Episodes
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Electric scooters were once seen as the future of urban transport, but growing safety concerns are changing the conversation.
On this episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler is joined by former Fine Gael TD Noel Rock to discuss whether electric scooters have become too dangerous for Irish roads. They examine rising injury numbers, gaps in enforcement, why existing rules are failing, and whether tighter regulation is enough or if Ireland should consider banning them altogether.
https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html
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The United States has ordered Anthropic to restrict access to its most advanced AI model and is now urging other leading developers to give the government early access to new systems before they are released. Is this sensible national security or the beginning of state control over artificial intelligence? Adrian Weckler speaks to William Fry partner Barry Scannell about why the most powerful AI models are causing alarm, whether America now has an AI kill switch and what it could mean for Europe, businesses and the future of technology.
https://www.independent.ie/service/why-you-can-trust-the-irish-independent/a/98708550.html
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Who is Mark Zuckerberg really? Is he the awkward, robotic tech billionaire seen in public, or something very different behind closed doors?
Sheera Frenkel, Pulitzer Prize winning New York Times journalist and co-author of the bestselling An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination, joins Adrian to examine the Meta chief's personality, upbringing and leadership style.
From his privileged childhood and early coding obsession to Facebook's move fast culture, Zuckerberg's rise is a story of relentless ambition, fierce control and extraordinary resilience.
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The week on The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler, speaks with Jim Browning, the Northern Ireland based digital investigator known for exposing global scam operations. With millions of YouTube subscribers, Browning explains how he infiltrates scam call centres by gaining access to their systems and turning their own tactics against them.
He describes how scammers trick victims into handing over banking access, and how his work helps identify offenders and alert authorities. Browning also discusses the ethical challenge of watching scams in real time while deciding when to intervene to protect potential victims and support law enforcement action.
Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI use
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Title
The uncomfortable truth about banning under 16s from social mediaDescription/Copy
Should Ireland follow the UK and ban social media for under 16s? Adrian is joined by JJ Clarke to examine why many child safety experts argue that bans do not work and may even create new risks for young people online.
The discussion looks at Ireland's plans for age verification, the challenge of enforcing existing rules, and why regulators in Brussels are increasingly focused on forcing platforms such as TikTok, Instagram and Facebook to change algorithms that drive addictive content.
Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI useSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Will Apple users in Europe miss out on the company's biggest AI upgrade yet? And what does the growing dispute between Apple and the European Commission mean for consumers?
Adrian Weckler spoke to Ben Wood at FDM CCS Insight, from Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in California.
The discussion focused on Siri AI, Apple's new deeply integrated artificial intelligence platform, and why many of its headline features may not be available on iPhones and iPads in the European Union. Wood explained how Apple's privacy first approach is clashing with EU competition rules, leaving consumers caught in the middle of an increasingly tense regulatory battle.
Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI use
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Is your phone really listening to you or is something more complex going on behind the scenes?
Adrian Weckler and JJ Clarke tackle the most enduring tech conspiracy theory, the belief that private conversations trigger targeted ads.
They explore why this feels so convincing and why it keeps happening. From behavioural signals to location data and algorithmic prediction, they explain why the reality may be both less sinister and more powerful than people think.
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AI was supposed to replace workers at speed. Instead, some of the world’s biggest companies are finding costly problems, poor results and frustrated customers. Adrian Weckler and JJ Clarke examine why firms such as Starbucks, Pizza Hut and Klarna are scaling back AI projects. They also discuss the warning from Pope Leo, who has criticised AI for threatening human dignity, work and genuine human judgement, as companies race to cut costs and automate jobs before the technology is truly ready. Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI use
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Irish consumers are embracing online banks in their droves, but do they trust them with their salaries, savings and investments?
Adrian Weckler is joined by Bianca Zwart, chief strategy officer at bunq to discuss the rise of digital banking in Ireland, why younger customers are turning to crypto and investing apps, and whether neobanks can compete with traditional institutions on trust, fraud protection and customer support.
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism
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Why does one fibre broadband package cost nearly twice as much as another using the same line? Are Irish households paying more than they need to for internet access? And do speed guarantees matter when choosing a provider? Adrian Weckler is joined by Irish Independent reporter and journalist Saoirse Hanley to examine the gap in broadband pricing across Ireland, with some fibre packages costing almost twice as much as rivals. They discuss rising prices after introductory offers, minimum guaranteed speeds, long term contracts and what consumers should focus on when choosing a broadband. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. Why you can trust the Irish Independent: learn about our editorial guidelines and AI use
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Ireland has long relied on multinational tech companies to fuel jobs growth and tax revenue but are we becoming dangerously dependent on them?
Professor Joe Haslam, executive director of the Owner´s Scaleup Program at IE Business School and Fine Gael TD for Dún Laoghaire and barrister, Barry Ward join Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show.
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Electricity bills are soaring and more Irish homeowners are wondering if solar panels are finally worth it.
On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Dr Paul Deane, Senior lecturer in clean energy in UCC, about the real cost of installing solar at home, how many panels most households actually need and whether batteries are worth the investment.
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism
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Deepfake pornography is emerging as one of the most urgent challenges in artificial intelligence.
On this week’s The Big Tech Show, Adrian speaks to Aoife White at the European Correspondent, who specialises in EU affairs, about how the EU’s AI Act aims to tackle the issue by targeting the apps that make such content to create.
We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism
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On this week’s episode of the Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler examines the end of an era as Tim Cook prepares to step down as Apple chief executive after fifteen years. With author of “Apple in China: the capture of the world’s greatest company”, Patrick McGee, the discussion explores Cook’s legacy from turning the iPhone into a financial powerhouse to criticism that Apple lost its creative edge. They also examine the timing of his exit, the rise of successor John Ternus, and the challenges ahead including artificial intelligence and dependence on China. As Apple enters a new chapter, the question remains whether history will judge Cook as a cautious operator or a transformative leader. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts. We want to earn your trust and are members of the Trust Project. See our ethics policies at independent.ie/ourjournalism
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Can you really hear the difference between AI and human music anymore? and does it even matter?
On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to John Corley, chief executive of Spanish Point Technologies, about the rapid rise of AI generated music.
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Why is Peter Thiel talking about the Antichrist in Rome? and what does it reveal about the intersection of tech and belief? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to ?Dr. Massimo Faggioli, professor in Ecclesiology at the Loyola Institute at Trinity College, Dublin. From Catholic theology to Silicon Valley ideology, he explains how ancient religious ideas are being reshaped by modern tech elites and why some now see technology itself as a path to salvation.
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How do you go from tech to wine influencing? What does it take to build a global following online? And can passion become a real business? On this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show, Adrian Weckler speaks to Jonathan Staunton, also known as Wine List Guy. From Irish pubs in Italy to Microsoft, he shares his unconventional journey and how he turned social media into a career. You can listen to the full episode here or wherever you get your podcasts.
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Fifty years on from its creation, what were Apple’s hits? Misses? And is AI use a no-go for journalists? Adrian Weckler is joined by Darragh Nolan on The Big Tech Show to mark 50 years of Apple, from the Macintosh to the iPod and iPhone, and what still drives its success today.
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Why are teenage boys still drawn to online influencers? and what are they really looking for?
Psychologist, broadcaster and former professional footballer, Richie Sadlier joins Adrian Weckler on The Big Tech Show to explore the appeal of figures like Andrew Tate.
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Could you be next to face legal action? Producer, JJ Clarke, joins Adrian on this week’s episode of The Big Tech Show to discuss dodgy boxes.
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