s going with the tech industry’s wave of job layoffs and whether Ireland is vulnerable. The two also talk about Dublin’s cost of living, where Dropbox now sits compared to Microsoft, the pros and cons of airing political views as a tech CEO, and what he said to Steve Jobs when the late Apple CEO tried to buy Dropbox. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Nov 10, 202227 min
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