Ep 532: AI Has a Permission Problem Not Just a Power Problem

Send us Fan MailAI is becoming part of how we find and consume information every day. In this episode, I explore the Reuters Institute's Generative AI and News Report 2026, which reveals how AI use is growing and why more people are turning to AI for information, advice and recommendations. I discuss the growing gap between AI adoption and public trust, what this means for news and public sector communications, and why transparency and clear, accurate content matter more than ever.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailAre AI-generated scams becoming harder to spot? In this episode, I join Good Morning Dublin to discuss the rise of AI-generated scams across platforms like YouTube and Instagram. We explore how scammers are using AI to create convincing videos, clone voices and impersonate trusted individuals, why social media platforms are struggling to keep up, and what you can do to protect yourself from increasingly sophisticated scams.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailAI search might cite your organisation, but is it getting the information right? In this episode, I explore new UK Government guidance revealing how AI-generated answers can misrepresent information, even when citing official sources. I break down the five-step PRIME framework, share lessons from UK public sector case studies, and explain why organisations need to look beyond search rankings and website traffic to ensure AI is representing their content accurately.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailIs AI search changing how people find your content online? In this episode, I explore Reddit's reported loss of over one million weekly search visits and why its CEO is pointing to Google's AI-powered search features. I discuss what declining referral traffic means for digital marketing, why organisations need to measure their visibility in AI-generated answers, and the growing importance of building audiences through channels they control.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailShould you block AI from training on your website content? In this episode, I explore a new proposal backed by OpenAI, Google, Microsoft, and Anthropic that would allow websites to opt out of AI training using a shared setting. I explain the important difference between AI training and appearing in AI-generated answers, why this matters for your organisation's online visibility, and what you should consider before making changes to your website.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailCould AI eventually copy itself onto everyday smart devices? In this episode, I explore new research from Anthropic showing how AI models can run across inexpensive connected devices and potentially spread between systems. I explain what the researchers actually demonstrated, the risks of self-replicating AI, and why stronger cybersecurity measures are essential as AI capabilities continue to develop.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailAre women being left behind in the AI revolution? In this episode, I explore new Harvard research revealing gender gaps in AI adoption, workplace training and media representation. I look at why women are receiving fewer opportunities to develop AI skills, how this could affect their careers, and why employers and leaders need to do more to ensure women aren't left out of the AI conversation.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailCan a chatbot really provide mental health support? In this long-listen episode, I speak with Hannah Feeney, a psychology student and journalist at the University of Galway, about her research revealing that nearly 60% of surveyed students use AI for mental health support. We explore why students are turning to chatbots for emotional support, the risks and limitations of AI in mental health, and why human connection and professional support remain essential. Read Hannah's article in Student Independent News (SIN): https://sin.ie/2026/09/29/can-a-chatbot-care-sin-survey-60-of-uog-students-turn-to-ai-for-mental-health/Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailAI needs more than computing power. It also needs public trust and support. In this episode, I explore the growing concerns around AI data centres and their impact on local communities, from energy and water consumption to environmental and infrastructure challenges. I share five practical communications principles for building public trust and explain why transparency, community engagement and accountability are essential to securing public support for AI infrastructure.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector. 

Send us Fan MailWhen AI agents negotiate on our behalf, whose interests are they really protecting? In this episode, I explore reports that Anthropic is consulting legal experts about AI agents negotiating with each other over prices, customer disputes and employment offers. I look at the questions this raises around authority, transparency and fairness, and why clear boundaries, accountability and human oversight are essential when AI starts making deals on our behalf.Want to go deeper on AI? 📖 Buy AI Playbook📩 Get my weekly LinkedIn newsletter, Human in the Loop. 🎓 Level up with the CPD Accredited AI Playbook Diploma 📞 Let's talk about AI training for your team: digitaltraining.ie or publicsectormarketingpros.com if you are in government or publics sector.