Newstalk Breakfast

OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman has now said he believes artificial intelligence companies can develop the technology safely without significant harm to people at large.  To discuss this further with Anton was Professor Kate Devlin Professor of Artificial Intelligence and Society in the Department of Digital Humanities, King's College London. 

A €500 energy credit for every household in Ireland could be funded from a new levy on electricity used by data centres. This comes under a proposal from People Before Profit.  Richard Boyd Barrett, People Before Profit TD explained the details to Anton this morning.

Absence rates for 9 -13 year olds is higher now than it was 10 years ago according to new ESRI research. To discuss this with Anton was Emer Smyth, Research Professor with the ESRI and Paul Crone Director of the National Association of Principals and Deputies.

Independent TD Michael Healy-Rae is recovering in hospital after he was assaulted in Dublin. We get the details on this with Pat Leahy, Political Editor, The Irish Times. 

In a world where we are increasingly becoming more reliant on digital media. according to a survey of 1,000 adults nationwide from financial intermediaries, Ask Acorn and conducted by IReach, 35% of adults turn to online searches for financial advice.  We get reaction to these findings with Head of Investments and Pensions at Fairstone Asset Management and Lecturer with the LIA, Bernard Walsh...

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was Alex White, Former Senior Council.

Netflix has commissioned a new reality show called “The New Stanford Prison Experiment”, restaging the infamous 1971 study for a modern audience.  Speaking to Anton to discuss this further was Trina O’Connor, Criminologist. 

Buckingham Palace has hit back at claims made by Earl Spencer, the brother of the late Diana, Princess of Wales, in his new book. He alleges that King Charles said the UK would forget about Diana “soon enough” after her funeral.  For more details on this Anton heard from Enda Brady, International TV Anchor with TRT World. 

The NTA says further periodic public transport fare increases are likely, driven by inflation.  Deputy CEO Hugh Creegan was speaking to the Oireachtas Transport Committee about the 15% fare hikes announced earlier this month.  For reaction to this Anton spoke to Professor in Transportation at the School of Engineering at Trinity College, Brian Caulfield. 

The EU is offering Canada the chance to become its first “associate member”, as Trump’s trade war pushes Canada and Europe closer together  Anton gets the latest on this with Scott Lucas, Professor and Political Analyst at the Clinton Institute at University College Dublin.

Children and teenagers aged under 15 will not be able to open a social media account without express parental or guardian permission, under new plans announced today.  Anton was joined on the show by Fionnán Sheahan, Ireland Editor, Irish Independent. 

Four musicians, including two Irish acts, have pulled out of Ed Sheeran’s US tour after rapper Macklemore said he was dropped from the line-up for saying “Free Palestine” during a concert.  For more on this we heard from TodayFM Presenter Fionnuala Corbett.

The National Women’s Council will convene the All-Island Women’s Forum in Dublin today to discuss the key issues facing women in 2026.  Speaking to Anton ahead of the forum was Corrinne Hasson, Executive Director of the National Women’s Council. 

The Bar of Ireland is warning that the ongoing legal aid dispute is now putting further pressure on the criminal courts. This comes with the new legal year just weeks away  Speaking to Anton with more on this was Séamus Clarke SC, Chair of the Council of The Bar of Ireland.

We take a closer look at some of the stories you may have missed in the news this morning. Joining Anton this morning was David McRedmond, Former CEO of An Post.

A new all-Ireland study has found a significant link between working conditions and people’s health and wellbeing. The study shows that high workloads and tight deadlines among the biggest contributors to workplace stress . Lead Author of this study was Dr Juliet Hassard, Director for Postgraduate Studies, Reader in Work, Health and Employment in Queens University.

Late-night openings at pubs and nightclubs are continuing to decline, with 950 fewer extended nights recorded across the country last year.   The Licensed Vintners Association says rising costs are putting pressure on the late-night economy. To discuss further with Anton was Donal O Keefe, CEO of the Licensed Vintners’ Association.

Russia has been tied to three separate "hybrid attacks” in Europe in the last 24 hours, including a drone in Lithuania, a warship in Denmark and a train attack in Poland. Should Europe gear up for more Russian attacks? Anton discussed further with Donnacha Ó Beacháin, Professor of Politics at DCU.   

At least three people have been killed after an NBC news helicopter crashed in Los Angeles near the scene of a fatal bus accident, officials have said. For more on this Anton spoke to Steve Gregory, Special Correspondent at K-N-X news in Los Angeles.

European Commission President Ursula Von der Leyen will introduce the “EU Kids Act” in her address to the European Parliament today.  We look ahead to the address with Shona Murray the EU Correspondent at Euronews. 

One-in-three farmers have indicated their intentions to leave the farming industry within five years according to new research.   With CAP looking like it may be cut and green diesel prices approaching €1.50 per litre. The financial side doesn’t look like it’ll get any easier. To discuss further with Anton Minister for Agriculture, Food, Fisheries and the Marine Martin Heydon. 

New research from the ESRI shows that the majority of us underestimate how much it costs to run a car. More than seven in ten underestimate it by a substantial amount, with the median guess being two-thousand euro per year, when in actual fact costs added up to almost three thousand.   Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI discusses the research findings with Anton.

New analysis finds Dublin Airport faces one of Europe’s sharpest rises in aviation emissions as government removes passenger cap. That’s according to a new report calling for Ireland to establish its own carbon budget for Dublin Airport to curb expansion.  We get reaction to this with Sorcha Tunney, Senior Manager of Opportunity Green Ireland, and Kevin Byrne Airport Safety and Security Audit...

The European Commission is this week set to unveil its landmark EU Kids Act, which will set age limits for children and impose safe design requirements on companies such as Meta and TikTok.  To discuss this further with Anton was Head of Communications and Research at Cyber Safe Kids Philip Arneill. 

Young people have more options to easily send money between friends than any other generation.  However, new research from Zelle found that a third of Gen Z who owe someone money has delayed paying them back. Why is this? Anton asked Brendan Kelly, Professor of Psychiatry at Trinity College Dublin.