AI Ready… or not! (with Laura Grehan)

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: fortechssakepod   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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: 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 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: fortechssakepod.bsky.social   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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.comFTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepodFTS Instagram: fortechssakepodFTS 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.comFTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepodFTS Instagram: fortechssakepodFTS 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.comFTS blog: for-techs-sake.ghost.io FTS TikTok: fortechssakepodFTS Instagram: fortechssakepodFTS 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.