26 APR 2024 · As AI initiatives gather steam, the public and private sectors are assessing the level of investment necessary to unlock the value of the new technology. It’s clear that large funds and a strategic approach will be necessary to bring the workforce along with employers. The UK government has announced several billion pounds in collective funding for AI projects and infrastructure deemed necessary for expanding the UK’s AI sector. As governments around the world look to unlock AI success of their own, however, is the UK’s current approach enough? In this episode, Jane and Rory speak to Alex Case, senior director and government industry principal EMEA at Pegasystems to discuss how well the UK is positioning itself to take advantage of the growing AI market. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/business/policy-and-legislation/uk-competition-watchdog-says-it-has-very-real-concerns-over-a-big-tech-concentration-of-power-in-the-ai-market - https://www.itpro.com/business/policy-and-legislation/uk-ai-regulation-lawmakers-reportedly-eye-a-tighter-approach - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-believes-the-uk-can-become-a-global-leader-in-ai-but-regulation-needs-fixing - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/investment-in-uk-ai-firms-plummeted-last-year-despite-the-hype-surrounding-generative-ai - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/the-uk-governments-ai-goals-are-being-stifled-by-apocalyptic-concerns-over-safety

19 APR 2024 · The EU’s AI Act has been approved, bringing in sweeping requirements, controls, and regulations for the development and use of AI tools throughout the region. But what are the precise measures it brings in, how can businesses prepare for the new rules, and what are the penalties for non-compliance? In this episode, Rory speaks to Nader Henein, VP Analyst at Garner, to explore the implications of the EU AI Act, how companies can prepare for the measures it brings in, and what it means for AI use worldwide. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/business/policy-and-legislation/how-the-eu-ai-act-compares-to-other-international-regulatory-approaches - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/eu-ai-act-everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-legislation-including-rules-requirements-and-who-will-be-forced-to-comply - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/eu-hammers-out-deal-on-ai-act-but-it-may-have-missed-the-mark - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/france-germany-and-italy-align-themselves-on-ai-regulation-but-the-eu-may-not-like-it - https://www.itpro.com/business/policy-and-legislation/european-ai-startups-risk-being-regulated-out-of-existence-under-eu-ai-act - https://www.itpro.com/it-legislation/27814/what-is-gdpr-everything-you-need-to-know - https://www.itpro.com/security/data-protection/gdpr-costs-are-forcing-firms-to-rethink-data-strategies

12 APR 2024 · This week has seen Google Cloud’s annual Next conference in full swing, with the hyperscaler having made major announcements on generative AI and the infrastructure necessary to support it. Having spent the past year playing catch-up with Microsoft and OpenAI, Google Cloud is now in a place where it’s ready to press its advantage in AI, years after the company first declared itself “AI first”. But has it succeeded in this mission, and if so – what are the tangible benefits for Google Cloud customers? In this episode, recorded live at Google Cloud Next 2024 Rory speaks to Bola Rotibi, Chief of Enterprise Research, CCS Insight, to explore some of the most notable trends at the event and unpack why Google has a strong advantage in the AI space. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/news/live/google-cloud-next-2024-all-the-news-and-announcements-live - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/gemini-code-assist-could-be-googles-secret-weapon-to-challenging-github-copilot - https://www.itpro.com/cloud/cloud-computing/google-cloud-doubles-down-on-ai-hypercomputer-amid-sweeping-compute-upgrades - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/google-cloud-targets-ai-anywhere-with-vertex-ai-agents - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/anthropic-could-be-the-champion-aws-and-google-need - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/googles-hugging-face-partnership-shows-the-future-of-generative-ai-rests-on-open-source-collaboration - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/microsoft-copilot-review-ai-baked-into-your-apps - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/youre-going-to-have-an-ai-copilot-for-everything-you-do-and-youll-probably-hate-it

5 APR 2024 · March has been a month of concern for those in the cyber security community following revelations of extensive hacking campaigns carried out by state-backed groups. In the latter part of the month, it was reported that APT 31, a Chinese state-backed threat group, had accessed information on tens of millions of UK voters in a breach of the Electoral Commission. Threat actors had also targeted US politicians and businesses.  What can we learn from the breach and how can organizations protect themselves against future state-backed threats? In this episode, Jane and Rory welcome back Ross Kelly, ITPro’s news and analysis editor, to explore the month’s cyber security developments.

29 MAR 2024 · Is your firm missing out on AI? It’s a question that has weighed heavy on the minds of tech leaders for the past 18 months and as new developments are announced leaders are presented with an ever-increasing buffet of AI products. While the pressure to commit to AI adoption can be intense, it’s essential that leaders integrate AI in a strategic fashion. But what does this mean in a practical sense and how can leaders match this need for caution against their fear of missing crucial AI opportunities? In this episode, Rory speaks to Sharon Mandell, CIO at Juniper Networks, to unpack how the expansion of AI is being handled by businesses, the response leaders can take to increased competition, and what forms AI will settle into at an enterprise level. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/software/open-source/the-future-of-generative-ai-lies-in-open-source - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/three-open-source-large-language-models-you-can-use-today - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/big-tech-ai-alliance-has-almost-zero-chance-of-achieving-goals-expert-says - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/why-not-to-invest-in-generative-ai-for-now - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/openais-sam-altman-hallucinations-are-part-of-the-magic-of-generative-ai - https://www.itpro.com/cloud/public-cloud/will-nvidias-ai-dominance-shake-up-the-public-cloud-big-three

22 MAR 2024 · This classic episode of the ITPro Podcast was first published on 9 June 2023. Quantum computing is an inevitable technology, with the private sector and nation-states racing to be the first to unlock its potential. While it can be used for all kinds of good, quantum computing could also be used to unravel critical systems. The UK is one of several nations investing in quantum computing, with its government having announced £900 million for its own exascale quantum computer. Stakes are high as we enter into what some have dubbed a ‘quantum arms race’, with the first to successfully crack encryption holding all the cards when it comes to its myriad use cases. In this episode, Rory and Jane speak to Tim Callan, chief experience officer at cyber security firm Sectigo, about the current state of quantum computing research and how the industry can prepare for this seismic shift. https://www.itpro.com/security/encryption/the-quantum-security-quandary

15 MAR 2024 · As technological innovations happen, it can be easy to forget that even the most complex systems rely on large networks of basic infrastructure to operate. At the most fundamental level, all tech products rely on effective data storage  But this is easier said than done. Each byte of data has to be stored somewhere, on a rack, disk, tape, or flash device. As the world embraces hardware and software that creates data at an even faster rate, businesses will be forced to push the frontiers of data storage and evaluate their data management strategies. In this episode, Jane and Rory speak to Tom Coughlin, president and CEO of the IEEE, to learn more about how data storage will continue to evolve and what organizations can do to keep up with innovation in the space. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/solid-state-storage-ssd/33908/best-ssds-the-top-nvme-and-sata-drives-around - https://www.itpro.com/server-storage/flash-storage/367837/10-things-to-consider-when-buying-an-external-hard-disk-based - https://www.itpro.com/strategy/28071/what-is-machine-learning - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence-ai/369959/what-is-generative-ai - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/who-owns-the-data-used-to-train-ai - https://www.itpro.com/infrastructure/backup/how-to-choose-the-right-storage-medium-for-your-organizations-backup-strategy - https://www.itpro.com/data-management/30216/three-keys-to-successful-data-management - https://www.itpro.com/big-data-analytics/34532/structured-vs-unstructured-data-management - https://www.itpro.com/cloud/cloud-storage/367821/5-things-to-consider-when-selecting-your-next-online-storage-provider - https://www.itpro.com/infrastructure/data-centres/how-close-is-glass-data-storage-to-scaled-enterprise-use

8 MAR 2024 · The tech sector still has a long way to go when it comes to gender equality. While progress has been made over the years, women in tech face hurdles such as discrimination and outdated hiring processes. All of this works to drive women out of tech and uphold ingrained, sectoral biases. Female founders come up against these same challenges time and time again, which robs the industry of innovative firms and stems the flow of progress. For a more diverse sector, more work needs to be done on initiatives to support the next generation of women in tech. In this episode, Jane and Rory speak to Laura Hutton, co-founder and chief customer officer at Quantexa, to discuss women in tech and the role leaders can play in improving equality throughout the sector. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/from-this-week-women-across-the-uk-will-effectively-work-for-free-and-in-tech-its-even-worse - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/five-common-barriers-holding-back-women-in-tech - https://www.itpro.com/technology/uk-deep-tech-companies-have-a-serious-diversity-problem - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/surge-in-female-computing-degree-applications-shows-the-tide-is-slowly-turning-on-tech-sector-gender-diversity - https://www.itpro.com/business/business-strategy/uks-female-ai-founders-receive-six-times-less-funding-than-male-counterparts - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/shoehorning-female-tech-workers-into-management-roles-could-harm-inclusivity - https://www.itpro.com/business/sexism-in-the-uk-tech-sector-is-rife-and-shows-no-sign-of-abating - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/tech-workers-fear-generative-ai-could-drive-women-out-the-workforce - https://www.itpro.com/business/women-in-tech-are-being-forced-out-of-work-by-the-motherhood-penalty - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/tech-sector-gender-gap-could-take-nearly-300-years-to-close-without-intervention - https://www.itpro.com/business/business-strategy/male-workers-say-sexism-in-the-tech-industry-is-rare-women-would-disagree - https://www.itpro.com/business-strategy/careers-training/369871/fixing-stems-gender-bias-with-more-classroom-intervention

1 MAR 2024 · February has been an eventful month in the tech sector as ransomware operator LockBit, which has accrued billions of dollars in ill-gotten gains in its approximately four-year history, was taken down by an international task force spearheaded by the UK’s National Crime Agency. Elsewhere, ChatGPT suffered a major setback as users noticed the industry-leading chatbot had taken to answering prompts with complete gibberish. Though the issue was fixed within a day of being reported, it has raised important questions about the reliability of the service and the technology that underlies it. In this episode, Jane and Rory welcome back Ross Kelly, ITPro’s news and analysis editor, to explore February’s big cyber security story and discuss what ChatGPT’s moment of madness means for generative AI. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/lockbit-takedown-is-a-huge-win-for-law-enforcement-but-lets-not-celebrate-too-soon-security-experts-warn - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/lockbit-rises-from-the-ashes-but-will-it-pack-the-same-punch-as-before - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/life-after-lockbit-a-fragmented-landscape-and-wayward-affiliates-will-still-cause-chaos-for-enterprises - https://www.itpro.com/security/malware/358450/europol-takes-down-dangerous-emotet-botnet - https://www.itpro.com/security/cyber-crime/qakbot-forced-offline-but-history-suggests-it-probably-wont-be-forever - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/everything-we-know-so-far-about-the-rumored-alphv-takedown - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/history-tells-us-alphv-will-likely-recover-from-recent-takedown - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/lockbit-remains-most-dangerous-ransomware-despite-fall-in-attacks - https://www.itpro.com/security/ransomware/the-big-three-ransomware-groups-are-losing-their-grip-on-the-industry-as-gangs-begin-to-fracture-study-shows

23 FEB 2024 · STEM careers are often touted as those with the best prospects, but when it comes to job satisfaction things may not be quite so rosy. A stark number of workers in the tech industry are currently looking to move jobs – either into a different tech role or into another field entirely. Many more are facing the looming prospect of job cuts, while an increasing number are reporting poor working conditions. All this adds up to a disaffected and disengaged workforce – something leaders need to fix or risk losing valuable staff and the knowledge they hold. What can companies do to stem this issue, and how practical are these solutions? In this episode, Jane and Rory discuss the state of employee wellbeing in tech and how leaders can start to address issues such as burnout and turnover. Read more: - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/how-to-combat-high-staff-turnover-in-tech - https://www.itpro.com/software/agile-development-is-fading-in-popularity-at-large-enterprises-and-developer-burnout-is-a-key-factor - https://www.itpro.com/security/surging-cyber-threats-exacerbating-security-staff-burnout - https://www.itpro.com/business/the-future-of-business/hybrid-work-means-were-burning-out-harder-and-faster-than-ever - https://www.itpro.com/security/a-third-of-cyber-security-pros-report-crumbling-work-life-balance - https://www.itpro.com/security/cyber-security-professionals-are-exhausted-and-its-putting-firms-at-greater-risk-of-attack - https://www.itpro.com/security/fighting-the-always-on-culture-thats-savaging-mental-health-in-cyber-security - https://www.itpro.com/business/business-strategy/boosting-mental-health-support-in-the-workplace - https://www.itpro.com/business-strategy/flexible-working/370106/uks-four-day-week-trial-ends-shows-reduced-burnout-sick-days - https://www.itpro.com/business/careers-and-training/the-company-wide-benefits-of-mentorship-in-tech - https://www.itpro.com/security/cyber-security/370114/nearly-half-cyber-leaders-leave-roles-mounting-stress - https://www.itpro.com/business/business-strategy/370363/it-staff-frustrated-rate-of-change-in-workplace - https://www.itpro.com/business/digital-transformation/five-ways-to-prevent-digital-transformation-burnout - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/can-businesses-use-ai-to-beat-burnout - https://www.itpro.com/technology/artificial-intelligence/ai-employee-monitoring-will-only-burn-bridges-in-the-workplace