The Times Tech Podcast
The Sunday Times
From Silicon Valley to The City, tech journalists Danny Fortson and Katie Prescott bring you the inside track on the new industrial revolution.Co-hosted from San Francisco and London, this weekly podcast delivers the latest news and freshest interviews with the people creating the future.As West Coast Correspondent for The Sunday Times, Danny is on the ground to witness the technological whirlwind that first roared out Silicon Valley. From London, working as The Times' Technology Business Editor, Katie has seen the waves of boom and bust rolling through one of the world's financial capitals. Together they explore this strange new world of high finance and tech giants, explaining how we got here and what is just around the corner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
11 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 41min
Is AI growing too fast for humanity?
Barney Hussey-Yeo, founder and CEO of Cleo, a UK fintech building AI-powered finance tools. He discusses building with large language models and how they sped Cleo's growth. He talks timelines for AI impact, domain-specific personal agents, developer productivity gains, and the challenges of scaling tech companies in the UK.
Jan 23, 2026 • 37min
Can Europe rely on Silicon Valley in the age of Trump tariffs?
Hany Farid, a professor at UC Berkeley and co-founder of GetReal Security, dives into the complexities of tech sovereignty and the geopolitical risks of depending on US tech giants. He discusses the alarming potential of an 'AI kill switch' and the uneven playing field it creates. Farid emphasizes the need for Europe to invest in local AI development and regulation to build autonomy and mitigate risks. He critiques the concentration of power within Silicon Valley and highlights the importance of creating privacy-preserving technologies to safeguard the future.
19 snips
Jan 16, 2026 • 39min
Grok, deepfakes and who should police AI
Kate Devlin, a renowned expert on AI and human interaction from King's College London, joins the conversation to delve into the implications of the Grok image-editing scandal. They discuss the urgent need for AI regulation, questioning if governments or tech firms should take the lead. The talk highlights the risks of rapid AI deployment and the varying global responses to these challenges. Devlin emphasizes the potential benefits of generative AI but warns against unleashing it without proper safeguards, making a compelling case for accountability in tech.
11 snips
Jan 9, 2026 • 36min
Tech in 2026 – AI winners, losers and what happens next
Hannah Seal, a venture capitalist at Index Ventures with a knack for spotting tech gems, and Jon Callaghan, a seasoned AI investor at True Ventures, dive deep into the future of technology. They discuss whether we're in an AI bubble or boom and what sectors like healthcare and robotics might emerge. Hannah emphasizes the need for adaptable founders, while Jon highlights AI's potential in drug discovery. Both guests share insights on job displacement, the UK’s infrastructure challenges, and the balancing act of innovation with human connection.
Jan 1, 2026 • 48min
Holiday Special: Part 2 - Has AI already taken your job?
Continuing our big name-dropping look-back with Sam Altman, Lisa Su, Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Satya Nadella, Matthew Prince, Arthur Mensch, Sir Demis Hassabis, Marc Benioff, and Dario Amodei, this is the second special Christmas edition of the pod – and this time we’re looking at what we’ve learned about the impact of AI on the real world since the Tech Pod started in October 2024 with DeepMind's Sir Demis Hassabis. From robotaxis to listening pendants: what does AI look like in real life? How is it being used in business? And will there be any jobs left? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
5 snips
Dec 25, 2025 • 45min
Holiday Special: Part 1 - AI Hope vs Hype!
In this holiday special, fascinating insights emerge from tech magnates about AI's rapid evolution. Sam Altman predicts that while AI expands human capabilities, the transition may be messy. The intense competition among firms like ChatGPT and Gemini sparks discussion on AI safety. Experts highlight the potential for AI to transform health and biology, but also caution against wealth concentration and copyright issues. As debates about a potential AI bubble unfold, industry leaders contemplate the future and the energy needs of massive AI infrastructure.
Dec 19, 2025 • 43min
Are venture capitalists the new power brokers?
Who has power in the tech world now – governments, big tech, or the investors writing the cheques? Danny and Katie are joined by Harry Stebbings, founder of 20VC, on how venture capital shapes what gets built, who wins the AI race, and what 2026 could bring. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 12, 2025 • 47min
The humans training AI to be better
Edwin Chen, Founder and CEO of Surge AI, shares his journey from data science at Google and Twitter to leading a company that recruits expert annotators for AI training. He discusses the significance of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI) and the vital role of human expertise in enhancing AI models. Chen emphasizes the difference between high-quality annotations and cheap labeling, and warns about the societal impacts and motivations driving the AGI race. His insights unveil the unseen yet crucial work that shapes AI's future.
72 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 37min
Realising the AI advantage for the UK
What does AI truly mean for productivity, growth, and innovation? Tech giants IBM are well placed to assess the impact of AI and what it takes for an organisation to transform to being AI-first. In this bonus episode - made in partnership with IBM - two of its leading strategists, Leon Butler, Chief Executive, IBM UK and Ireland, and Dr. Juan Bernabe Moreno, Director IBM Research in Europe, sat down with Katie to talk about what businesses are making of the opportunities and the challenges of AI.This bonus episode of The Times Tech Podcast is made in partnership with IBM. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Dec 5, 2025 • 40min
Can AI be you? (Or will the ‘bubble’ burst first?)
Danny talks to Dara Ladjevardian, co-founder of Delphi - a company that creates digital AI versions of... well, you! So, you can be you, more often. Answering queries, talking to your mom and making your own podcast... if only! Katie, meanwhile, is considering the Bank of England's warning of a potential AI bubble being deepened by the use of debt to help underpin $5 trillion of investment to build this AI future. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
