Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast

Are AI Writing Assistants Quietly Shaping Public Opinion? A new study suggests that the AI tools many of us use every day on platforms like LinkedIn, X and Google may be doing more than improving our grammar and polishing our posts. Researchers found that AI writing assistants can subtly alter the direction of our messages on contested issues—and, over time, those tiny changes could influence coll...

435 Million Gig Workers, Secret Pricing Systems & The Global Fight for Transparency in the Digital Economy The World Bank estimates there are more than 435 million online gig workers worldwide, yet most have little visibility into the algorithms that determine what they earn. In this special episode of Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast , recorded live at Web Summit Rio, we explore wh...

How AI Agents Could Change Digital Payments Brazil's Pix payment system has already transformed how millions of people move money. Now, fintech company Iniciador is exploring what happens when artificial intelligence can initiate payments on behalf of users. We speak with Chief Product Officer Gustavo Bressler about AI-powered transactions, security, regulation and the future of digital commerce....

How Trust Became Fintech's Most Valuable Asset As artificial intelligence reshapes financial services, technology alone is no longer enough to stand out. Denise Johansson, co-founder and CEO of Enfuce, explains why trust is becoming one of fintech's most powerful growth strategies. From startup beginnings in Finland to powering payments for global brands including Porsche, Octopus Energy and Circl...

AI takes on marine wildlife traffickers Wildlife trafficking doesn't just involve rhino horn and elephant ivory. Marine species such as shark fins, seahorses and sea cucumbers are also smuggled around the world, threatening vulnerable ecosystems. Researchers in Australia have developed an AI system that can identify these species in CT scans of luggage and parcels. We speak to Dr Vanessa Pirotta a...

The Tiny Liquid-Metal Pump That Could Transform Robotics Soft robotics is one of the fastest-growing fields in technology, drawing inspiration from nature to create machines that are flexible, adaptable and safer for human interaction. In this episode, we explore a breakthrough liquid-metal micro-pump that could help eliminate the bulky compressors traditionally needed to power soft robotic system...

Recorded during rehearsals for the very first East Midlands Tech Week, this special edition of  Somewhere on Earth: The Global Tech Podcast celebrates 10 years of the Energy Research Accelerator (ERA) and the Midlands’ extraordinary history of innovation. From Derby, birthplace of the modern factory, to Leicester’s DNA fingerprinting breakthroughs, Nottingham’s MRI and ibuprofen innovations, and L...

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is designed to dramatically reduce energy use in cooling systems, improve cold-chain access and lower costs f...

Refrigeration’s Climate Problem and the Startup Trying to Solve It Refrigeration is responsible for a huge share of global carbon emissions but Colombian startup NanoFreeze believes biotechnology could change that. Founder and CEO Isabel Pulido explains how her company’s bio-nanotechnology is designed to dramatically reduce energy use in cooling systems, improve cold-chain access and lower costs f...

The Smart Contact Lens That Could Change Medicine Forever Glaucoma affects around 80 million people worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness. But what if managing chronic disease no longer required constant hospital visits, manual medication schedules or invasive monitoring? This week on  Somewhere on Earth , we explore a groundbreaking AI-powered smart contact len...

What the Collapse of a Global Summit Means for Digital Rights Thousands of delegates were preparing to gather in Zambia for one of the world’s biggest digital rights events until it was abruptly cancelled days before kickoff. Nikki Gladstone, Director of RightsCon at Access Now, explains how months of planning unravelled in a matter of hours and what triggered the decision. Why Nigeria Could Be Yo...

AI Voice Cloning; Clearer Speech, Growing Risks New research reveals that AI-generated voice clones can be up to 20% more intelligible than real human speech in noisy environments. While this could revolutionise public announcements, accessibility, and communication, it also raises serious concerns. Experts warn that cloned voices can sound more authoritative and trustworthy, making them a powerfu...

Driverless Cars Take the Wheel Driverless taxis are no longer a future concept, they’re already operating in cities worldwide, and even in Zagreb you can now book a ride with no driver at all. With the UK preparing for a rollout as early as September, the shift is accelerating fast. Backed by new laws and regulatory frameworks, the technology is moving from trials to real-world adoption. But safet...

From streaming royalties to AI tools: how musicians are navigating a rapidly changing industry Artificial intelligence is reshaping the music industry, but not always in the ways people expect. Researchers at the Oxford Internet Institute have been speaking with musicians across several countries about life in the streaming era and how AI fits into their creative work. Many artists say they are us...

How Artificial Intelligence Is Changing the Work of NGOs AI is increasingly shaping the work of non-profits and civil society groups. In this episode we speak with experts from Access Now about how NGOs are using AI to strengthen cybersecurity analysis and digital protection, while also navigating serious concerns around privacy, misinformation, and the safe handling of sensitive data. Using AI to...

313 blackouts. 52 countries. One global crisis. Internet shutdowns are no longer just blunt nationwide blackouts. From Uganda to Iran, governments are now using sophisticated tools to cut off Starlink, exempt their own institutions, and silence critics—while ordinary citizens are left completely offline. In Iran, a blackout has now lasted 30 days, on track to become the longest complete internet s...

🧸 AI Toys for Toddlers: Helpful Tool or Hidden Risk? As AI-powered toys enter the lives of children as young as three, researchers from Cambridge University are asking serious questions. These conversational “GenAI toys” can potentially support language development and engagement - but could they also create emotional attachment to machines, raise privacy concerns, and widen inequality gaps? We u...

Tech, AI and Europe’s migration debateDigital tools are now central to how migration is managed across Europe. From biometrics to automated decision-making, technology is shaping who can enter, stay, or be removed. A report by Access Now warns these systems risk reinforcing bias and reducing transparency - while officials argue they are essential for efficiency, security, and coordination.  Why re...

From breakthrough tech to startup reality Great ideas are only the beginning. This episode explores what happens next - how deeptech founders try to turn scientific breakthroughs into real companies. We attended a pitch night at London Business School where startups were presenting their ideas to investors. Among them were Nanoloom, developing sustainable graphene-based fibres for textiles, and Au...

The AI Boom Is Fuelling a New Wave of E-WasteArtificial intelligence may feel invisible, but the hardware powering it is very real - and short-lived. As companies race to deploy powerful AI servers, turnover of specialised chips and equipment is accelerating. Yet major tech firms rarely disclose AI-specific hardware figures, making it difficult to track where outdated machines end up. With less th...

🌍 When Satellite Images Lie: The Rise of Space DeepfakesDeepfakes are no longer just fake celebrity videos - they’re moving into orbit. AI can now generate or manipulate satellite images, potentially fabricating disasters, military sites, or climate events. In a world that relies on satellite data for journalism, science, and security, that’s a serious threat. Shoaib Burq, AI Researcher Project L...

🎙️ Agentic AI, Audio Ads the Future of CreativityAt Web Summit Qatar in Doha, the marketing world asked a bold question: when AI starts planning, creating, and deciding - what’s left for humans? Wilfrid Obeng, Co-Founder of AudioMob talks about how AI is transforming advertising in real time. From hyper-personalised audio ads generated on the fly to emotion-powered voice cloning inspired by tools...

🌍 Scaling Local Innovation Into Global InfluenceRecorded at Web Summit Qatar in Doha, we explore how organisations build global relevance without losing their local roots. As markets become more interconnected, AI and strategic leadership are essential to scaling beyond borders. Yasmin Kayali, Chief Marketing Officer and Societal Impact Leader at Deloitte Middle East, and Marko Čadež, President o...

How Mobile Money and Open Tech Are Bringing 1.3 Billion People Into the Financial SystemTechnology isn’t just evolving - it’s rewriting the rules of entire economies. In this episode of Somewhere on Earth, we explore how mobile technology, open-source payments, and digital finance are helping to “bank the unbanked.” With around 1.3 billion adults still without access to a bank account, we look at...

Trump and our Internet Freedoms – it’s not looking goodThe United States has pulled out of key international internet freedom organizations, calling them wasteful and ineffective — but digital rights experts say Americans should be concerned. In this episode, we break down why the US made the decision, what it means for online privacy and free expression, and how the shift could impact everyday in...