Avsnitt
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As Ireland prepares for its 2026 Presidency of the Council of the European Union, a critical challenge looms. The technology landscape is shifting dramatically, with foundational AI models concentrating immense power and influence into the hands of a few major players. This dependence introduces massive risks, including uncontrollable costs and a profound lack of national agency over essential digital infrastructure. This is the central problem facing Europe’s digital future.
The solution may lie in building AI systems that are open, trustworthy, and sovereign. This episode explores how embracing open source—a development model and licensing approach—is the key to ensuring resilience, adaptability, and the freedom to affect change. It is a pathway to controlling one’s own digital destiny.
To discuss this vital issue, we are joined by Clare Dillon, a founder of Open Ireland Network and PhD researcher, and Sarah Novotny, an esteemed open source champion who has led projects such as Kubernetes and OpenTelemetry.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Sovereignty means avoiding external control
AI amplifies power through data
Open source provides agency and freedom
Funding software maintenance is essential
Collaboration builds future technology
GUEST DETAILS
Clare Dillon is a founder of Open Ireland Network and is currently a PhD researcher in University of Galway with the Lyro Research Centre. Her work focuses on researching open collaborative software development practices and the idea of trustworthiness through code transparency.
Sarah Novotny is a leading open source champion, actively involved in significant projects including Kubernetes, OpenTelemetry, NGINX, and MySQL. She is also studying for a Master's in Applied Social Data Science in Trinity College, Dublin. -
In an age where critical infrastructure, democratic processes and public services all depend on digital technology, the stakes for getting cybersecurity right have never been higher. A ransomware attack can shut down a country’s health service overnight, and AI now makes it possible to fabricate passports, clone voices and impersonate anyone convincingly. The question is no longer whether something will go wrong - it is how we build the foundations to bounce back when it does.
Professor Hitesh Tewari and Dr Maria Grazia Porcedda join Dr. Claire O’Connell to discuss the newly launched Trinity Centre for Digital Security and Societal Resilience at Trinity College Dublin. They explore what separates digital security from societal resilience, how zero-knowledge proofs could reshape how we prove our identity online, and why cybersecurity is too important to be left to computer scientists alone. They also share their personal journeys into the field, from blockchain research to EU law, and lay out their ambitions for turning the centre into a nationally funded, cross-Ireland research hub.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
What digital security and societal resilience actually mean, and why we need both
The 2021 HSE ransomware attack as a wake-up call for Ireland
How AI is enabling identity fraud, deepfakes and document forgery
Zero-knowledge proofs: proving who you are without revealing your data
Protecting Ireland’s undersea cables and critical digital infrastructure
The newly launched Trinity Centre for Digital Security and Societal Resilience
Top tips for everyday digital security — and why individual responsibility only goes so far
GUEST DETAILS
Prof. Hitesh Tewari leads the Applied Cryptography Research Lab at Trinity College Dublin, where his research spans Security, Applied Cryptography, Privacy, and Decentralisation. He co-authored Electronic Payment Systems, and has since focused on the broader application of Blockchain technology across areas including public health and personal privacy. A member of the Ripple UBRI professorial network, his lab most recently released zkBallot in 2025 — a privacy-preserving electronic voting platform delivering both voter anonymity and public auditability.
Maria Grazia Porcedda is Assistant Professor of IT Law at Trinity College Dublin, specialising in privacy, data protection, cybersecurity, and cybercrime at the intersection of law and technology. She is the author of Cybersecurity, Privacy and Data Protection in EU Law (Hart Publishing) and has advised the EU Directorate General for Development and Cooperation on cyber capacity building. Her policy-oriented, interdisciplinary scholarship is supported by several research awards, and she holds a PhD in Law from the European University Institute, where her thesis examined cybersecurity and privacy rights in EU law.
Connect with the Guests:
Prof. Hitesh Tewari
Website: https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=htewari
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hiteshtewari/
Maria Grazia Porcedda
Website: https://www.tcd.ie/research/profiles/?profile=mariagrp
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mariagraziaporcedda/ -
Saknas det avsnitt?
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The increasing sophistication of AI-generated content—like deepfake video and perfect scam calls—is rapidly heightening the risk of disinformation, phishing, and social engineering for everyone. This evolution means all citizens, from primary school pupils to public service leaders, must urgently build digital resilience and cyber literacy.
Professor Rachel Farrell and Paul Stanley discuss the critical need for cyber hygiene, effective educational strategies like the Cyber Citizenship project, and how businesses can establish robust disaster recovery plans to withstand major attacks. They share actionable advice on protecting data and fostering a community-wide culture of security.
Joining the programme are Professor Rachel Farrell, Director of the Professional Master of Education programme at UCD, and Paul Stanley, Head of Engagement at Ireland's National Cyber Security Centre
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
AI makes scams harder to detect.
Cyber hygiene protects personal data.
Urgency means an attack risk.
Organisations need a recovery plan.
Strong authentication prevents most incidents.
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Rachel Farrell is Director of the Professional Master of Education (PME) programme in the School of Education at University College Dublin (UCD). She is founder of the UCD Centre for Cyber Resilience Education (Cyberwise.ie) and is a Principal Investigator on the SECURE project focused on primary school cybersecurity education, supporting teacher capacity-building and student engagement.
Paul Stanley is the Head of Engagement at Ireland's National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC). He has a background in Information Security and Identity and Access Management and leads on the implementation of the EU/NCSC Cyber COREs project
Connect with the Guests:
Prof. Rachel Farrell
Website: cyberwise.ie
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-farrell-phd-ucd/
Paul Stanley
Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-stanley-a1ab29317/
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
For more information about ADAPT's groundbreaking AI and data analytics research visit www.adaptcentre.ie/ -
Artificial Intelligence is deeply embedded in essential everyday services, often without publicawareness, making AI literacy a critical issue of personal autonomy, social inclusion, and onlinesafety for older adults. Without foundational knowledge, this demographic risks being shaped by AIrather than shaping its future. The Age-Friendly AI initiative is working to close this knowledge gapthrough national dialogue and co-created literacy training.The episode explores participants' hopes for independent living technologies and their seriousconcerns regarding privacy, security scams, and complicated digital interfaces. It details the three-phase approach to developing accessible training rolled out across libraries.Dr Claire O'Connell is joined by Paula Kelly, a lecturer and lead on the Age-Friendly AI initiative at TUDublin, and Michael Core, an electrical and electronic engineer and lecturer also at TU Dublin. Theyshare insights from thousands of engagements with older adults across Ireland.THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT● AI literacy is essential for autonomy● AI is embedded in everyday life● Older adults engaged in co-creation● Hopes and concerns shape training● Need coordinated investment for upskillingGUEST DETAILSPaula Kelly is a lecturer and member of the tPOT Research Group in the School of Electrical andElectronic Engineering at TU Dublin. She is the team lead on the Research Ireland funded Age-Friendly AI: Ireland's National Artificial Intelligence Literacy Initiative. This initiative fosters nationaldialogue on AI with older adults and co-creates a comprehensive, accessible, and inclusive nationalAI literacy programme.Michael Core is an electrical and electronic engineer and a lecturer also at the School ofElectronic and Engineering in TU Dublin. He has a particular interest in integrating embeddedsystems using new web technologies and has many years of senior management experience inthe telecommunications industry.Connect with the Guests:● Paula Kelly email : [email protected]● Michael Core linkedin: linkedin.com/in/michaelcore● Website: https://agefriendlyai.ie/
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Trustworthy information faces crisis as overwhelming content volume pushes people toward single trusted voices yet statistical language models trained on internet data produce plausible but sometimes incorrect answers lacking true intelligence or understanding.
Professor Jennifer Edmond, Director Digital Humanities Trinity College Dublin leading KT 4D project examining AI, big data and democracy through humanities lens, alongside Éamonn Kennedy, Chief Innovation Officer News Corp developing verification systems at Storyful, explain why we're paradoxically returning to village information model after era of unlimited access created processing paralysis, how critical digital literacy requires people feeling agency toward information rather than passive ballroom dancing partners pushed by technology, why Digital Democracy Lab deliberately builds friction into platforms forcing users to question profiling, training data and system metabolism, and how three actors of technology developers, policy makers and citizens must collaborate rather than pushing responsibility between poles.
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Jennifer Edmond is Professor in Digital Humanities and Culture at Trinity College Dublin serving as Director of Postgraduate Programme in Digital Humanities and Culture and Co-Director of Trinity Centre for Digital Humanities. As TCD Principal Investigator for KT 4D project examining intersection between AI, big data and democracy through humanities lens, she leads research distinguishing between three actors of technology developers, policy makers and citizens exploring how to educate, regulate and innovate better.
Éamonn Kennedy is Chief Innovation Officer at News Corp focusing on driving innovative user centric technology by building agile cross disciplinary teams. Leading R&D team at Storyful creating systems helping journalists and analysts understand and interpret vast amount of public content and data shared as societies move online, his work centres on journalism's core principles of transparency, provenance and trusted community voices. Before joining Storyful, he was founder and product lead for number of web-based startups winning industry innovation awards including Web Summit Spark of Genius.
Connect with the Guests:
Jennifer Edmond LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferedmond/
Trinity Centre for Digital Humanities, Trinity College Dublin
KT 4D Project
Storyful News Corp
ADAPT Centre: www.adaptcentre.ie
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
For more information about ADAPT's groundbreaking AI and data analytics research visit www.adaptcentre.ie/ -
Trustworthy information faces crisis as overwhelming content volume pushes people toward single trusted voices yet statistical language models trained on internet data produce plausible but sometimes incorrect answers lacking true intelligence or understanding.
Professor Jennifer Edmond, Director Digital Humanities Trinity College Dublin leading KT 4D project examining AI, big data and democracy through humanities lens, alongside Éamonn Kennedy, Chief Innovation Officer News Corp developing verification systems at Storyful, explain why we're paradoxically returning to village information model after era of unlimited access created processing paralysis, how critical digital literacy requires people feeling agency toward information rather than passive ballroom dancing partners pushed by technology.
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Jennifer Edmond is Professor in Digital Humanities and Culture at Trinity College Dublin serving as Director of Postgraduate Programme in Digital Humanities and Culture and Co-Director of Trinity Centre for Digital Humanities. As TCD Principal Investigator for KT 4D project examining intersection between AI, big data and democracy through humanities lens, she leads research distinguishing between three actors of technology developers, policy makers and citizens exploring how to educate, regulate and innovate better. Her work examines recommender systems including PhD student Arthur Azibach's research on cold start problem showing how new accounts quickly move toward political polarisation, emphasising need for critical digital literacy where people feel agency toward information rather than passive acceptance. Created Digital Democracy Lab interactive platform deliberately building friction to help users understand profiling, training data quality and AI system metabolism, facilitated at Beta Festival 2024 with handbook and tuning for different audiences particularly software developers in Dublin use case.
Éamonn Kennedy is Chief Innovation Officer at News Corp focusing on driving innovative user centric technology by building agile cross disciplinary teams. Leading R&D team at Storyful creating systems helping journalists and analysts understand and interpret vast amount of public content and data shared as societies move online, his work centres on journalism's core principles of transparency, provenance and trusted community voices. Before joining Storyful, he was founder and product lead for number of web-based startups winning industry innovation awards including Web Summit Spark of Genius. As computer scientist and technologist, he emphasises optimism about technology as enabler whilst recognising need for common understanding of emerging terms like trustworthy AI, AGI and ASI. His perspective highlights journalism's increasing value as AI companies seek trusted content for training models, importance of commercial exchange recognising that value, and belief that journalism should remain person first with humans always involved in veracity, verification and community engagement whilst AI augments newsroom processes.
Connect with the Guests:
Jennifer Edmond LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenniferedmond/
Trinity Centre for Digital Humanities, Trinity College Dublin
KT 4D Project
Storyful News Corp
ADAPT Centre: www.adaptcentre.ie
MORE INFORMATION:
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
For more information about ADAPT's groundbreaking AI and data analytics research visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#TrustworthyInformation #CriticalDigitalLiteracy #AIandDemocracy #JournalismValues #DigitalDemocracyLab -
Local government faces challenge implementing generative AI ethically whilst maintaining public trust and data security as new EU AI Act regulations require basic AI literacy training for staff.
Khizer Ahmed Biyabani, researcher with ADAPT at Trinity College Dublin and 2025 Digital
Transformation Rising IT Star winner, alongside Richie Shakespeare, assistant staff officer Dublin City Council, explain Ireland's first local government generative AI Lab translating academic research into practical ethical AI tools, how retrieval model analysing council meeting minutes avoids hallucinations by training only on specific datasets preventing New South Wales Australia confusion, why four pillars covering governance, education, proof of concepts and enterprise scaling create systematic approach, and how smart gully life buoy monitoring sensors demonstrate broader Smart Cities innovation culture.
Khizer Ahmed Biyabani is researcher with ADAPT at Trinity College Dublin recently winning Rising IT Star in Public Sector Award at 2025 Digital Transformation and AI Awards. Co-leading Ireland's first local government generative AI Lab translating academic research into ethical practical AI tools for public services, he runs Explain IT workshops with colleague Claudia Bailey from Smart Documents under Academy Near Future programme at Connect Resource Centre providing basic AI literacy training required by EU AI Act Article Four.
Richie Shakespeare is assistant staff officer in Dublin City Council working within Smart Cities tech innovation section examining new emerging technologies, innovative processes and collaboration models making city operate smarter. Co-leading local government generative AI Lab partnership with ADAPT Centre at Trinity College Dublin, he focuses on internal process improvements identifying pain points staff experience whilst maintaining ethical considerations around data sensitivity and personal information protection.
Connect with the Gen AI Lab:
Website: www.adaptcentre.ie
ADAPT Centre at Trinity College Dublin
Dublin City Council Smart Cities Division
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
For more information about ADAPT's groundbreaking AI and data analytics research visit www.adaptcentre.ie/ -
Teachers face overwhelming preparation burden as global education shifts toward personalised learning and outcomes based curricula without adequate infrastructure support creating fragmented system between teachers, students, school leaders and departments.
Dr Chris Byrne, founder and CEO of MESO offering intelligent planning software for teachers supported by Enterprise Ireland and ADAPT Centre Trinity College Dublin with PhD focused on curriculum change, explains why leaked UK government report showed 25% teachers considering quitting due planning burden requiring reducing class contact hours costing physical resources, how personalised education demands knowing 30 to 40 students' individual learning needs without providing additional time or infrastructure, why outcomes based education replaced topic textbook model with broad learning statements containing active verbs like discuss and investigate developing 21st century skills, and how AI enables creating unit plans, lesson plans, rubrics and success criteria whilst human teachers excel at predicting task duration where LLMs prove terrible.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
Teachers face overwhelming preparation burden personalised outcomes based education without adequate infrastructure fragmented system
Leaked UK government report twenty five percent teachers considering quitting planning burden physical resource constraints
Outcomes based education replaced topics with learning statements active verbs discuss investigate twenty first century skills
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Chris Byrne is Founder and CEO of MESO creating education planning software empowering teachers, students and school leaders through adaptive tools enhancing teaching and learning fostering environment where every learner can thrive. Supported by Enterprise Ireland commercialisation funding and partnering with Trinity College ADAPT Centre, world leading SFI Research Centre for AI-Driven Digital Content Technology, ensuring MESO at forefront of education innovation.
Holding Postgraduate Diploma in Education Management from National University Ireland Maynooth and PhD from Trinity College Dublin where research focused on curriculum change, he brings perspective as former teacher with extensive classroom experience understanding planning burden firsthand. Active contributor to global conversation on education reform regularly speaking at national and international conferences sharing insights on curriculum innovation, adaptive learning technologies and educational transformation with research published in leading academic journals shaping contemporary discussions on effective education strategies influencing policy and practice in educational institutions worldwide.
Connect with Dr Chris Byrne:
Website: mesolab.ai
ADAPT Centre: www.adaptcentre.ie
Enterprise Ireland Commercialisation Funding
Trinity College Dublin -
When your AI agent books a rental car, it needs your driver's license, credit card, calendar access and permission to message your contacts—creating what Meredith Whittaker calls "fundamental backdoor" threatening apps like Signal.
At ADAPT ADVANCE 2025, Signal Foundation President and AI Now Institute co-founder Meredith Whittaker joined Dr Abeba Birhane for a fireside chat dissecting why "bigger is better" serves hyperscaler monopolies not evidence.
How AI companions weaponise 1970s Eliza manipulation psychology on minors, why "open source AI" became marketing arbitrage exploiting software community goodwill, and what sovereign AI actually requires beyond anxiety signifiers—including democratic governance, trusted local data, and answers to "who owns deployment infrastructure?"
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
* “Bigger is better" AI myth protects hyperscaler monopolies, not users
* Agentic AI demands sweeping permissions creating existential privacy backdoor threats
* AI companions weaponize known psychological manipulation tactics against vulnerable minors
* "Open source AI" exploits software community goodwill without delivering benefits
* Sovereign AI requires democratic governance beyond geopolitical anxiety signaling today
GUEST DETAILS
Meredith Whittaker is President of the Signal Foundation and co-founder of the AI Now Institute—one of the most trusted voices in AI ethics, transparency and accountability. Her decade of work has profoundly shaped ethical AI frameworks, bringing impact from academia to industry.
At Google, Meredith was core organizer for the 2018 Google Walkouts where over 20,000 employees protested military AI use (Project Maven), surveillance, and sexual misconduct—forcing Google to discontinue their military contract and oust implicated VPs.
As AI Now Institute co-founder, her research cuts through AI hype, grounding discussions on what truly matters: power concentration, labour exploitation in AI pipelines, and protecting fundamental rights including privacy and rule of law.
Her work exposes corporate capture, debunks "bigger is better" myths, reveals sustainability costs, and provides foundational open source research.
Meredith has provided congressional testimony to US Congress and leads Signal—one of the most trusted privacy-friendly messaging apps. Her background building large-scale network measurement systems at Google gives her unique expertise in data quality, evaluation criteria manipulation, and how benchmark gaming serves hyperscaler interests over real-world effectiveness.
Dr Abeba Birhane is founder and director of the AI Accountability Lab at Trinity College Dublin. Her groundbreaking research examines AI datasets, uncovering how larger datasets contain higher hateful content and pornography—debunking "bigger dissipates problems" assumptions.
Her work on benchmarks and measurement demonstrates that purpose-built smaller models often outperform larger models in real-world contexts with appropriate contextual data.
Connect with the guests:
* Signal Foundation: signal.org
* AI Now Institute: ainowinstitute.org
* AI Accountability Lab: Contact through ADAPT Centre
* Follow their research and writing on AI accountability
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
For more information about ADAPT's groundbreaking AI and data analytics research visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#TrustedAI #AIaccountability #AIprivacy #AIgovernance #MeredithWhittaker -
Ireland's territorial waters are among Europe's largest, yet monitoring this vast maritime expanse for unauthorized vessels, environmental threats, and infrastructure protection remains an enormous challenge with current surveillance technologies.
Professor Marco Ruffini and Dr. John Kennedy from Trinity College Dublin have developed Sea-Scan, a revolutionary system that transforms existing undersea telecommunications cables into comprehensive acoustic monitoring networks. Using distributed acoustic sensing and AI, their technology can detect and classify vessels across hundreds of kilometers of ocean using just one land-based device.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Transforming existing fiber optic cables into underwater sensor networks
● AI detection of "dark vessels" that disable identification beacons
● Unique acoustic signatures for different vessel classifications
● Marine ecosystem monitoring and shipping noise impact assessment
● Real-time infrastructure protection from accidental damage
● Cost-effective surveillance across Ireland's vast territorial waters
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Marco Ruffini is Associate Professor and Fellow of Trinity College Dublin and Principal Investigator of both the CONNECT Telecommunications Research Centre and the IPIC Photonics Integration Centre. He specializes in optical network architecture at the Department of Computer Science and Statistics, focusing on converged metro/access network architecture, long-reach passive optical networks, and inter-data center connectivity. His expertise spans over two decades in optical communications and fiber sensing technologies.
Dr. John Kennedy is Associate Professor in Vibrations, Acoustics and Dynamics at Trinity College Dublin. His current research centers on the use of advanced additive manufacturing techniques to design and fabricate novel acoustic metamaterials for environmental noise control. His research focuses on acoustics, noise control, aeroacoustics, additive manufacturing, and metamaterials, making him uniquely positioned to interpret underwater acoustic signals.
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about the Sea-Scan project and other cutting-edge research at Trinity College Dublin's ADAPT Centre here: www.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the ADAPT Centre
QUOTES
Having this many sensors in this environment helps us monitor activity that's happening in our waters. - John Kennedy
Just by placing one device at one end of the fiber, I had a microphone every meter, so I can get a different sound every meter for all the 100 kilometers just with one device at one end. - Marco Ruffini
This technology gives you a kind of unparalleled resolution of sensors underwater. It allows you to investigate questions that you know are very important for various different reasons. - John Kennedy
You won't believe how often fiber gets cut due to digging... you could detect the noise of the vehicle that's trying to dig, and you could contact them, maybe 10 to 15 minutes in advance. - Marco Ruffini
One of the exciting things about working in acoustics is that it sort of touches all aspects of human activity and also our daily lives." - John Kennedy
KEYWORDS
#distributedacousticsensing #marinesurveillance #fiberoptics #underwateracoustics #AImonitoring -
Ireland is facing a housing crisis, and yet countless buildings sit empty and unused.
In this episode of Adapt Radio, Dr. Clare O’Connell speaks with Dr. Philip Crowe and Milo Dennehy from University College Dublin about a bold, AI-driven project to map and tackle building vacancy across the country.
Discover why data on empty buildings is so patchy, how new tech could unlock hidden opportunities for homes and communities, and why solving this puzzle means more than just better spreadsheets.
From town centre revitalisation to the surprising power of open data, this conversation explores how AI might help Ireland turn vacancy into vibrant possibility.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Why Ireland’s empty buildings are so hard to track
● How AI and data science are changing the vacancy game
● The challenges, and surprises, of sharing property data
● What Ireland can learn from France, Philadelphia, and beyond
● Transforming vacant spaces into vibrant communities
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Philip Crowe is UCD Assistant Professor for Climate Responsive Design at the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy (APEP) and the School of Civil Engineering.
He is the Director of Research at UCD APEP, co-director of the UCD Centre for Irish Towns, and Programme Director of the MSc in Architecture, Urbanism and Climate Action. Philip teaches in areas relating to carbon management, sustainability, urban resilience and urban ethics.
As a researcher, he is working on a range of EU and nationally funded projects relating to town revitalisation, vacancy and adaptive reuse, compact urban growth, and citizen participation in processes of change. Philip’s background is in architecture, and he was previously Director of Sustainable Design at M.CO (Dublin) from 2003-2012.
Milo Dennehy is a Research Assistant in the School of Computer Science. Milo is a current student in the BSc City Planning and Environmental Policy programme, set to graduate in 2025. Before joining Building Stories, Milo was a research assistant in the School of Architecture, Planning and Environmental Policy at UCD. His research interests are in building geospatial tools that leverage machine learning and remote sensing techniques to enhance capacity and reduce the barriers to access to geospatial technology for local actors.
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
QUOTES
We don’t actually know what we’re dealing with—how do you manage your built environment without reliable, dynamic data? – Dr Philip Crowe
It shocked me how much decision-making still relies on throwing darts at the map and manual guesswork – Milo Dennehy
If you aggregate all these data sets together, you’ve got something incredibly powerful to solve the housing crisis – Dr Philip Crowe
AI lets us see what’s missing in the data—and predict what’s possible for Ireland’s empty buildings. – Milo Dennehy
The real challenge isn’t technical—it’s about building trust and a culture of sharing data for the public good. – Dr Philip Crowe
KEYWORDS
#AI #VacantBuildings #IrelandHousing #DataScience #UrbanRevitalisation #SmartCities #OpenData #HousingCrisis #PropertyData #CommunityImpact #TownCentres #DataGovernance #SustainableCities #Innovation #TechForGood -
Claire O'Connell hosts a discussion on AI and digital propaganda with media historians Nelson Riviero and Professor Aphra Kerr.
They highlight the prevalence and hyper-personalisation of digital propaganda, which polarises public discourse and undermines democracy. AI accelerates the creation and dissemination of disinformation, often targeting specific demographics. Recent events in Ireland and Spain exemplify this, with false narratives spreading rapidly. Both experts stress the need for media literacy, early education, and regulatory action to combat this threat.
They also discuss the role of universities in training students in both tech and ethics, and the importance of a multi-faceted approach to counter digital propaganda effectively.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● AI's Role in Digital Propaganda
● Impact on Democratic Processes
● Media Literacy and Education
● Targeted Disinformation Strategies
● Regulation and Platform Accountability
GUEST DETAILS
Aphra Kerr is Full Professor of Digital Media & Communication and a senior adviser at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy. She is an adjunct Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University and a co-PI at the ADAPT Research Ireland Centre for AI and Digital Content Technology.
Vice-Rector for Transformation, Collaboration and International Affairs at Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Dr. Ribeiro coordinates the Doctoral Program in Communication Sciences and the research group “Media Narratives and Cultural Memory” at the Center for Communication and Culture Studies ( CECC). He was the Dean of the Faculty of Human Sciences between 2016 and 2025
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by https://dustpod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie
QUOTES
Negative content often drives engagement, and then the algorithms will actually boost that even more - Professor Aphra Kerr
The role that AI is playing… is that it actually helps speed up the process of creating propaganda content. - Professor Nelson Ribero
Younger generations… they know how to use those tools, but it doesn’t necessarily mean they understand how those tools work. - Professor Nelson Ribero
You can’t fight propaganda with propaganda — you fight propaganda with education and media literacy. - Professor Nelson Ribero
Media literacy isn’t about blaming individuals — it’s about equipping people to navigate a complex digital world. - Professor Aphra Kerr
KEYWORDS
#DigitalPropaganda #AIDisinformation #MediaLiteracy #AlgorithmManipulation #ElectionInterference #SocialMedia #TargetedMessaging #TechnologicalEthics #Democracy #Misinformation -
Every day, AI systems influence how we learn, shop, and make decisions—but to truly support us, AI must communicate in ways tailored to who we are as individuals.
In this episode, we share a keynote speech from the ADAPT Annual Scientific Conference that explores Explainable AI and its potential to personalize user experiences. The talk discusses how AI can adapt explanations to users’ unique traits and moment-to-moment states, improving trust and understanding. It highlights real-world applications in intelligent tutoring systems, recommender platforms, and healthcare technologies, illustrating how human-centered AI is reshaping interactions.
Join us as we explore the future of AI that not only acts intelligently but also connects meaningfully with each user. Our guest speaker is Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia, Cristina Conati, a pioneer in user modeling, personalization, and explainable AI.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Evolving from generic systems to human-centred AI
● Unlocking personalization through multimodal signals
● Improving user trust, engagement, and learning outcomes
● Real-World applications from intelligent tutoring systems to healthcare technologies
● Complexities and ethical considerations of delivery
GUEST DETAILS
Professor Cristina Conati is a Professor of Computer Science at the University of British Columbia (UBC). She holds a Master’s degree in Computer Science from the University of Milan and both a Master’s and Ph.D. in Intelligent Systems from the University of Pittsburgh. Her research lies at the intersection of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Human-Computer Interaction (HCI), and Cognitive Science, focusing on creating intelligent systems that adapt to individual users' needs. Professor Conati has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has received multiple Best Paper Awards. She is an ACM Distinguished Member and an AAAI Senior Member.
https://www.cs.ubc.ca/people/cristina-conati
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
QUOTES
In order to have this AI driven personalization during interaction, what needs to be done is to establish what we call the AI driven personalization loop. - Cristina Conati
We're working towards creating intelligent systems that can understand to whom, when and how, to provide explanations of their behaviors. - Cristina Conati
The explanation should be designed so that a user can choose at what level of detail to go deeper. - Cristina Conati
It would be important to look at different user characteristics that might impact, like user reading proficiency or abilities to process visual information. - Cristina Conati
It’s super important to understand interplay between explanations and under or over reliance with AI. - Cristina Conati
KEYWORDS
#HumancenteredAI #explainableAI #usermodels #multimodal #learning #health -
How many times have you gone to the doctor and then on the way home from the appointment, realized there were things that you forgot to ask about?
Today, we hear about an AI-powered platform that helps patients record questions and quality-of-life issues ahead of time to support more effective consultations. Currently being trialled with cancer patients, we hear how the system integrates with electronic health records, improves patient engagement, and has the potential to cut clinician workload in half.
Our guest is a seasoned expert in digitising patient care with over 25 years of experience in clinical and research settings. We’re delighted to welcome CEO of eAltra, Denis Roche.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● The role of AI in enhancing patient communication
● Human-centreed design and clinical insight in ai development
● Technical integration with electronic health records (EHR)
● Real-world testing and impact on clinical workflows
● Incorporating wearable and environmental data
GUEST DETAILS
Denis Roche is the CEO and founder of eAltra, a Trinity College Dublin spinout developing conversational AI to support cancer care. With over 25 years of experience in digitising patient pathways, Denis brings deep expertise in cognitive computing and data analytics. His clinical insights, gained from working in leading healthcare settings, have driven eAltra’s mission to address global under-capacity in cancer care. Under his leadership, the company has secured Enterprise Ireland funding and won Best Emerging AI at Spark Crowdfunding’s Top 100 Awards.
https://www.eAltra.com/
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie
QUOTES
It's really just to combine the information source with the accessibility, making it more powerful. - Denis Roche
What we're trying to do at eAltra is to equip the patient as best as we can. Give them the information that they need, in the way that they want it, at the time that they need it. - Denis Roche
We're trying to create somewhere that patients can come and know that it's safe and it's private. - Denis Roche
The hospital teams think it's going to bring the time they spend down by about 50%. - Denis Roche
It feeds into streamlining or improving the patient scheduling process. - Denis Roche
KEYWORDS
#AI #technology #cancer #healthcare #EHR #clinicaltrials #patient #data #digitalhealth -
Facial recognition technology is becoming a routine part of daily life, from unlocking phones to assisting law enforcement. But as its use expands, so do the ethical and legal dilemmas it presents.
Today we dive into the mechanics of facial recognition technology—how it works, its limitations, and the biases it can reinforce. From government policies to legal frameworks, and the importance of public awareness in shaping the future of AI-powered surveillance, we break down the pressing issues surrounding this technology.
Joining us are two experts who are working to promote awareness and caution around FRT. They are Assistant Professor at Maynooth University’s School of Law and Criminology, Dr. Ciara Bracken-Roche, and Senior Policy Officer at ICCL and coordinator of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organizations, Olga Cronin.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● The rise of facial recognition technology in everyday life and law enforcement
● Concerns about ethics, flaws and AI bias in FRT
● Examining government policies, legal challenges, and human rights issues
● Potential dangers and misuse of mass surveillance
● Engaging society to critically think through creative mediums
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Ciara Bracken-Roche is an Assistant Professor in the School of Law and Criminology at Maynooth University, and an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Criminology at the University of Ottawa. She completed her PhD (Queen's University), MA (Warwick), and BSc (Toronto).
Ciara's current line of research explores the adoption and use of drones and other surveillance technologies in Canada and Ireland by policing and public safety agencies.
https://www.maynoothuniversity.ie/people/ciara-bracken-roche
Olga Cronin is a Senior Policy Officer of Enforce and the coordinator of the International Network of Civil Liberties Organisations (INCLO). She is focused on facial recognition technology, encryption, state surveillance, privacy and data protection.
Her work to date, with academics and other NGOs, helped prevent use of the powerful mass surveillance without pre-legislative scrutiny or debate. She also leads ICCL’s work on several EU proposals, including the EU ‘ChatControl’ proposal which could mandate unprecedented mass surveillance of all public and private digital communications. She is leading several complaints to the Data Protection Commission.
https://www.iccl.ie/staff/olga-cronin/
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#AI #facialrecognition #biometric #data #humanrights #masssurveillance #AIAdvisoryCouncil -
AI is transforming education at an unprecedented pace, which means teachers need to think closely about how to harness the power of AI.
In this episode we learn about a new initiative that aims to help teachers navigate AI to better education, rather than hinder it. We hear how AI is already impacting classrooms across the world, from technical worries to ethical concerns, and how educational content and assessment can be adjusted to embrace rapidly evolving technologies.
Our guests are two experts involved in the new AI Literacy in the Classroom initiative. They are Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT, Laura Grehan, and Associate Professor of Digital Learning at Dublin City University, Dr Eamon Costello.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● How AI is impacting education for both teachers and students
● Overview of the AI Literacy in the Classroom Initiative
● Where AI has practical uses in education
● Addressing biases and ethical considerations in AI
● Future-proofing for technology advancements with AI literacy
GUEST DETAILS
Laura Grehan is Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact at ADAPT and a member of the ADAPT Executive Management Committee. ADAPT’s EPE programme has been reviewed internationally as being “outstanding”, and the ADAPT EPE team was awarded a DCU President’s Staff Recognition Award 2021 in recognition of its exceptional work. Under Laura’s leadership, ADAPT has won over €1.5m in funding for EPE projects at national and international level. Some of these projects have won international awards recognising their high quality and an exemplary pivot to online delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.adaptcentre.ie/experts/laura-grehan/
Dr Costello is an Associate professor of Digital Learning at Dublin City University and an accomplished teacher, researcher and public speaker. He is deeply curious about how we learn in different environments and is known as a creative and innovative communicator. He is concerned with how we actively shape our world so that we can have better and more humane places in which to think, work, live and learn. He is an advocate of using the right tool for the job or sometimes none at all, for not everything can be fixed or should be built.
https://www.dcu.ie/stemeducationinnovationglobalstudies/people/eamon-costello
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your AI Literacy in the Classroom here: https://ai-literacy-in-the-classroom.adaptcentre.ie/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#AI #literacy #education #generativeAI # teachertraining #criticalthinking #biases #ethics -
Many of our daily interactions are reliant on the processing of personal data from emails, to social media, our phones and SMART devices. What happens to that data after we die?
Although many of us don’t like to think about it, we will leave behind a huge digital footprint with data that could be useful to future generations. Today we hear how AI can help shape our digital legacy and how digital literacy can improve management, preservation and access to the data that outlives us.
Our guest is an expert in human data interactions and PhD candidate at University College Dublin, School of Information and Communication Studies, Danny Snow.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● The digital legacy we leave after death
● Complications of ownership and access
● Uses of posthumous data including medical research
● How AI can shape digital legacies and mass data collection
● Data donor cards and design in digital footprints
GUEST DETAILS
Danny Snow is a PhD candidate at University College Dublin, School of Information and Communication Studies, and Danny is looking at human data interactions and AI and that includes exploring the concept of digital literacy and examining how digital content is managed, preserved and accessed after a person dies.
https://ie.linkedin.com/in/danny-snow-1583931a3
MORE INFORMATION
You can learn more about your digital data legacy at https://datadonorcard.org/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
QUOTES
In more recent history, the volume of data is related to a specific period of time, whereas as we move forward, it's likely to relate to the entirety of someone's life. - Danny Snow
Personal data, even when alive, doesn't relate just to you. It relates to your family, anyone you're interacting with, anyone you're in the same location as, and it's the aggregation of that data that is important. - Danny Snow
The legal protections around posthumous data aren't the same. - Danny Snow
AI has the potential for recognizing these patterns, that in such a large volume that may not otherwise be recognizable. - Danny Snow
One of the big issues is that we don't necessarily understand what our digital footprint encompasses. - Danny Snow
KEYWORDS
#Digital #legacy #AI #data #ethical #digitalfootprint #privacy -
As AI becomes a bigger part of our world it can be utilised to power research and studies in ways that were never possible before.
Today we hear about new research that has used AI to expose the harms of gambling marketing in sport. Through analysis of sporting programmes, social media consumption and focus groups with young people, they discovered the shocking reach these companies have into our everyday lives.
Our expert guests are calling for better regulation and a step away from the idea of individual responsibility. Aphra Kerr is Adjunct Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University and Professor of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin. Dr Paul kitchen is a senior lecturer in the School of Sport and Exercise Science at Ulster University in Belfast.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● Using AI to gather concrete data on gambling trends
● The rise in gambling exposure due to social media and deregulation
● Analysis through focus groups and media consumption
● Social impacts and considerations away from the individual
● Putting pressure on sporting bodies and gambling companies
GUEST DETAILS
Dr. Aphra Kerr is a Full Professor of Information and Communication Studies at University College Dublin and Senior Adviser at the UCD Centre for Digital Policy. She is adjunct Professor of Sociology at Maynooth University. She is a Co-PI at the ADAPT Centre for Digital Media Technology, scientific lead of the Transparent Digital Governance strand and co-lead of the Autonomy and Responsibility challenge. Her ADAPT research focuses on the ethics and values underpinning the design and governance of AI, AI related public policy and social expectations of AI. She is also working on projects related to algorithmic and AI literacy, young people’s engagement with media and gaming, histories of creative computing and examining media concentration and power. Aphra has over twenty years researching digital content and technology with a focus on digital media and digital games.
Paul Kitchin is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Sport and Exercise Science. His PhD investigated organisational change on managers, staff, and youth participants in para-sport. He is interested in how wider health and social outcomes are developed through sport. Topics of relevance to this include; Disability, Sport and Media, Marketing, Gambling, Youth. He is a Senior Fellow of the Advance HE and his teaching and supervision focus is on leadership, management, and justice in and through sport organisations.
MORE INFORMATION
All-Island report finds young people exposed to high levels of gambling marketing across sport and media: https://www.adaptcentre.ie/news-and-events/all-island-report-finds-young-people-exposed-to-high-levels-of-gambling-marketing-across-sport-and-media/
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/ -
As AI continues to shape our society, how can we make sure that it doesn't harm minority groups or exacerbate inequalities?
Today we hear from two experts who are a part of a brand new research group that is working to keep AI accountable. The AI Accountability Lab focuses on critical issues across broad topics such as the examination of opaque technological ecologies and the execution of audits on specific models and training datasets. We hear how researchers are trying to join the dots between evidence and policy and how better AI awareness is key to preventing harm.
Our guests today are leading the way in AI accountability. Dr Abeba Birhane is a cognitive scientist and Research Fellow in the ADAPT Research Centre Ireland, and Dr Roel Dobbe is an Assistant Professor in Technology, Policy & Management at Delft University of Technology focusing on Sociotechnical AI Systems.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
● The AI Accountability Lab
● How AI has potential to entrench inequality in society
● Joining the dots between AI research and policies
● Addressing misrepresented concepts in AI training models
● Awareness of AI inaccuracy even with perfect data models
GUEST DETAILS
Dr Abeba Birhane is a cognitive scientist researching human behaviour, social systems, and responsible and ethical Artificial Intelligence (AI). Abeba recently finished her PhD, where she explored the challenges and pitfalls of automating human behaviour through critical examination of existing computational models and audits of large scale datasets. Abeba is currently a Senior Fellow in Trustworthy AI at Mozilla Foundation. She is also an Adjunct Lecturer/Assistant Professor at the School of Computer Science and Statistics at Trinity College Dublin, Ireland.
https://abebabirhane.com/
Dr Roel Dobbe is an Assistant Professor in Technology, Policy & Management at Delft University of Technology focusing on Sociotechnical AI Systems. He received a MSc in Systems & Control from Delft (2010) and a PhD in Electrical Engineering and Computer Sciences from UC Berkeley (2018), where he received the Demetri Angelakos Memorial Achievement Award. He was an inaugural postdoc at the AI Now Institute and New York University. His research addresses the integration and implications of algorithmic technologies in societal infrastructure and democratic institutions, focusing on issues related to safety, sustainability and justice. Roel’s system-theoretic lens enables addressing the sociotechnical and political nature of algorithmic and artificial intelligence systems across analysis, engineering design and governance, with an aim to empower domain experts and affected communities. His results have informed various policy initiatives, including environmental assessments in the European AI Act as well as the development of the algorithm watchdog in The Netherlands.
https://www.tudelft.nl/staff/r.i.j.dobbe/
MORE INFORMATION
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#AI #accountability #transparency #public #policies #data #auditing #bias -
Many of us will be familiar with voice activated software in devices like smart speakers, but there are so many more possibilities for this technology, including in healthcare.
Today we hear about a voice technology companion that will help care for people with mobility-related illnesses at home, allowing them to live independently for longer. We hear how the AI software will help with medication delivery, activity reporting and event reminders to assist patients and healthcare providers with care.
Our guest today is an entrepreneur who created this start-up after having her own experience caring for those with mobility issues. She is the Founder and Commercial Lead of Amethyst Care, Rebecca McManus.
THINGS WE SPOKE ABOUT
> Developing a voice-enabled AI companion to help those with mobility issues
> Complimenting face-to-face care with technology
> Involving caregivers and people with mobility issues in pilot programmes
> Ethical considerations and future possibilities for the technology
> Securing funding and planning pilot programmes
GUEST DETAILS
Rebecca McManus is Founder and Commercial Lead of Amethyst Care.
Amethyst Care is the voice technology companion that helps care for people with mobility-related illnesses at home, allowing them to live independently for longer. By facilitating 2-way communication.
Based in the SFI Adapt research centre at Trinity, Amethyst Care is led by Rebecca McManus and Prof Vinny Wade.
https://www.amethystcare.ie/index.html#
MORE INFORMATION
Adapt Radio is produced by DustPod.io for the Adapt Centre
For more information about ADAPT visit www.adaptcentre.ie/
KEYWORDS
#AI #mobility #voicetechnology #caregiver #recruitment #assistedliving #healthcare #ethicalAI - Visa fler
