AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

Today's guest is  Fergal Reid, VP of Artificial Intelligence at Intercom. Fergal is an experienced AI professional who has navigated the complexities of the ever-changing AI field. From machine learning ventures to strategic roles in prominent organisations like Intercom, Fergal provides invaluable insights into how AI is shaping the future.Topics include:0:00 His journey from Computer science to startups, PhD, Optimizely & Intercom4:07 Why he was drawn to Intercom’s Dublin HQ, ML opportunity and impact5:40 How Intercom embraced AI post-ChatGPT, rapid pivot and adoption9:52 Automating complex support flows reliably and profitably with Fin14:52 A high-performing AI team balancing autonomy, fast experiments & accountability19:10 While AI progress is slowing; core tech still improves & AI reshapes work25:41 Policymakers must prepare as AI transforms customer service29:12 Why he wouldn’t redo his PhD now but AI changes research and careers

As part of our milestone 200th episode, the roles are reversed as AI Ireland Founder Mark Kelly takes the hotseat as he delves into the visions, accomplishments, and aspirations of AI Ireland. The host of this special episode: Artificial Intelligence. Join Mark and his virtual host as he explores the nuances of AI, from its humble beginnings to its transformative impact on industries and its potential to reshaping the future.Topics include:0:00 From humble beginnings to building a thriving AI community2:11 Making AI accessible, inclusive and community-driven3:16 Excitement for how Agentic AI is transforming healthcare 5:26 Advice to solve real problems, start small and learn from others6:15 Showcasing everyday AI use cases to inspire action7:39 Using AI personas, prompts and future-thinking for insights9:29 Being surprised by guests' humility and problem-solving focus10:32 Using AI to boost productivity, innovate and grow

Today's guest is Brian Walsh, CEO at Reitigh. In the episode, Brian explores the nuanced perspectives surrounding AI in the financial services industry. He sheds light on the challenges of growing a business, the importance of specialisation and the strategic use of AI as a tool rather than a magic bullet. This episode was produced in partnership with Enterprise Ireland.Topics include: 0:00 Co-founding Reitigh to solve data integration challenges1:59 Opting for Bootstrapped, profitable, trust-driven growth over rapid fundraising4:36 Navigating silent sales cycles through networking and iteration7:20 Investing in specialist talent to drive differentiation8:22 Connecting financial systems to add actuarial insight and support9:39 How Specialist support builds trust, drives referrals and enables growth11:41 Realistic AI use amid hype, regulation, geopolitical risks14:31 How AI enables automating document data extraction with oversight16:17 Build deep domain expertise, invest in smart people, use AI as accelerator19:08 Advice to use Enterprise Ireland early and find open, hungry mentors22:15 Plans on scaling sales, rebranding and unified messaging for growth

Today’s guest is Frankie Bates, CEO and Co-Founder at Prodensus. In the podcast, Frankie delves deep into the birth of his groundbreaking company, Prodensus, highlighting the innovative strides and the challenges of operating within the freight industry.Topics include:0:00 How a frustration with data inefficiency led to founding Prodensus2:08 Why data accuracy is critical as freight data errors cost millions3:03 Automating logistics data to reduce cost and gain insights4:15 How their AI pivot was validated by winning at the  National Startup Awards5:23 Adapting quickly and empowering a tech-passionate team7:02 Using algorithms to categorise, clean and analyse ambiguous freight data8:32 How the Microsoft's founders program provided unexpected value beyond cloud services9:37 Global supply chain disruptions highlight the need for data-driven optionality

Today's guest is Marie Toft, Founder and CEO at Emotionise. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, emotions and technology might seem like disparate concepts. However, today’s guest Marie, with her unique background and visionary approach, has seamlessly intertwined these elements to create a groundbreaking AI model. Her journey is a testament to the power of emotional intelligence in tech innovation.Topics include:Today's guest is Marie Toft, Founder and CEO at Emotionise. In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, emotions and technology might seem like disparate concepts. However, today’s guest Marie, with her unique background and visionary approach, has seamlessly intertwined these elements to create a groundbreaking AI model. Her journey is a testament to the power of emotional intelligence in tech innovation.Topics include:0:00 Her journey from broadcasting to building an emotionally intelligent AI startup3:14 How the pandemic pivot sparked a bold AI startup despite scepticism5:14 EIMEAR, their emotionally intelligent AI with proprietary training data7:43 Building a rare, valuable emotional intelligence dataset from scratch8:50 How only 30% passed their emotional intelligence writing test10:48 Leveraging Microsoft credits as an early OpenAI adopter14:51 How education and communication are key to overcome fear of AI16:58 How AI impacts all aspects of life, requires change management

Today's guest is Patricia Scanlon, Founder, Chair of Ireland's AI Council & Ireland's AI Ambassador. In a thought-provoking discussion, Patricia delves into the transformative impact of AI on education, business, and society. Her conversation explores the journey of innovation, the challenges of early adoption and the ethical implications of AI technology.Topics include:0:00 How her previous work in ethical voice AI transformed education industry standards5:11 The AI Ambassador role has evolved from awareness to expert-led collaboration7:15 Being fascinated by AI's societal impact and inner workings7:58 AI progress is shockingly fast and unpredictable9:29 Why AI is overhyped in valuations but underhyped in business integration12:50 The importance of AI literacy and role of tools like ChatGPT to learn16:08 Advice to hire AI-savvy employees or those willing to learn AI

In the ever-evolving landscape of technology and innovation, the journey of entrepreneurship is often fraught with challenges, discoveries, and milestones. Dermot Casey, a seasoned entrepreneur and innovation advocate, provides an insightful narrative about his experiences and the transformative role of technology in today's world.Topics include:0:00 His journey from From rural Ireland to AI pioneer2:23 Building Storyful from startup to acquisition in four years7:23 His experience with NDRC supporting early-stage tech companies10:22 Know when to quit and how persistence can sometimes cause harm12:38 Success is about relationships and everyone is figuring it out14:35 How Ireland excels in innovation but needs greater investment and vision21:24 Why Ireland should encourage entrepreneurship through education, collaboration and investment25:04 Workshops teach AI for productivity, creativity and data analysis28:49 Using AI to analyze proprietary data improves decision-making and innovation32:27 Applying AI to analyze reviews, solve problems, and enhance productivity34:12 Advice to solve a significant problem, keep it simple and use authentic marketing

Today's guest is Annie Pearl, CVP and GM of Azure Experiences and Ecosystems at Microsoft. As technology continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, artificial intelligence remains at the forefront of innovation for startups and large corporations alike. In this podcast, Annie delves into the rapidly transforming landscape of AI startups and the opportunities and challenges they present.Topics include:0:00 Startups prioritising responsible, integrated AI for rapid growth3:52 Why enterprises race to adopt AI responsibly through startups5:19 How Microsoft supports startups with tech, funding and enterprise matchmaking8:06 The role of Copilot driving major time & cost savings across enterprises9:46 Utilising AI tools boost employee satisfaction, retention and creativity10:22 Advice to start small with AI or go advanced - just start now11:17 Why AI in healthcare is exciting due to time savings & impact

Today's guest is Rudi O'Reilly Meehan, Founder and Director at Data&Design. In today's fast-evolving technological landscape, the importance of data visualisation cannot be overstated. As a pioneer in the field and founder of Data and Design. Rudi's journey exemplifies how data visualisation can reshape industries, improve accessibility and encourage innovation.Topics include:0:00 Starting Data&Design to bring data to life through visualisations3:17 Partnering with Dublin City Council to visualize tourism data6:17 Balancing AI chat and UX for fun, intuitive planning8:49 His aim to educate on AI search, balance accuracy and randomness11:53 Exploring playful, visual AI interfaces beyond chatbots, especially for kids14:31 Promoting data storytelling, education and community engagement

Today's guest is Martin Curley, Digital Health Leader and Professor of Innovation at Maynooth University. In the episode, Martin delves into the pressing need for digital transformation in healthcare, elaborating on how delays in diagnosis can significantly increase mortality risks. He offers his insights spanning experience from electronic engineering and executive roles at Intel and MasterCard, where he harnessed technology for profit with purpose.Topics include:0:00 His journey to driving digital health innovation through collaboration4:39 Learning from top innovators to shape his leadership approach7:03 Overcoming resistance and driving healthcare innovation10:00 How AI accelerates diagnoses, improves care and saves lives16:25 Revolutionising healthcare through automation, efficiency and accessibility20:47 Utilizing AI and mobile health tools to empower patients and doctors27:51 Adopting digital and telehealth solutions to boost healthcare efficiency and accessibility31:46 How Telehealth and AI improve healthcare outcomes, reduce costs and enhance experiences37:51 The need to reimagine and engineer health systems43:22 Why Martin is driven by purpose, progress, relationships and making a difference