Tech Talks

Many companies boast hundreds of AI experiments, but how many actually make it to production? In this episode, Chris Bridgland from Couchbase reveals the stark reality of "AI readiness". We explore why data quality remains the ultimate bottleneck, the danger of unbounded AI agents, and why testing AI is like designing an airplane. Discover why mastering internal validation—and setting st...

Quantum computing is no longer a 10-year theoretical pipe dream. In this episode, QuERA’s Chief Commercial Officer Yuval Boger reveals how technology advances are making quantum accessible, energy-efficient, and commercially viable today. We explore the unexpected synergy between AI and quantum, geopolitical sovereignty, and why CIOs must prepare now for the rapidly closing gap between classical a...

We treat Gen Z as a market to be sold to, not a generation of builders, and when we hire them its to fulfill legacy roles within an organisation. In this episode of Tech Talks, David Savage sits down with three teenage innovators (Heman Bekele, Raya Mardani, and Aarav Sharma) who are actively building cancer treatments and brain-computer interfaces. They discuss the frustration of age bias, the va...

Every company wants AI, but most are getting it wrong by treating it as an isolated IT project. Frank O'Dea, CEO of Klarus, argues that businesses are suffering from too many "technology-led hammers looking for nails". In this episode, we unpack why deep business expertise must drive AI adoption, the reality of the changing workforce, and why shrinking your field of view is the secre...

In this episode, David Savage sits down with Peter Schramme, CEO of Enhesa, to unpack the complex realities of global Environment, Health, and Safety compliance. They explore how reputational risk has elevated compliance from a back-office burden to a C-suite priority. Peter also explains how AI acts as an accelerator to find signals in the noise, and why treating compliance as a moral duty is a c...

In this episode, we sit down with Kam Karaji, Director of Cyber Security and Risk Management for the NFL, to uncover the human decisions behind massive data operations. Kam reveals the tension between commercial growth and data privacy, explaining why leadership's blind faith in AI is a vulnerability. We explore how he translates complex cyber threats into commercial metrics and why modern sec...

With AI and robotics advancing, why does NASA still spend billions sending humans into space? David Savage sits down with Dr Jeevan Perera, a 37-year NASA veteran, to explore the invisible decisions shaping space exploration. From implementing risk management on the International Space Station to the reality of the 99% fuel tax, Jeevan reveals the human vulnerabilities of astronauts and why humani...

When executives asked for AI, Hendrick Automotive Group faced a hard truth: their data was disjointed. Instead of patching broken processes, Dan Beyer and Mark Peskir made the tough call to scrap everything and start over. In this episode, they reveal why you can't have an AI strategy without a data strategy, the hidden costs of poor data governance, and how building a single source of truth i...

Chris McCullough didn’t set out to build a tech company; he just wanted to fix broken A&E scheduling. In this episode, Chris reveals how he traded emergency medicine for the boardroom, eventually leading Rotageek to a major acquisition. We unpack how handling medical trauma with incomplete information became his ultimate framework for navigating startup "imposter syndrome," building psychologi...

After a career-ending injury, former elite tennis player Carla Nokes faced a daunting pivot into the tech world. In this episode, Carla shares the unfiltered reality of bootstrapping The Fitness Directory, a 24/7 B2B platform connecting gyms with personal trainers. We discuss the heartbreak of pivoting, the shock of an £80k app quote, and why the resilience learned on the tennis court is the ultim...

In this episode, David sits down with Dr Omar Hatamleh, former Chief AI Officer at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, to explore the “Great Decoupling”; a looming future where AI replaces human labour.  Beyond job losses, what happens to human identity when we solve the income problem but lose our sense of meaning? Omar warns against outsourcing our critical thinking while revealing the breathtak...

Meet A Friend, a new product that you’ll have a very different relationship with. Most AI companions are programmed to blindly agree with us. Engineer Marco Riedesser is building something different: a physical, tactile AI 'friend' for adults, capable of sarcasm and pushing back. In this episode, we explore the loneliness epidemic driving this market, why we need energy-efficient "bicycles of AI,"...

Today David is joined by longtime friend and contributor to Tech Talks, Cathy White. As CEO and Founder of CEW Communications, she advises entrepreneurs and their businesses where to talk, and about what! But a conference or large event is so much more than just that. How do you prep, what is the best way to get in front of people, and does it really pay to be on stage? As a conference season gets...

zally’s Elliott Fullerton is turning how you hold your phone into the ultimate password. We explore how continuous authentication uses behaviour, not biometrics, to quietly tell imposters "no" in the background. But the real story is where this data goes next: predicting dementia and heart disease. We also discuss why clearing out the noise and learning to say "no" to AI hype i...

The internet’s trust systems are breaking down, and companies are terrified to admit it. Bots aren't just spamming platforms; they're draining Spotify fees and forcing digital banks to consider opening physical branches. This week, 'Tools for Humanity' CPO Tiago Sada reveals why traditional ID checks are failing against advanced AI. We explore the hidden human cost of fake identiti...

Is AI just about deploying agents, or does it require a fundamental leadership shift? In this episode, Ascendion CEO Karthik Krishnamurthy explains why the "Chief AI Officer" role is often a mistake, arguing that true AI transformation must be led by the CEO. We explore the fallacy of counting AI agents, the fast-approaching "Kodak moment" for hesitant companies, and why rewrit...

When we hear "unbanked," we usually think of individuals. But what about unbanked businesses? Meryem Habibi, CRO at Bitpace, reveals how small companies in emerging markets use stablecoins not for speculation, but for sheer survival. We discuss the hidden costs of traditional cross-border payments, the evolution of mobile money, and why adopting crypto in regions like Africa and Latin Am...

Anthony Wang (Co-Founder of ETFuels) initially thought Spain’s sunshine made it the perfect home for his startup. He was wrong. The CTO reveals why his startup abandoned European plans for the wind-swept oil fields of West Texas. We discuss the surprisingly simple science of e-fuels, why unit economics always beat political agendas, and why the tech sector must stop obsessing over software and sta...

What happens when doctors only look at a fraction of your symptoms? And how much trust should you place in technology to give you sound advice? David Savage sits down with patient and coach Kelsey Brett to explore the frustrating reality of siloed medical care. Then, Dr. Jonathan Andrews, Medical Director at TEDS Health, unpacks how tech-enabled healthcare is democratising diagnosis and combating...

Venture capital has a diversity problem, but talking about it won't fix it. In this episode, David sits down with Anu Adebajo, the new CEO of Newton Venture Program, to explore the real barriers to entry in VC.  Together they discuss why AI isn't the biggest threat to junior roles, the hidden bias of private school education, and why fixing the pipeline requires unlocking new LP capital, n...

We might soon be ‘agent bosses’. But if we only skim-read AI’s work, then the human handbrake might already be broken. As we trade deep expertise for surface-level summaries across a broader range of tasks, we might make mistakes that lead to massive reputational failure. On today’s show David is in conversation with Oaka Studio co-founder Lucy Bourne, over a pre-conference coffee in Westminster....

Digital experiences today are often isolating, but what if technology could bring us together in the physical world? In this episode, David speaks to Janet Beck (CEO of Glasseye) about the creation of Outernet, London's massive 23,000-square-foot immersive public space. They explore the convergence of physical and virtual worlds, why her team abandoned traditional 2D video for Unreal Engine du...

After fleeing the war in Ukraine, Vita Shafinska had to rebuild her 200,000-strong digital community from scratch. Now, with over 620,000 UK followers, she’s transitioning from creator to tech founder. Vita joins David to unpack the realities of the creator economy, the power of AI avatars, and why only 2% of VC funding goes to female founders. A raw look at resilience, networking, and the human s...

AI and deepfakes are dominating the security conversation, but what is actually causing breaches? David recently talked to Ed Williams, VP of EMEA Consulting at LevelBlue (a 20-year Pentesting veteran who has hacked everything from submarines to rockets) on the back of a new industry report. They chat about the need to explore vulnerabilities hidden in complex supply chains, how AI is a double-edg...

AI is scaling rapidly, but human skills are struggling to keep up. As a result, frustrated employees are taking learning into their own hands, giving rise to "Shadow L&D". In this episode, Bharat Siyani, VP People and Culture at ELMO Software, sits down with David to discuss the risks and rewards of covert innovation. Learn why AI skills expire in months and how to turn your team int...