AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

Today’s guest is Mick Costigan, Vice President, Salesforce Futures at Salesforce. As we step into an era increasingly defined by artificial intelligence, businesses globally are striving to adapt, innovate and stay ahead of the curve. In this episode, Mick sheds light on how enterprises can effectively navigate these turbulent waters, offering valuable insights into the intersection of AI, strategy and business transformation.

Topics include:
0:00 How the Salesforce Futures team uses foresight to navigate uncertainty
4:40 How AI agents are forcing organisations to rethink workflows
6:53 Why leaders must balance quick AI wins with transformation
8:04 How AI harnesses provide context, trust and enterprise functionality
10:38 How Salesforce rapidly shifted focus to enterprise AI agents
11:52 Without guardrails, AI agents create security, coordination and governance risks at scale
14:33 Why leaders must balance experimentation, action and purpose in AI execution
18:43 How Jobs are evolving bundles of tasks, not shrinking due to AI
21:08 Unlocking new service models and scale through AI Agents
23:42 How AI could help Ireland address labour shortages and scale SMEs globally
25:34 Predicting AI agents will proactively manage work, coordination, and decisions by 2030
30:13 Why the best way to reskill is through hands-on AI use and iterative learning

Today’s guest is Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Ireland. Artificial Intelligence is not just a new frontier but a paradigm shift that's reshaping business models globally. At the recent Dublin Tech Summit, these themes took centre stage as Kieran joined host Mark Kelly on the podcast to explore the current state and potential of AI diffusion in Ireland, highlighting both the progress and the obstacles that lie ahead.
Topics include:
0:00 The latest findings in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report
2:43 Seeing businesses shift from AI experimentation to productivity gains
4:40 Why AI transformation requires business redesign, not just tools
8:23 AI adoption requires incentives, measurement and cultural change
11:08 AI adoption grows when usage is measured and rewarded
12:42 How Enterprise AI unlocks greater value than consumer tools
14:47 AI-driven process redesign is coming to business and government
15:50 Why leadership engagement is critical to successful AI adoption

Today’s guest is Graham Abell, VP, Software Engineering & Ireland Site Lead at Workday. As continues to transform the landscape of business operations in our rapidly evolving digital world, Graham joins today’s episode to share insights about Workday's AI initiatives, their contribution to the EU AI Act and the broader implications of AI for businesses.

Topics include:
0:00 His journey from test automation engineer to product and engineering leader
2:54 Seeing Workday Dublin grow into a major global R&D hub
5:11 How Workday is building trusted, human-guided AI automation at scale
8:20 How AI is creating smaller, more versatile teams focused on business impact
9:37 Why Responsible AI must be built in from the start, not added later
11:19 Why leadership requires empathy, measurable outcomes and investing in future talent
13:00 His belief that AI should augment jobs, freeing people for higher-value work
15:16 Using AI as a personalised assistant for learning, productivity and decision support

Today’s guest is Brad Mallard, Chief Technology Officer at Version 1. In a world driven by rapid technological change, AI is not just about the technology itself; it’s about people, transformation, and real-world application. In today’s podcast, Brad shares how Version 1 is harnessing artificial intelligence to redefine business processes and educational experiences.Topics include:
0:00 Driving AI transformation across regulated industries worldwide at Version
2:39 Leading AI transformation through internal adoption and public sector innovation
5:12 How they prioritise AI adoption through people, education and change management
7:42 Emphasising AI governance, measurement and business value realisation
11:30 Addressing rising AI costs through token optimisation and model efficiency
15:25 How Version 1 enables AI agents across enterprise workflows and functions
19:06 Plans for continued AI-driven growth, job creation and investment in co-creation spaces
20:39 How Version 1's co-creation studios enable AI-powered, rapid prototype development with clients
23:09 Co-creating AI solutions with clients focused on early ROI validation
25:10 Delivering AI-for-good solutions improving education and productivity globally

Today’s guests are Sean Blanchfield CEO and Michael Cordner, CTO at Jentic. In a world driven by innovation and technological advancement, few developments stand as transformative as the emergence of general-purpose artificial intelligence agents. This shift is highlighted in today’s episode live from Dublin Tech Summit, as Michael and Sean chat about the profound implications of AI on both business and society.
Topics include:
0:00 How OpenClaw signals the arrival of universal AI agents
5:14 Using OpenClaw to validate Jentic's Vision for Governed AI
7:23 Why the Real Breakthrough Is Agents Working Together
8:58 Without Governance, AI Agents Create Organisational Chaos
11:54 Building AI Demands Perspectives Beyond the Tech Bubble
14:23 Staying Ahead in AI Requires Constant Experimentation
15:49 Their Vision that the Future Isn't Software, It's Agent Organisations
20:00 Why Traditional Org Charts Don't Fit the AI Era