The Times Tech Podcast
The Sunday Times
As The Sunday Times’ West Coast Correspondent, Danny Fortson has witnessed the technological whirlwind coming from Silicon Valley first hand. The Times' Technology Business Editor Katie Prescott has reported on how digital technology is transforming businesses and society around the world. Now, 'Danny in the Valley' meets 'Katie in the City', with a podcast presented from San Francisco and London. Each week sees a fresh interview with pioneers in tech, from the brightest start-ups to the tech giants, as Katie and Danny chronicle the AI revolution. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Mar 7, 2025 • 48min
Ocado's robotics, Crypto's rise and Skype's demise
Tim Steiner, the CEO of Ocado, drops by the studio to discuss in detail his expectations for the future of food deliveries with the use of robotics and humanoid robots. Elsewhere, President Trump wants is making the USA the "Crypto Capital of the World". And Danny gets personal as he and Kate reminisce as Skype is "retired". Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 snips
Feb 28, 2025 • 44min
Nuclear's big return, British creators revolt & Elon sends an email
In this discussion, Matt Loszak, CEO and Co-founder of Aalo Atomics, presents his vision for smaller, modular nuclear power plants tailored for AI data centers. He argues nuclear energy could be the key to powering our data-driven future sustainably. The conversation also highlights the British artists' revolt against AI's exploitative practices and Elon Musk's fiery email to government officials. Together, these topics reveal the pivotal role of energy innovation in the age of advanced technology and the ongoing creative rights battle.
Feb 21, 2025 • 44min
With Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce
Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce and owner of Time Magazine, shares his forward-thinking vision for the future of work, emphasizing AI's transformative impact on business. He discusses the competitive landscape with players like Microsoft, providing insights into Salesforce's role in customer engagement and sales automation. The conversation also touches on the intriguing relationship between business and government during the Trump administration, as well as ethical concerns surrounding AI technology in journalism.
Feb 16, 2025 • 27min
Elon bids for OpenAI, and Sam says no
Katie and Danny explore Elon Musk's $97.4 billion bid to buy OpenAI, and Sam Altman's instant dismissal of the bid, as well as decoding the rest of the exclusive interview earlier in the week. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Feb 10, 2025 • 29min
An interview with Sam Altman, Co-Founder & CEO of OpenAI
Sam Altman, Co-founder and CEO of OpenAI, discusses the thrilling advancements in AI since the launch of ChatGPT. He dives into the concept of artificial general intelligence and its potential societal impacts. The conversation highlights the competitive AI landscape, particularly with new entrants like DeepSeek. Altman also addresses the urgency for global cooperation in AI regulation amid the U.S.-China arms race. Lastly, he reflects on the influence of social media and AI’s transformative role in business and personal care.
Feb 7, 2025 • 44min
Getty Images CEO, Craig Peters interview, plus ADPUs - really, Danny?
The CEO of Getty Images, Craig Peters, joins the podcast to make his case for the ongoing value of human creation in an AI world. Plus Danny updates on how Tech is embracing President Trump's new administration. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Jan 31, 2025 • 34min
DeepSeek and you shall find? With Professor Neil Lawrence
Neil Lawrence, a Professor of Machine Learning at Cambridge University with a rich background at Amazon and the Allen Turing Institute, dives into the emergence of DeepSeek's R1 language model. He discusses how this newcomer has shaken up the AI landscape and altered the competitive dynamics among tech giants. The conversation also touches on the need for innovative data strategies and the contrasts between various countries' approaches to AI investment. Plus, the vital role of human connection is emphasized in an increasingly tech-driven world.
Jan 24, 2025 • 43min
Trump's "broligarchy", writers' rights and TikTok returns?
Trip Adler, co-founder of Scribd and founder of Created by Humans, dives into the evolving landscape of digital content sharing and AI rights for authors. He discusses the implications of a potential 'broligarchy' in tech and the complex relationship between politics and major tech companies, particularly around TikTok. Adler also highlights how emerging platforms like his aim to empower creators against AI exploitation, touching on the necessity of fair compensation and copyright protection in this new digital age.
Jan 17, 2025 • 41min
A Very British AI Revolution!
The Technology Secretary, Peter Kyle, joins the pod to discuss the British Government's 'AI Opportunities Action Plan' (and Elon Musk). Plus, a new guide the UK's fastest growing tech companies is revealed by The Times and Sunday Times. Find it here - https://www.thetimes.com/sunday-times-100-tech/tech-feature/article/best-uk-tech-companies-2025-qzt9lcmnd Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
10 snips
Jan 10, 2025 • 41min
Sam Altman reflects on AI, Meta scraps fact-checkers, and data centres in outer space?
In this conversation, Philip Johnston, Co-founder and CEO of Lumen Orbit, dives into the ambitious project of building data centers in space. He discusses the challenges and potential of such futuristic infrastructure to support the growing demands of the internet and AI. The talk also touches on Sam Altman's insights on the rapid evolution of AGI and Mark Zuckerberg's controversial decision to eliminate fact-checkers at Meta, sparking a debate about social media's role in content moderation and political discourse.
