AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

Today's guest is Steve Fleming, Founder and CEO at Voxxify. Over the years, Steve has witnessed firsthand the challenges organisations face in understanding and meeting the needs of their users. In our conversation, Steve shares his journey, the inspiration behind Voxxify and his insights into how AI and data science can transform IT decision-making. Topics include: His IT career to date focusing on improving user feedback with AI Advocating for data-driven IT alignment to prevent costly misalignments Developing an AI-driven system to translate data into actionable insights How effective AI use requires clear goals, data structure and techniques How AI models evolved; balancing between open-source and self-hosted solutions Focus on customer needs switching to self-hosted model when needed LLMs highlight AI benefits but choose tools based on needs

Today's guest is Kate Minogue, Consultant, Business Advisor and Chief Product Officer at Frekkel. A seasoned analytics leader and Data Science/AI expert, Kate is passionate about customer-centric product development and the potential to use advances in data and technology for positive impact. In her work in Meta, Kate was at the forefront of industry shifts on privacy-first marketing and consumer technology business models. She combines a unique perspective on strategy, data and the importance of people in both to understand industry problems and opportunities and drive meaningful transformation and results.Topics include:The need for a goal-focused, foundational approach to avoid misuse of AIHow diverse problem-solving in AI centres on customer understandingThe need for strategy before AI due to unused dataGenerative AI will become useful, trustworthy & combat misinformationLeadership must ensure safe, smooth AI adoption processesWhy she’s excited to be a judge for the 2024 AI AwardsIf you’re interested in learning more or working with Kate, check out her website: www.kate-minogue.com and discover more details about Kate's AI course for business leaders at https://theaileadershiplab.thinkific.com/products/courses/aileader

Today's guest is Stephen Redmond, Head of Data Analytics and AI at BearingPoint Ireland. In the episode, Stephen reflects on his extensive career in the field of data and AI, as well as offering valuable insights into the evolution of AI and its applications in business.  Topics include: His career to date from CRM founder to AI & data leader How CRISP-DM emphasises business understanding before data analysis How ChatGPT popularized AI as businesses leverage diverse AI models Businesses adopt AI tools but face training and change challenges AI copilots enhancing data access and reporting efficiency The importance of storytelling with data Successful AI deployment needs change management, training and communication Expecting rapid AI advancements and new multimodal features How ChatGPT's success sparked rapid AI development and accessibility Why he loves being a judge at the AI Awards

Today's guest is Brian McElligott, Partner and Head of AI at Mason Hayes & Curran LLP. In this discussion, Mark and Brian talk about the EU AI Act and its implications for businesses and the market.  Topics include: How the AI Act prioritizes product safety by categorising risk regulation How regulatory sandboxes offer potential but are resource-intensive Why law requires AI literacy for staff, varying by use case. Imposing obligations on both AI creators and users, especially for high-risk products How AI law is rapidly evolving with shifting regulations Key dates and deadlines for the EU AI Act's regulations How some US clients view EU compliance as a market advantage Change control is key as firms adapt standards for compliance

Gabriele Mazzini, Team Leader for the EU AI Act at the European Commission, discusses his pivotal role in shaping this groundbreaking legislation. He shares insights on categorizing AI systems into risk-based classifications while ensuring market regulation. The importance of human oversight for accountability is emphasized, alongside the challenges companies face in compliance. Mazzini addresses balancing innovation with ethical governance and outlines the implementation timeline for the Act, which aims to foster a trustworthy AI landscape in Europe.

Today's guest is Dara Calleary, Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. In this episode, Mark and Dara discuss Ireland's approach to AI regulation, innovation and fostering AI startups. Topics include: Rapid AI advancements, regulation, innovation and business readiness Launching an AI Accelerator to emphasise AI's universal impact, funding and skills National Digital Strategy's focus on high-level, labor and societal skills How the National AI & skills strategy emphasises trust, collaboration and supporting startups Why Data protection & public trust is essential for AI innovation How AI integration in public services ensures inclusivity and data protection The Digital vision from inclusivity, AI innovation, job enhancement and preparation for disruption

Today's guest is Ciarán Gilligan-Lee, Head of Causal Inference Research Lab at Spotify. A finalist for AI Person of the year at the 2023 AI Awards, Ciarán joins host Mark Kelly on the podcast to discuss the significant role that AI and causal inference plays in enhancing user experiences at Spotify. Topics include: How the Spotify team uses causal inference for better recommendations Using causal inference for personalized music recommendations and discovery Navigating causal factors in user streaming behaviors Balancing complex stakeholder needs at Spotify for improved user experience Clarifying assumption to enhance modeling clarity and accuracy How Causal inference enhances decision-making across various industries Why Understanding data bias is crucial for accurate decision-making

Today’s guest is Dajana Achelpohl, Head of EMEA Service Management at Google. The discussion focuses on the practical applications of AI in the workplace and to demystify some of the hype around AI, as Dajana shares her insights on integrating AI into business processes. Topics include: How Google emphasizes AI understanding and implementation basics Focusing on problem-solving to achieve measurable outcomes Aligning teams on AI usage: educate, address concerns & empower productivity The need for a team-driven AI adoption Educate on AI risks, promote responsible use & proactive management approach

Today's guest is Jared Browne, Head of Privacy and AI Governance at Fexco who discusses the EU AI Act. He explains its risk-based approach, its focus on trust, safety, and sustainability in AI and the need for companies to prepare for compliance. Jared also highlights the Act's complexity, enforcement challenges and global implications. Topics include: The EU AI Act's aim for trust, safety and sustainability in AI Comparing 2018 guidelines to 2020 regulation with penalties How user-driven AI development leads to unintended consequences Challenges in global adoption of the AI Act such as governance Imposing responsibilities on providers, deployers and distributors Why deployers assess tools and providers ensure EU compliance or risk exclusion How unintended behaviors of AI raise ethical workplace considerations Adapting to technology's impact on society with fairness principles.

Welcome to our special edition podcast recorded live from the Dublin Tech Summit! You'll get to listen to short interviews with several industry experts from the session "Tapping into AI's Potential' featuring Bivin Varghese, Vice President & Region Head at Tech Mahindra in Ireland; Anton Kasyanov, Engineering Manager 2, AI/ML Platforms at Uber; Veronica Breene, CEO at Vesta Insights and Lex Sexton, Client Technical Director at Presidio. We explore the top use cases of AI, such as improving customer and employee experiences, boosting productivity, and innovative applications like content and code generation. Our guests also touch on the challenges of scaling AI projects, identifying the right use cases, and the importance of explainable AI and regulatory compliance.