AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

Today’s guest is Ian Kiely, Leading UAV specialist, Founder of Drone Space Limited and ESA project contributor. He is also joined by Joe, a veteran in national security, maritime navigation and airborne law enforcement. In an ever-evolving digital landscape where drones and AI take centre stage, understanding their impact on airspace, security, and everyday life is crucial. This episode brings to light the sophisticated integration of AI into drone technology and its implications, particularly in Ireland.
Topics include:
0:00 Ireland’s drone boom, Manna’s exit and a billion-euro opportunity lost
5:03 How Ireland races to defend against evolving autonomous drone threats
7:19 AI transforms battlefield drones as Ireland hosts EU defence hackathon
11:03 How Drone Space brings industry together for safer, compliant drone operations
12:20 Building a skilled, connected network for safer drone adoption
13:32 Drone innovation accelerates alongside growing security and criminal threats
15:54 Drone technology evolves faster than regulation can keep pace
18:27 AI drone swarms adapt, coordinate and overwhelm traditional defences
20:07 Goal-driven AI drones expose dangerous gaps in Ireland’s defences

This episode is sponsored by Technology Ireland ICT Skillnet, helping Irish businesses close AI skills gaps through practical, funded training and bespoke programmes for their teams. Learn more at ictskillnet.ie

Today's guest is Kingsley Kelly, Founder and CTO at Glitch. As AI continues to revolutionise how companies operate, innovate and compete, Kingsley is at the forefront of this change. In this podcast, he shares insights into how Glitch is transforming the advertising landscape and leveraging AI to build a platform that stands resilient amidst the oscillating demands of the modern digital market.
Topics include:
0:00 The journey to building a platform simplifying digital advertising
4:47 Building goal-oriented AI agents to simplify marketing automation
6:25 How AI agents face real-world complexity beyond technical capabilities
8:24 How AI supercharges engineers, creating highly productive AI collaborators
11:38 Why AI companies must evolve continuously with advancing AI capabilities
15:15 Building AI knowledge systems through human feedback and continuous learning
17:53 How AI requires embracing uncertainty, complexity and human oversight1
9:43 AI governance, multi-model strategies and strong AI harnesses
24:10 Measuring AI progress through autonomous task length and agent capabilities

Today's guest is Owen Murray, Commercial Director at URhired. URhired is not just another AI tool; it is a lifeline designed purposely for neurodivergent job seekers. With over 85% of the neurodivergent community in the UK and Ireland facing unemployment or underemployment, Owen’s mission through URhired is clear and critical.Topics include:
0:00 His role as an AI interview coach empowering neurodivergent job seekers to succeed
5:42 Encouraging neurodivergent hiring through AI-powered talent solutions
8:31 Helping organisations scale inclusive employment through AI support
11:02 How AI interview coaching is helping neurodivergent candidates navigate hiring
14:02 Using Customer feedback to shape AI solution and validate market demand
16:42 Scaling URhired through product refinement and investment
18:20 How entrepreneurial growth is supported by mentorship, networking and curiosity

Today's guest is Vinodh Kumar Balaraman, Founder & CEO at CyberCheck360. In an era where cyber threats are increasingly sophisticated, email security remains a critical line of defence for organisations worldwide. In today’s episode, Vinodh talks us through the evolving landscape of email security and his company’s innovative solutions to protect against cyber attacks.Topics include:
0:00 How CyberCheck360 protects users from sophisticated AI-powered email attacks
7:42 Using sandboxed browser isolation to safely open email links remotely
8:39 Building a hybrid SaaS platform for secure email link isolation
11:35 Targeting regulated organisations with scalable email security for all sizes
14:33 Continuously evolving their platform using AI to detect phishing
16:50 How email security evolving towards AI-powered threat isolation
19:13 Working with Enterprise Ireland for validation, mentorship and growth support
20:38 Advice for entrepreneurs to start early, validate, adapt and evolve

Today's guest is Guglielmo Iozzia, Director, ML/AI and Applied Mathematics at MSD. In the ever-evolving domain of artificial intelligence, small language models pose a revolutionary alternative to the expansive and resource-intensive large-scale models. In this enlightening podcast episode, Guglielmo shares insights from his new book, "Domain-Specific Small Language Models: Efficient AI for Local Deployment,” as we dive deep into the advantages and challenges of small language models.
Topics include:
0:00 Optimising Small Language Models for Real-World Edge Applications
3:39 When Small Models Outperform Large Ones
6:16 Fine-Tuning AI with Domain-Specific Data
7:23 Why AI Benchmarks Don't Tell the Full Story
9:02 Lessons Learned After Writing the Book
10:52 Contextual Intelligence in Agentic AI Systems
12:23 How AI Books Are Written and Reviewed in PracticeLink to buy Guglielmo's latest book: https://www.amazon.com/Domain-Specific-Language-Models-Guglielmo-Iozzia/dp/1633436705