The Irish Tech News Podcast

With Ireland's booming data centre sector under scrutiny for its immense energy consumption. Park Place Technologies is due to unveil an expansion to its IT infrastructure services portfolio with the launch of two Liquid Cooling solutions for data centres, Immersion Liquid Cooling and Direct-to-Chip Cooling. Ronan spoke to Chris Carrerio, CTO Park Place Technologies to find out more about the future of data centres. Chris talks about his background, new technologies, immersion liquid cooling, hydrophobia and more. More about Park Place Technologies: As the global leader in data centre and networking optimisation, Park Place Technologies expansion its IT infrastructure services portfolio comes at a critical time for businesses grappling with rising energy costs and growing environmental pressures. These innovative cooling solutions are designed to tackle two of the biggest challenges facing data centres today, operational costs and carbon emissions.

AI, Financial Inclusion, and Banking: A Pre-Holiday Special | One Vision - FinTech Fuse! Join hosts Theodora Lau and Barb MacLean for an inspiring pre-holiday episode exploring the intersection of technology, financial services, and social impact. This episode unpacks the evolving landscape of banking innovation and artificial intelligence, with a special focus on community-centered solutions. Episode Highlights: Canadian Banking Evolution: Dive into the current state of neobanks and funding in Canada, exploring how innovative solutions are meeting communities where they are. AI in Financial Protection: Learn how Commonwealth Bank of Australia is leveraging machine learning technology to detect and prevent financial abuse in digital transactions, showcasing the practical applications of AI in safeguarding vulnerable customers. Business Transformation through AI: Explore the increasing integration of artificial intelligence in business processes, with special attention to the unique requirements of financial services where accuracy and precision are paramount. Inclusive Innovation: Discover why the future of AI must embrace all languages and cultures, and why there's no "easy button" for successful AI implementation – it requires dedicated effort and thoughtful execution. This episode celebrates the hardworking individuals making a positive impact in banking, highlighting how technological innovation can serve the greater good when implemented with purpose and intention. Keywords: fintech, artificial intelligence, financial inclusion, neobanks, machine learning, digital banking, community banking, Canada Post, Commonwealth Bank of Australia, business transformation, financial abuse prevention, banking innovation, inclusive AI #FinTech #AI #FinancialInclusion #Banking #Innovation #Technology #DigitalTransformation #CommunityBanking

Before, earning a verification on social media, you had to be a celebrity, a politician or someone in the public eye such as a journalist, however, since Elon Musk’s introduced verification for sale on X,  it’s now easier than ever to buy credibility that was once hard earned. This creates an issue where users can share divisive content online with unearned credibility to unsuspecting readers.   As the general election approaches where parties and users alike share content in the attempt to win votes and spread ideologies, new research “Echo Chamber Formation Sharpened by Priority Users” from Munster Technological University suggests that X’s verification model can intensify the polarisation on people's opinions and create echo chambers online.  One of the Co-Author’s of the research is Kleber Andrade and I spoke to him. Kleber talks about his background, verification on social media, the research he Co-Authored, the recent American election, the upcoming Irish election, AI ,and more. More about Kleber Andrade: Kleber recently started as an Assistant Lecturer at Munster Technological University, Ireland. Previously, he was a researcher at the CENTAI Institute in Turin, Italy. He completed a PhD in Applied Mathematics supervised by Prof. James Gleeson, at the Mathematics Applications Consortium for Science and Industry (MACSI) of the University of Limerick, Ireland. His research interests are in the space of online social networks, information diffusion and nonlinear dynamics.

With lithium-ion batteries powering a significant portion of modern business operations from electronics to electric cars, e-bikes and e-scooters their fire risks present a serious concern that requires immediate attention.  To learn more about the technology behind lithium-ion batteries and their fire risks I spoke to Gerard Pollock, Lithium Ion lead consultant/internal expert with EHS International. Gerard talks about his background, how Lithium-ion battery fires affect various sectors, battery technology advancements and their implications for business safety and efficiency and more. More about Gerard Pollock: Gerard Pollock is a Project Consultant with EHS International, Ireland's fastest growing single-source environmental, health and safety company. Gerard is a Master Mariner and ex-Super yacht Captain with 25 years experience in the space.  He has worked as ship inspector for national regulators as well as in diplomatic programmes with Governments in the South Pacific to improve their maritime safety systems. More recently, he is an author seeking to demystify the maritime safety regulations for masters and their crews. Having noticed an increasing demand for information and guidance on tackling lithium-ion fires at sea, Gerard began working with EHS International's Projects Director, Kevin Howlette, to develop an e-learning course.  Today, he works with EHS International to provide expert consultancy and training to a variety of industries. 

In this episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! Theo explores the critical intersection of artificial intelligence and banking with Aditi Subbarao, Global Financial Services Lead at Instabase. As traditional banks face mounting pressure to modernize, discover how financial institutions can successfully navigate the AI transformation journey. Key Discussion Points: Strategic approaches to AI implementation in legacy banking systems Best practices for scaling artificial intelligence beyond pilot programs Essential considerations for bank digital transformation Data strategy and infrastructure modernization Join us for an expert deep-dive into how banks can partner effectively to build next-generation financial services that meet evolving customer demands. Whether you're a banking executive, fintech professional, or technology leader, this episode provides actionable insights for your AI transformation journey. #FinTech #Banking #AI #FinancialServices #DigitalTransformation #OneVision 

Startups have to be mindful of intellectual property, patents, and trademarks., and it’s important to make sure that you have this covered. One person who knows this area very well is Justin Woods, European Patent Attorney with FR Kelly, and I recently spoke with him. Justin talks about his background, what FR Kelly does, the European Patent Office, machine learning artificial intelligence patents, the three main areas of IP and more. More about Justin Woods: Justin is a seasoned European patent attorney with over two decades of experience at the forefront of the European patent system. His unique perspective stems from his prior role as an examiner at the European Patent Office (EPO), making him one of the few attorneys who have worked on both sides of the patent application process.  As a leading expert in computer-implemented inventions, Justin has been instrumental in navigating the complex landscape of machine learning and artificial intelligence patents. His deep understanding of the relevant case law and his ability to secure grants for AI-related applications have solidified his reputation as a trusted authority in the field.

Bundledocs, is an Irish-owned leading cloud-based document bundling software provider, that serves over 1,600 customers in 35 countries and over 100 of the UK’s Top 200 law firms. The company has expanded and scaled its operations with offices in Cork, Sydney and North America. To learn more about Bundledocs and how they have managed to scale their product to serve 1,600 customers in 35 countries and adapt to various court restrictions, I spoke to James Hogan, Co-Founder and CTO Bundledocs. James talks about his background, what Bundledocs does, how Bundledocs has scaled their product, how Bundledocs has handled AI and more. More about James Hogan: James graduated with MSc in Web Development at Kingston University London with Distinction receiving the Andrew O'Keeffe Memorial Prize for Best Post-Graduate project. A committed specialist software engineer with a great passion for new and emerging web technologies. 

Journey through Asia's revolutionary payments landscape in this new episode of One Vision — FinTech Fuse! where Theodora Lau sits down with Monica Jasuja, a prominent Asian fintech and payments strategist, to unpack the region's digital transformation. Explore how India's UPI (Unified Payments Interface) is reshaping the future of digital payments in India, driving unprecedented growth in mobile money movement across the continent. We dive deep into: The rapid adoption of UPI technology in India and its global expansion Financial inclusion strategies in Southeast Asian emerging markets How local culture shapes payment innovation and adoption rates Watch for developments in digital identity and cybersecurity in 2025, and how AI in financial services will evolve beyond chatbots. Tune in to understand how AI, payments, and digital inclusion are converging to create the next wave of fintech and regtech advancement across the world. Whether you're a fintech professional, payment industry expert, or digital transformation enthusiast, this episode offers valuable insights into Asia's fintech revolution and its global implications.

Is our education system ready for the AI revolution in finance? Join Theodora Lau as she explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, financial innovation, and educational transformation with special guest Dr. Martha Boeckenfeld, CEO & Founder of the marthaverse. In this eye-opening episode of One Vision — The FinTech Fuse, we dive deep into: • How technological advancement is reshaping our daily lives • Why the digital divide threatens inclusive innovation • The crucial role of education in fostering innovation and equality • Essential frameworks for global AI regulation in finance • Strategies for becoming AI-ready Dr. Boeckenfeld shares invaluable insights on bridging the gap between rapid technological advancement and human adaptation through education. From critical thinking development to regulatory considerations, this episode offers a comprehensive look at preparing for an AI-led future. #Fintech #AI #FutureOfWork #FinancialServices #DigitalTransformation #Innovation #LifeLongLearning Related Episode:- The future (of money and finance) is a blur

Setting up a business for the first time is not easy and setting up a tech business with no tech experience for the first time is even harder. One person who has done this is Jerome Forde the CEO and founder of HR Duo. I recently spoke to Jerome Forde. Jerome talks about his background, what HR Duo does, Covid, AI and more. More about HR Duo: HR Duo was established by Jerome Forde, their CEO, who has over 30 years of experience in human resources. Jerome was motivated by a desire to advance HR practices through technology, which he felt were not keeping pace with other workplace advancements. At HR Duo, Jerome has simplified the complexities of workforce management, including staff scheduling and payroll, HR compliance, and managing the employment lifecycle. Their approach features a unique 'once and done' method, focusing on people-first policies and procedures deployed smartly through their Content Hub.