For Tech’s Sake

Elaine went to a week of AI summits and events and found the best conversations were happening outside of the sanitised headline event in Dublin, which felt like a day-long ad with little space given to critical thinking on the topics and issues which abound in the AI sector. She reflects on the whole experience with Kelly, marvelling at a mixed-up Irish music medley and a round stage for static speakers, among what felt like doublespeak and gaslighting. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Check out the techbro parody in Visions at the Abbey Theatre, running up to 14 November >> Have a hopeful read of Mark Little’s book, The Last Good Day on the Internet >> Consider joining the Digital and Techworker Alliance (DATA) from the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See…

The modern-day panopticon is not a circular prison with a central guard tower, it’s a network of connected devices capturing and tracking our every waking minute and collecting copious amounts of data to share with the highest bidders – or the most fascistic authorities. In this episode, Kelly and Elaine weigh up the psychological effects of a culture where you can never dance like no one is watching. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Slow down and watch the world go by (literally) with Ambient Earth >> Read Kelly’s piece on The Journal all about this topic >> And Patrick Freyne’s article on the normalisation of location tracking among family and friends >> Listen back to our episode where we asked a search technologies expert if phones are really listening to you (even though we are not even sure any more) >> And one of our very earliest episodes, which looked at tech-facilitated abuse *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok:…

Are data centres central to the Irish economy? Or is that just some inflated bluster from the government on behalf of Big Tech? A recent report from Maynooth University has debunked some of the government’s claims around the benefits we reap from being Europe’s data centre dumping ground, so we asked two of its co-authors, Patrick Bresnihan and Patrick Brodie, to talk to us about Ireland’s data centre dependency, and the motivating factors behind it. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Read the report, How We All Pay for Big Tech: The social, economic, and environmental costs costs of data centres in Ireland >> Check out the programme for Beta Festival 2026 >> Pick up a copy of the two Patricks’ book, From the Bog to the Cloud >> Check out the Workers’ AI Counter Summit in Dublin this weekend *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled:…

This week, Kelly and Elaine are talking about the emergence of the ‘AI shelf’, where products are marketed specifically at large language models (LLMs) so that they are recommended by chatbots and even purchased by automated ‘agents’. And their question is: Can you trust automated purchase decisions in a broken content ecosystem? *** Good things we recommend *** >> Learn more about AI manipulation tactics from ‘the Sophie Morris of chatbots’, WetClaude (AKA Deana Burke), on TikTok and Instagram >> And check our her newsletter >> Celebrate ICCL’s recent win against Big Tech >> Listen back to our episodes on trend simulation and online shopping scams *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we dust off our corkboard and thread to connect the dots between problematic Silicon Valley ideologies and the doomsday AI talking points that have been gripping the world of late. Yes, this explanation of a cult-like culture that has infiltrated the highest echelons of business and government is going to sound like a conspiracy theory, but bear with us as we unpack the history of ‘superintelligence’ fantasies (and nightmares) in this bumper episode, revealing how every scary story about AI lately stems from known issues and very human failings. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Watch the Ghost in the Machine documentary >> Set up a daily games challenge with family and friends with PlayUs on Android or iOS >> Let us know what you think of the pod (and if you want an FTS PlayUs group) via fortechssakepod@gmail.com >> Better yet, rate, review and share the podcast with anyone you think might like it *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io…

With the impending release of GTA VI looming large over the video games industry, Kelly and Elaine discuss how the trend towards disc-less gaming represents a loss of consumer power and ownership for gamers. But good gaming is not out of lives just yet and an unlikely Steam-powered hero might level up and save the day. *** Good things we recommend *** >> This clip of ‘Lara Croft’ on The Late Late Toy Show >> The Steam Machine, though Kelly’s full review will follow later >> Seán Mongey’s people-friendly Culture Night guide >> Becoming an Apartheid Free Zone *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back, and the kids are back in school, so we are packing your lunchbox with some food for thought on tech in schools. We’re weighing up screen-free childhoods, debunking the myth of ‘digital natives’, doling out advice on image-sharing, and considering the benefits of teaching kids piracy. (Well, it worked for us!) *** Good things we recommend *** >> Check in with your own device usage (and maybe pick up a copy of Unlocked by Pete Etchells instead of reaching for the phone) >> Watch the trailer for You Can See Everything (Nathan Fielder’s new documentary about Elizabeth Holmes) >> Take heed of Webwise’s image guidance for schools >> Listen back to our episode with early childhood education expert Paula Walshe >> In memory of Derek Cassidy, revisit our recent subsea cables episode with researcher Jane Ruffino *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky:…

The UK’s upcoming social media ban for under 16s has been labelled an insufficient “political band-aid” that prioritises business as usual over online safety, and creates a “false sense of safety” for parents. Kelly and Elaine discuss the reactions from researchers, child safety advocates and human rights organisations and look at how a similar ban in Australia has failed to hit the mark. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Hidden Levels, a podcast mini-series on how video games reshaped the real world (including an episode on the military) >> Kelly’s first episode of For Tech’s Sake, which was a discussion on age verification >> Our previous episode with psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor about parenting an online generation >> This diva telling BBC News what she thinks of the UK social media ban >> Sounds of Space on Bandcamp >> Pride Over the Waves: Amateur Radio Night at Tog Hackerspace *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok:…

In this episode, Elaine is joined by energy researcher Prof Hannah Daly to discuss the energy strain data centres represent for Ireland, the greenwashing that enables their proliferation in the face of climate concerns, and the real costs – both financially and environmentally – of unchecked growth. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Hannah’s website >> Games by Sam (especially Clues by Sam and Bee Sort) >> Connie’s GCN marathon fundraiser >> Dublin Inquirer Summer School *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Are we in danger of becoming a contactless society? That’s the concern of psychotherapist Dr Colman Noctor, who joined Elaine to explain why we need to push ourselves beyond the isolated safety of socialising through screens and flex our social muscles in order to really grow as people. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Colman’s TEDx talk >> Digital Intentionality Score >> The Irish Hedgehog Survey >> Invasives.ie >> IFI’s Ghost in the Machine screening *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kelly has lost her voice! So Elaine is joined by cultural commentator, previous guest, and co-host of Get Around to It, Aoife Barry, to discuss why our feeds are filled with short video clips, and how ‘clipping’ is used to simulate trends and fake virality. If you’re a fan of the band Geese, you may have already been subject to these manipulations. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Catch up with Aoife at AoifeBarry.com >> Listen to Elaine and Jenny interview Aoife about her book Social Capital >> Listen to the Chaotic Good interview on Billboard’s On the Record podcast >> Check out the next Get Around to It table quiz on 8 July >> Come see Elaine chat with Dr Abeba Birhane at IFI’s Ghost in the Machine screening >> Sign up for Out of the Archive and Into the Record, a Wiki Loves Pride event >> Check out the Open Accessibility Assessment Framework for Computer Peripherals and Consumer Electronics >> Celebrate Reuse and Repair Week with Tog in Belfast *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack:…

Prediction markets like Polymarket and Kalshi are rocketing in popularity and raking it in as users bet on everything from the day’s weather to major political manoeuvres. In this episode, Kelly and Elaine discuss what’s sus about these platforms and how they are mired in manipulation. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Research from CCPC and MABS on financial literacy >> An Post’s Letter to your Future Self >> Kelly’s favourite stamps, featuring Brian Friel and Eileen Gray >> An Post’s digital stamps >> GCN magazine stockists *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kelly and Elaine have a chat about how all the AI hype and hate is pushing people to switch off. It’s a frank conversation about opting out of AI, where for some people it’s a trade-off and for others a struggle to go fully AI-free, and why it’s not anti-progress to say no, but a healthy challenge to techno-determinism. *** Good things we recommend *** >> For a laugh: the AI vapes website >> For reference: the booed AI graduation speech >> For satirical purposes only: Sinceerly >> For hitting the nail on the head: Tom Fishburne’s comic >> For AI-free Google search: udm14.com >> For an AI-free browser: JustTheBrowser.com or Stevo’s GenAI Blocklist >> For an intense look at data tracking in your browser: Since You Arrived Vol. IV – taken *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See…

This week Kelly and Elaine are sharing their love for Wikipedia – its endless interesting links, dedication to niche topics, and, of course, the ‘Personal Life’ section. Amy O’Riordan, bhainisteoir pobail le Pobal Éireann Wikimedia (AKA the community manager of Wikimedia Community Ireland) joins us for this chat about the famous online encyclopaedia’s challenges with AI, vandalism, content gaps and reliable sources, as well as the sheer passion of the volunteers that keep this great collaboration going. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Wikipedia, of course >> Wikimedia.ie for more on the Irish Wiki community >> Wiki Loves Earth photography competition >> Depths of Wikipedia by Annie Rauwerda >> No Mow May 🌼 >> Birdfeeding advice from Niall Hatch at BirdWatch Ireland 🐦 *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on…

This episode features an appearance from Elaine’s mam, who helped her review the new AI Ready platform from the Irish government (AIReady.ie) – and it did not go down well! We were so disappointed with this fumbled effort at AI literacy, but luckily we had Laura Grehan to speak to about getting it right. Laura leads education, engagement and societal impact for the Adapt research centre, and her award-winning team has reached about 85,000 people with their #DiscussAI initiative and other programmes. *** Good things we recommend *** >> #DiscussAI’s AI literacy resources >> Age-Friendly AI, a national AI literacy initiative for older adults >> Our chat on AI literacy with Prof Aphra Kerr >> The Verge report on switching unsupported Windows devices to Linux >> Lemoncello’s new album, Perfect Place *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled:…

Pretty soon your private messages on Instagram will no longer be end-to-end encrypted. But you may not have even known they could be encrypted to begin with, as Instagram kind of buried that feature. Kelly and Elaine discuss what this means for messaging apps more broadly, while also lifting the veil on how private these apps really are (as well as having a rant about all the things they don’t like about Instagram). *** Good things YOU recommend *** >> Amy recommends the film Desk Set >> Katie and Vanessa recommend the show WeCrashed >> El recommends the documentary Ghost in the Machine >> Dean recommends the book Braver New World, by John Kampfner *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social FTS UpScrolled: fortechssakepod Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

To celebrate our 100th episode, we invited our listeners to watch us in action live, with the return of special guest Dr Abeba Birhane, founder of the pioneering AI Accountability Lab. We had fun with a game of Good Tech, Bad Tech (trademark pending) followed by a meaty discussion with Abeba about the morality of AI, the challenge of being a critic of AI, and how she met the Pope and Shaggy (no, really). We are so grateful to everyone who came out for this live recording, and also to The Digital Hub, and Dee and Oisin from the Beár Bia podcast for making it all possible. All proceeds from this event went to Medical Aid for Palestinians. Donate at MAP.org.uk. *** Good things we recommend *** >> AI Accountability Lab >> Biology as Ideology by Richard Lewontin >> Abeba’s reflections on the censorship of her keynote at the AI for Good Summit 2025 >> Kabakoo Academies, blending high-tech and indigenous knowledge in Mali >> Duck Duck Go, a Google alternative *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack:…

In this episode, Elaine tries to turn Kelly into a subsea cables stan with the help of Jane Ruffino, a PhD candidate who recently visited a ship in the midst of (literally) winding up TAT-8, the world’s first transatlantic fibre-optic cable. Jane enthusiastically shares what we can learn from the subsea cable industry’s ‘minimum necessary technology’ mindset, and why it’s important that the infrastructure and labour that keeps us connected is made visible. Find Jane on LinkedIn and at CharacterWorks.co. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Jane’s superb article in Wired >> Our podcast episode, The internet under the sea >> The Undersea Network, a book by Nicole Starosielski >> Atlantic-Cable.com >> Derek Cassidy, communication archaeologist >> Irish artist Fiona Marron >> Ye Olde Hurdy-Gurdy Museum of Vintage Radio in Howth, Co. Dublin *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky:…

This week, Kelly and Elaine are talking about AT, assistive technology, and how we can all have nicer digital experiences because of it. Our expert guides to AT in this episode are Patrick Fitzgerald, an AT user and DigiCoach for others, and Sarah Boland, an AT facilitator and mentor. We find out some fundamentals for designers and developers to make the web more accessible, as well as some tips for ourselves to be more inclusive with what we post online. Will you take on our anti-Lent alt text challenge? *** Good things we recommend *** >> St John of God Liffey Services >> FreedomTech.ie >> AccessDesign: An inclusive co-design toolkit >> Osmo >> For Tech’s Sake Live! *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Pokémon Go collected 30 billion street-level image scans from its players, and now its creators are using that data to help train delivery robots. This prompted Kelly and Elaine to discuss the many ways human labour contributes to AI training, whether we are aware of it or not. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Humanitix ticketing >> Gravity Climbing Centre >> For Tech’s Sake Live! >> Svenska Dagbladet’s investigation into Meta’s AI training *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today’s episode is a lesson in AI literacy, busting some myths and revealing the strings behind the magic trick (with a smattering of Irish for Seachtain na Gaeilge). Kelly quizzes Elaine on how we can adapt our language to be clearer in communicating what AI is, and we also speak to Prof Aphra Kerr about the award-winning AlgoWatch project and its efforts to boost literacy among young people. *** Good things we recommend *** >> AlgoWatch.eu >> Elaine’s keynote at CESIcon 2026 >> #DiscussAI >> Age-Friendly AI >> Switched On *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’re back with an all-new season of For Tech’s Sake, just in time for a digital media literacy lesson on the Dubai influencer economy and how this shapes the content you see in your feed. We also have some news about our upcoming 100th episode – but you’ll have to listen to find out about that. *** Good things we recommend *** >> Check out Ned Leddy’s e-waste sculpture in St Patrick’s Park from March 14th to 16th. >> Spot a fish, ring a doorbell at visdeurbel.nl *** More from us *** Kelly’s Substack: kellysrubbish.substack.com FTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepod FTS Instagram: fortechssakepod FTS Bluesky: fortechssakepod.bsky.social Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this final episode of 2025, Elaine and Kelly wonder if being on the naughty list could be a way for tech billionaires to hoard coal resources, and also offer up some predictions for a new year in tech. We’re forecasting legal issues and major market shifts, the spread of age-gating and deregulation, and a reckoning to come for generative AI. We also have a gift guide for the tech lover in your life, and other recommendations that can help you connect with your community IRL. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

’Tis the season of shopping and scams, so arm yourself with knowledge from the For Tech’s Sake buyer’s guide to what you need to know about online shopping in the slop era. Come for the explanations of TikTok Shop, drop-shipping and scam tactics to watch out for, and stay for the references to ancient memes and Kelly’s tell-all review of a popular Game Boy emulator. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, Kelly and Elaine discuss why a delay in the release of Grand Theft Auto VI to late 2026 might be the least of Rockstar Games’ problems as protests have kicked off outside their offices following the firing of more than 30 employees. Could gamers now boycott a release they’ve been waiting more than 12 years for? Meanwhile, as yet another tech outage caused widespread ripples across the web, the EU is taking a look at the concentration of power in digital infrastructure. Also in this episode, we get hands-on with a pair of Meta Ray-Bans and speculate on Snapchat’s potential as a Reddit rival. Finally, we recommend you check out the research published on Authoritarian-Stack.info and follow Conor McCabe (@conormaccaba) on Instagram for updates on his radical political economy workshops. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode may contain a rude word or two when Elaine and Kelly start going off on Ryanair’s decision to force app downloads under the guise of ‘paperless’ boarding (that’s not actually paperless). And rude words are apparently being shadow-banned on Bluesky, while Elon Musk is getting roasted by Joyce Carol Oates on X. We also make an attempt to rouse EU citizens into a fight for the sanctity of GDPR, muse on whether All’s Fair signals a microdrama trend for TV, and get through some listener feedback on ‘the good guy of tech’ plus a new recommendation to help you understand what data brokers can learn from your online behaviour. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

There’s been some Wikipedia drama this week as Jimmy Wales has been doing the rounds on a press tour promoting a book that bills him as ‘the good guy of tech’ – but Elaine and Kelly have a different man in mind for that moniker. Also in this episode, Ekaterina Uetova from the MOvD research project joins us to explain how a group chat might be more motivational than a gamified fitness app. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this very special Halloween episode, Elaine and Kelly are communing with the digital after life and sharing (barely) spooky stories about data from beyond the grave. It’s a bumper episode with a special appearance from researcher Danny Snow, who has been giving digital data a post-mortem examination and proposes how we could donate our data like we donate our organs. Visit DataDonorCard.org for more information and be sure to check out BetaFestival.ie for our ‘something good’ recommendation. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Well, our maxim has finally caught up with us. We’re always saying the only certainties in life are that tech will fail and you will die and – while Elaine and Kelly are both still very much alive and well – the tech did fail and we lost an entire episode recording. So now you just have Elaine monologuing about the widespread impact of the 15-hour Amazon Web Services outage this week, and the problem with building an internet that’s just three Big Tech kids in one trench coat. She also has an extra dig at Microsoft for its decision to end free security updates for Windows 10, and shares some rainy day activity suggestions from herself and Kelly. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s no coincidence that the launch of endless feeds of AI-generated video from Meta’s Vibes and OpenAI’s Sora have coincided with a marked increase in video slop online, but what kind of social media are these platforms creating? One that’s littered with dead celebrities, deepfakes and juvenile humour, normalising the manipulation of a real person’s image just for fun. In this episode, Elaine and Kelly wonder if Denmark’s proposed new copyright law could be a death knell for “synthetic resurrection” and rampant deepfakes. They also explain why it’s good for electric vehicles to have a digital passport for their battery, bring you an update on the Chat Control debate, and have a great recommendation for book lovers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Tech and democracy expert Liz Carolan joins Kelly and Elaine to explain some new regulations on political advertising hitting the EU this week, right in the midst of an Irish presidential election. These rules have been introduced to minimise political interference and ensure transparency, but the response from platforms is likely to make this situation even murkier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Mark Zuckerberg’s live demo of gesture controls for his Meta glasses may have failed, but the underlying technology in the wrist-worn Neural Band, known as surface electromyography (sEMG), made us curious about potential applications in medtech. To find out more we spoke to EMG expert Prof Madeleine Lowery, who explained the differences between using these sensors in the lab or clinic versus commercial products. Sticking with medtech marvels, we also spoke to Prof Garry Duffy about soft robotics that can squeeze things inside your body – and why that’s a good thing. Also in this jam-packed episode, Kelly shares her thoughts on what the EA buyout could mean for The Sims and why her current gaming pursuits are taking her offline. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Platforms are really stretching the bounds of privacy rights with their terms of use these days. With recent changes to terms at Spotify, LinkedIn and Academia.edu in the spotlight, we called on data protection expert Daragh O Brien to give us a steer on how we should navigate impenetrable, and sneaky, user agreements. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of For Tech’s Sake, Elaine and Kelly discuss TikTok’s potential takeover by a consortium of Donald Trump allies, and the uptick of fake online content inflaming the discourse about real events. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Joining Elaine this week are two special guests on two very different topics. Cybersecurity expert Brian Honan fills us in on what’s going on with the EU’s Chat Control proposal and explains how it could do more harm than good. Then, author Sylvia Leatham discusses her book Chaos Theory, which takes the familiarity of the workplace and mixes it up with a socially awkward robot. If you want to reach out to your MEP about concerns regarding Chat Control, go to FightChatControl.eu. And head to linktr.ee/SylviaLeatham to find out where you can pick up a copy of Chaos Theory. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We have things to say about another survey, this time all about AI in the workplace. We look at what some other research is telling us about AI adoption and consider the ethics of pushing gen-AI technologies on workers in light of some recent revelations. We also learn all about peer-to-peer energy sharing from Sweta Malik, a senior power systems researcher at the UCD Energy Institute. And, as usual, we end with our picks of what’s good in the tech world right now, shining the spotlight on some great work from Irish artists. Content warning: This episode touches on the topics of self-harm and suicide. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Find out about the deep-tech side of femtech from our special guest Dr Tanya Mulcahy, director of Health Innovation Hub Ireland and founder of FemTech Ireland. In this episode we also try to get to the bottom of some bizarre search suggestions on TikTok. And remember to listen to the end for our suggestion of something good you can find online today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Today is gonna be the day that Kelly and Elaine are gonna throw a look back on a bleak week of tech news, from some shocking revelations over at Meta AI to some concerning behaviour from Stripe’s customer service team. We also look into why VPN advertising has ramped up in Ireland and leave you with something you can use to spend your days in the sunshine. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are delighted to be joined in this episode by Benji Foley, a PhD researcher at DCU's Institute for Research on Genders and Sexualities, who explains the concept of digital sexual literacy and why it’s important we build this up in young people. In particular, Benji’s research looks at digital sexual literacy among young people from the LGBTQ+ community in Ireland, and what he’s learned in the early stages of his research might surprise you. Kelly and Elaine also look at the release of OpenAI’s new GPT-5 model, a Google Maps blunder that led a women to RTÉ looking for Lidl, some bad maths in the media and billionaire Dermot Desmond’s unrealistic expectations of autonomous vehicles. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Spotify CEO Daniel Ek’s investments in AI military technologies are turning off musicians and listeners. Kelly Earley and Elaine Burke discuss the many ethical issues Spotify’s streaming has waded into and how the algorithmic flow of music has affected their own listening habits, and Kelly floats some alternative options for music-lovers. Kelly also gives us a speedy intro to Formula E and Elaine has a surprising fact that links ’90s punk band The Offspring with some modern medical marvels. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Elaine Burke speaks to Riham Al Faqih, development and outreach director with MIFTAH, a civil society organisation based in Palestine, about digital rights violations committed against Palestinians. Their conversation took place shortly after an internet blackout in Gaza, and highlights how Palestine has become a testing ground for the advancement of surveillance tech. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kicking off a new season of For Tech’s Sake, hosts Elaine Burke and Kelly Earley discuss recent developments in age verification for social media and online platforms within the EU and the UK. They assess the practical challenges, examine the privacy risks and debate the implications of relying on tech alone to solve this problem. Listen to the end for our suggestion of something good you can find online today. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

For Tech’s Sake is back with an all-new series, a brand new co-host and lots more tech stories to talk about. Join Elaine Burke and Kelly Earley as they look at tech through a critical lens – not evangelising or demonising it, but definitely throwing a bit of shade when it’s deserved. Follow us for updates: Instagram Bluesky TikTok Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

CrowdStrike learned some valuable lessons in software deployment recently – lessons that it should have known already, arguably, as they would be concerned golden rules and best practices. Jenny and Elaine talk through the software disaster that was, and the ill-advised gesture of goodwill that back-fired on CrowdStrike. They also have a public service announcement regarding how X is sneakily assuming your consent for training AI for Grok and xAI. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, check out ForTechsSake.info. CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains swearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we are celebrating Irish techin’ legends Réaltra and Dr Lisa Heffernan, for their roles in the ESA’s Ariane 6 rocket launch and LISA mission, respectively. We also have new names for our recent tech bugbears: aggressive eventing and the AI sludge populating the internet. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, and videos of a giant robot and terrible images generated by AI, check out ForTechsSake.info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It’s a bold title for an episode in which Elaine didn’t come prepared, but thank god we have Jenny, who’s calling out Perplexity’s plagiarism and hailing the creator of OneMillionCheckboxes.com. And while Jenny is in a trance ticking boxes on the internet, Elaine is also mesmerised by a phenomenon she calls ‘TikTok hands’. She’s also got a terrifying tale of robots with human-like skin and Billy Roll faces. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, and images of horrifying robot skin, check out ForTechsSake.info. CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains swearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We’ve got all the AI updates covered in this episode, from Apple Intelligence and elephant intelligence to user backlash and self-driving car crashes. And we end with a shout-out for legendary computing pioneer Lynn Conway, who passed away earlier this month. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, check out fortechssake.info. CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains some swearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode from For Tech’s Sake, Elaine and Jenny weigh up whether Canva’s cringe-inducing rap announcement was junk or genius, and stick it to Spotify for junking Car Thing (a decision they thankfully rowed back on after recording). For links to the stories and embarrassing videos discussed in this episode, check out fortechssake.info. CONTENT NOTE: This episode contains some swearing. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode from For Tech’s Sake, Elaine and Jenny assess where we’re at with the current AI hype cycle (with some help from a scathing op-ed from tech writer Julia Angwin), though they still find some gen-AI to have fun with. There are also more robots to talk about, because we clearly have a type. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, check out fortechssake.info. The song, Triumph of the Tech Queen, was made with Suno. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this bonus episode from For Tech’s Sake, Elaine is joined by special guest host Dr Jessamyn Fairfield, a physicist and performer of science stories. Jessamyn came to talk about the co-founder of LinkedIn being cringe with his AI double and the incredible story of how NASA has managed to get Voyager 1 back online, even though it’s in interstellar space. Meanwhile, Elaine has some stories about sus social media activity in Ireland, a Miss AI beauty pageant, and a doorbell you can ring to help fish get through a Dutch dam. For links to the stories discussed in this episode, and more, head to ForTechsSake.info. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.