Tech Talks

Generative AI sounds confident, but it's fundamentally probabilistic, more like a weather app than a calculator. In this episode, Dr. Pravi Devineni, Lead AI Scientist at Duke Energy, explains why anthropomorphizing AI is holding back enterprise adoption. We discuss the critical gap in "AI literacy," why fear is stalling ROI, and who is ultimately accountable when the algorithm gets it wrong. If y...

When Fiverr's CTO Yossi Levin decided to equip his entire company with Al tools, he didn't set spending limits. Instead, he made cost visibility the only rule. In this episode, Yossi reveals the human reality of going Al- native, the hidden costs of non-developer prompt mistakes, and why the most critical future skill isn't coding, it's context. We break down the real ROI of Al, beyond just genera...

Every app now offers an AI agent, leading to a new enterprise nightmare: "agent sprawl". In this episode, David sits down with Franny Hsiao, Salesforce’s EMEA AI Architects Lead, to unpack the hidden risks of uncoordinated AI ecosystems. They explore why continuous learning is vital for C-suite leaders, the growing need for "Frugal AI," and why preserving human judgment is our ultimate competitive...

In this episode, David sits down with Mick Costigan, who leads Salesforce Futures, to explore how leaders can anticipate and shape the future of technology. We unpack why AI "hallucinations" are actually a powerful tool for strategic foresight and why the impending rise of personal AI agents will force companies to move from transactional interactions to genuine customer relationships. WhatsApp us...

How do you go from a junior HR role to a Solution Engineer? In this episode, Izzy Power shares her unconventional journey into tech. We unpack how AI is reducing her admin from hours to minutes, the pressing need to be "intentional" with that saved time, and why the tech industry must rethink how it trains entry-level talent before we accidentally pull up the drawbridge on the next gener...

Ashleigh Ainsley, MBE and co-founder of Colorintech, joins David Savage to uncover the uncomfortable truths about the technology sector's diversity problem. They discuss why venture capital is leaving money on the table by ignoring underrepresented founders, the hidden biases in AI, and why a lack of data means structural barriers remain unaddressed. Discover what it really takes to open the d...

AI innovation is moving at breakneck speed, but are organizations keeping up? Luis Blando (OutSystems' Chief Product and Technology Officer) argues that scaling AI isn't just about deploying expensive models, it’s a massive cultural transformation. We explore the "terrible" tension between innovation and governance, why businesses just need a good old bicycle instead of a Ferrari...

When Lucy Donaldson left the highly-regulated finance world to become CIO of Globus, a 100-year-old travel brand, she didn't just face a technology upgrade, she faced a massive cultural shift. In this episode, Lucy reveals why true legacy modernisation relies on people before platforms, how a master data foundation enables AI success, and why "shadow AI" presents a new governance cha...

The rush to adopt AI agents is creating an invisible crisis: mounting technical debt and skyrocketing token bills. Woodson Martin from OutSystems joins us to discuss the "token-o-palypse" that shocked CFOs and the hidden costs of moving too fast. We unpack how leaders can seize back control, build secure infrastructure, and truly own their agentic future without sacrificing compliance or their bud...

Tech leaders are waking up to massive, unexpected AI bills. Why? The industry has fallen for the 'reasoning trap': paying models to rethink basic, repeatable tasks from scratch. Pegasystems CEO Alan Trefler joins David Savage to expose the "token-eating" agents causing boardroom budget shock. We unpack why standardising your AI "recipe" is the only way to scale without...

When you experience life's toughest moments, should a chatbot be the one to comfort you? Sophie Ruddock, COO of Empathy, doesn't think so. In this episode, we explore the tension between scaling a tech-for-good platform and maintaining human compassion. Sophie reveals why they refuse to fully automate grief, the limits of AI in emotional support, and how solving the logistical burden of de...

The board wants an AI “Ferrari,” but are you ready for the security headaches? Aidan Finn, CEO of Binarii Labs, reveals that unstructured data makes up 90% of enterprise data (and it's dangerously exposed). We unpack the illusion of data sovereignty, the risks of relying on a single cloud provider, and how fragmenting files across locations could be your ultimate defense. Discover how to actua...

We are currently obsessed with using artificial intelligence to generate the perfect pop song or a flawless corporate video. But what if we are building the exact tools that audiences are actively rejecting? In this episode of Tech Talks , we uncover the invisible decisions shaping the future of digital creativity. David sits down with OverTune founder Siggi Arnason to discuss why the public's...

When Francesco De Stefano proposed radical 3D printing designs with robotic arms, people laughed. In response, he made a radical choice: Caracol wouldn’t sell a single system for five years until their technology was perfected. Francesco joins David Savage to unpack the realities of reshoring, how advanced manufacturing actually solves critical skilled labor shortages, and the hidden human decisio...

Whilst at Google, Avery Pennarun realised that building for "Internet scale" made easy problems harder. So he left to build Tailscale, focusing on the long tail of developers who just need computers to connect. Avery talks about the need to ignore Silicon Valley's scale obsession (and how it paved the way for their success), and why removed *AI* from a tech strategy helps reveal the real issues. W...

We are pouring billions of dollars into large language models, trusting them to reshape how our businesses operate. Yet, if you read the fine print on Microsoft's Copilot licensing agreement, you will find a startling admission: the tool is "intended only for entertainment". So why are leaders deploying a technology that, by default, cannot work reliably and completely obfuscates its...

AI can generate first drafts and code (and much more) in seconds, but is there a human cost to this abundance? In today’s episode David is joined by Metalab’s Design Director Myles Palmer. They discuss the changing (or evolving maybe?) role of designers, and unpack why AI is leaving us fatigued by 11am! The looming crisis in AI monetisation is also a topic increasingly spoken about, and that enter...

We assume AI’s greatest test is in self-driving cars or robotics, but what if it’s actually inside video games? David Savage sits down with Artificial. Agency CEO Brian Tanner to explore how generative AI is shifting games from pre-scripted stories to living, reacting worlds. Discover why building gaming AI is surprisingly harder than real-world automation, and what happens when society gains acce...

Generative AI is sparking fear across the creative industry, but VSCO CEO Eric Wittman argues that AI isn't the only threat to photographers, it’s also business acumen. In this episode, David Savage explores why the average professional photographer lasts just 2 to 3 years, how AI is actually becoming a creator's best thought partner, and the leadership lessons learned from embracing techn...

Every fintech pitch deck claims to use AI, but are they just ticking a box for VCs? In this episode, Started PR founder Kimberley Waldron unpacks the tension between AI hype and real revenue. We explore why experienced founders are terrified of "AI washing", the looming cultural divide between human and silicon lifeforms, and how AI might actually solve global financial parity instead of...

Social media is flooded with viral videos of humanoid robots, but what happens when the cameras turn off? In this episode, David Savage sits down with Kacper Nowicki, CEO of Nomagic, to uncover the reality of "unhappy robots" gathering dust. We explore the massive gap between online hype and industrial reliability, the invisible labor shortages driving e-commerce, and the real decisions...

Why do scaling tech companies wait until the 11th hour to care about governance and compliance? David Savage sits down with Scrut Automation’s Nick Muy to explore the panic that hits when a major enterprise deal is on the line. They unpack the realities of building trust, why there are no "magic wands" in compliance, and why the narrative that AI will eliminate jobs shows a complete lack...

While software moves fast, progress to unlock the power of fusion energy faces the unforgiving laws of physics. David Savage sits down with Cary Forest, Chief Scientific Officer at Realta Fusion, to explore deep tech's realities. They discuss why nature ignores pitch decks, the tension between massive scientific risk and infinite payoff, and how fusion could eventually provide the clean, 24/7...

AI agents are taking over, but who governs their access? In this episode, David sits down with Nancy Wang (CTO of 1Password) to explore the evolving "trusted access gap" for machines and agents. Nancy reveals why 1Password deliberately sacrifices development velocity for confidential computing, how the CTO role has shifted out of the "engine room", and why they’ve completely re...

How do you manage technology governance for 20,000 volunteers without killing innovation? Joanne Todd, CIO at St John Ambulance, explains why she embraces a "sandbox" approach to shadow IT instead of shutting it down. We discuss the 150-year-old charity's evolution, the friction in frontline healthcare, and the terrifying reality of AI bias for vulnerable populations. Discover why te...