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Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Irish Tech News
50 episodes
2 days ago
Audio versions of the articles from our news feed.
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Audio versions of the articles from our news feed.
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Episodes (20/50)
Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Microsoft reveals Ireland continues to rank 4th globally for AI adoption
Global adoption of AI continued to rise in the second half of 2025, increasing by 1.2 percentage points compared to the first half of the year, with roughly one in six people worldwide now using generative AI tools, remarkable progress for a technology that only recently entered mainstream use. To track this trend, we measure AI diffusion as the share of people worldwide who have used a generative AI product during the reported period. This measure is derived from aggregated and anonymised Microsoft telemetry and then adjusted to reflect differences in OS and device-market share, internet penetration, and country population.
Additional details on the methodology are available in Microsoft's AI Diffusion technical paper. No single metric is perfect, and this one is no exception. Through the Microsoft AI Economy Institute, we continue to refine how we measure AI diffusion globally, including how adoption varies across countries in ways that best advance priorities such as scientific discovery and productivity gains.
Despite progress in AI adoption, the data shows a widening divide: adoption in the Global North grew nearly twice as fast as in the Global South. As a result, 24.7 percent of the working age population in the Global North is now using these tools, compared to only 14.1 percent in the Global South.
Countries that have invested early in digital infrastructure, AI skilling, and government adoption, such as the United Arab Emirates, Singapore, Norway, Ireland, France, and Spain, continue to lead. The UAE extended its lead as the #1 ranked country, with 64.0 percent of the working age population using AI at the end of 2025, compared to 59.4 percent earlier in the year. The UAE has opened a lead of more than three percentage points over Singapore, which continues in second place with 60.9 percent adoption.
The second half of the year in the United States shows that leadership in innovation and infrastructure, while critical, does not by themselves lead to broad AI adoption. The U.S. leads in both AI infrastructure and frontier model development, but it fell from 23rd to 24th place in AI usage among the working age population, with a 28.3 percent usage rate. It lags far behind smaller, more highly digitised and AI-focused economies.
South Korea stands out as the clearest end-of-year success story. It surged seven spots in the global rankings, climbing from 25th to 18th, driven by government policies, improved frontier model capabilities in the Korean language, and consumer-facing features that resonated with the population. Generative AI is now used in schools, workplaces, and public services, and South Korea has become one of ChatGPT's fastest-growing markets, leading OpenAI to open an office in Seoul.
A parallel development reshaping the global landscape in 2025 was the rapid rise of DeepSeek, an open-source AI platform that has gained significant traction in markets long underserved by traditional providers. By releasing its model under an open-source MIT license and offering a completely free chatbot, DeepSeek removed both financial and technical barriers that limit access to advanced AI. Its strongest adoption, not surprisingly has emerged across China, Russia, Iran, Cuba, and Belarus. But perhaps even more notable is DeepSeek's surging popularity across Africa, where it is aided by strategic promotion and partnerships with firms such as Huawei.
This rapid evolution underscores an increasingly important dimension of AI competition between the United States and China, involving a race to promote adoption of their respective national models. DeepSeek's success reflects growing Chinese momentum across Africa, a trend that may continue to accelerate in 2026. DeepSeek's ascent also underscores a broader truth: the global diffusion of AI is influenced by accessibility factors, and the next wave of users may come from communities that have historically had limited access to technological progress. The challenge ahead is en...
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2 days ago
4 minutes 24 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Ireland's National Centre for AI to receive €5.7m funding for phase two of European programme
CeADAR, Ireland's centre for AI, has confirmed it is to receive €5.675m in funding for Phase 2 of the European Digital Innovation Hub (EDIH) Programme.
The €5.675 million funding will go towards CeADAR's European Digital Innovation Hub Programme, a Europe-wide initiative. It is co-funded by the Department of Enterprise, Tourism and Employment, via Enterprise Ireland, and the Digital Europe Programme.
CeADAR is one of Ireland's four European Digital Innovation Hubs (EDIHs) which are at the forefront of supporting the digital transformation in Ireland.
Phase Two of the EDIH programme, which runs from 2026 to 2029, was announced by the Minister for Enterprise, Tourism and Employment Peter Burke TD at the end of last month.
It will allow the significant scale up of digitalisation efforts among SMEs and public sector organisations. Through EDIH, CeADAR helps SMEs and Public Service Organisations (PSOs) become more digitally intense by providing access to technical expertise in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and data analytics, as well as test-before-invest solutions, skills development and support to find investment.
The EDIH funding will further support start-ups through CeADAR's AI Accelerator programme, delivered in partnership with NovaUCD. In the next phase, CeADAR will collaborate with Irish Centre for High-End Computing (IHEC) to provide access to advanced compute capabilities and specialist expertise where this adds value to enterprise and public sector engagements.
CeADAR, which is based at UCD, allows organisations to access funded specialist training and upskilling as well as development and testing of prototypes, and scope proof of concept solutions, helping these organisations to understand how they can benefit from analytics and AI, minimising the barriers to the adoption of technology.
CeADAR is also announcing it has been awarded the prestigious Strategic Technologies for Europe Platform (STEP) Seal award by the European Commission. This recognition marks CeADAR's continued excellence in driving innovation and supporting businesses in Ireland.
The STEP Seal (or Sovereignty Seal) award is a quality label awarded to excellent European projects and aims to recognise top-rated innovation projects, facilitate access to European Funding and attract additional or alternative private or public investment.
CeADAR CEO John Lonsdale said:
"CeADAR is delighted to have had funding confirmed for the second phase of the EDIH programme, enabling us to continue to assist SMEs and Public Service Organisations across Ireland by supporting them in accelerating their digital journey with AI and data science."
CeADAR Director of Innovation & Development Ricardo Simon Carbajo said:
"It is a great honour for CeADAR to be awarded the prestigious STEP Seal Award from the European Commission. The award is a testament to the continued hard work of everyone at CeADAR and we look forward to continuing to drive innovation through our European Digital Innovation Hub programme."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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2 days ago
4 minutes 12 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
More homes and businesses taking control of their energy costs than ever with SEAI Grants
More homeowners and businesses are taking control of their energy costs than ever, with 2025 the highest year on record for government grants through the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI). Thousands of homeowners, motorists, communities, and businesses are now benefiting from warmer, more comfortable homes and workplaces and lower energy bills after a record €645 million investment last year.
William Walsh, CEO of SEAI, said: "Energy costs are on the minds of many, especially at this time of year, and at SEAI we are here to help, with a range of grants and an expert team available to help homeowners and businesses to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, no matter what stage they're at.
Last year was a record year for investment – there is real momentum now behind our programmes. Many people know a friend, neighbour or colleague who has made the decision to upgrade their home or business and is feeling the benefit of the work, both in their pocket with reduced energy costs, and in their health and overall comfort levels.
We plan to help even more people this year, and I really encourage anyone considering a change to have a look at our website www.seai.ie and see how we can help you."
2025 highlights:
Over 58,000 home energy upgrades completed (8% more than last year).
Highest year on record for Warmer Homes Scheme with over 8,000 homes at risk of fuel poverty receiving a free energy upgrade, lowering their energy bills and improving their health outcomes.
Record year for solar PV – more than 102,000 homes have now been grant-aided for solar panels since the scheme launched in 2018, and a third of those happened in 2025.
Over 18,000 motorists received grants to buy an electric vehicle and a home charger
Over 4,500 businesses supported to reduce their energy costs, in every county in the country.
SEAI continues to be Ireland's national energy authority and the leading research body on how and where Ireland uses energy. In 2025 we awarded €22 million in research and innovation funding.
Improving customer service continues to be a priority for the organisation – in 2025 SEAI managed over 320,000 customer contacts through our dedicated customer service teams.
William Walsh continued: "The long-term solution to high energy costs is to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels. Energy is central to everything we want to achieve as a country, and we must put our energy system on a more sustainable, secure footing and remove ourselves from the volatility of the international markets. Everything we do must consider and protect those most vulnerable in the transition. SEAI is here to help, no matter what stage a person or business is at.
Our 2025 Energy in Ireland report, published in December, shows that while we are making some progress in reducing our energy-related emissions, we haven't broken the link between economic success and fossil fuels, and we need to do a lot more to meet our goals. The good news is we know what works. Increased renewable energy infrastructure and grid reinforcement, more home energy upgrades, district heating and investment in public transport are among the many solutions that would make a big difference.
In moving away from fossil fuels, we are moving towards a more secure, healthier, more competitive economy and society for all."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok a...
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2 days ago
4 minutes 22 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Can AI compliance drive competitive advantage?
Guest post by Ronnie Hamilton, pre-sales director, Climb Channel Solutions Ireland
If compliance feels overwhelming right now, it's not just your imagination. New regulations covering cybersecurity, data protection and Artificial Intelligence (AI) are emerging and evolving – including the EU AI Act. In turn, this means heightened pressure on organisations as they try to navigate the new landscape, anticipate industry shifts, and support partners and customers.
This is also happening within the context of a marketplace defined by complex customer environments, emerging technologies, resource constraints and skills shortages. Organisations must overcome these obstacles to meet their objectives and drive success.
It's a balancing act – between daily operations and legislative requirements, agility and security, compliance and innovation. It's also more important than ever for companies, including technology vendors, to stay ahead. How then do they turn compliance with legislation into a competitive advantage?
Open (AI) conversations
AI adoption plays a critical role in maintaining a competitive edge. By embracing AI, organisations can deliver exceptional services with fewer resources, keeping costs low and service quality high. However, caution must be exercised with open and honest conversations about application and implementation.
After all, the EU AI Act introduces new obligations for organisations deploying AI solutions – emphasising transparency, accountability, and risk management throughout the AI lifecycle. That means greater scrutiny not only from external bodies but also within companies.
For instance, some may consider introducing AI governance roles or availing of offerings such as "AI Managers as a Service." These specialists help companies navigate regulations without requiring full-time in-house expertise and turn the additional cost of AI governance into a business opportunity that strengthens customer service and market position.
Risky business
It goes without say that AI is high-risk and this risk is multi-dimensional in that it encompasses technical risk, as well as agility, integrity and transparency. Therefore, businesses need to take a comprehensive approach to risk management and adhere to robust cybersecurity processes, from multi-factor authentication and regular training to incident response planning, and supply chain security.
This may also require a change in mindset to shift to a more proactive approach covering detection, protection and recovery. A lengthy recovery period following a breach can be just as harmful as failing to detect the threat in the first place. Whilst AI poses a risk and has transformed the threat landscape, it is also assisting in terms of cybersecurity strategy.
Take the integration of automation into threat detection and response processes for example. This is becoming more widespread and more important for meeting compliance requirements. It also enables companies to better manage and protect their data, one of the most valuable (and targeted) assets in the world of business nowadays.
Innovation opportunity
From tackling compliance complexity to streamlining time-consuming processes, these technologies help organisations to minimise human error, enhance efficiency and improve service delivery. That's not to mention the advantage they deliver when it comes to threat detection and resolution.
On one hand, regulatory compliance is daunting. On the other, it presents a significant market opportunity. Forward-thinking firms and vendors can use this to differentiate themselves and demonstrate expertise. In other words, it can be a driver of innovation if approached in the right way.
Only those who evaluate emerging solutions and proactively adopt new technologies, alongside proper governance and compliance strategies, will be well-positioned for success. That means investment. It also means collaboration. But it is worth the effort as finding that balance will not only allow org...
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2 days ago
5 minutes 11 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
EHS International Launches IOSH-Certified PSDP & PSCS Training
EHS International, a leading provider of environmental, health, and safety (EHS) services with offices in Cork, Dublin, Belfast and London, has launched new certified training courses in construction safety. Fully accredited by the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH), the courses cover both Project Supervisor Design Process (PSDP) and Project Supervisor Construction Stage (PSCS).
Designed for professionals overseeing safety during the design and build phases, the training supports compliance with the?Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Construction) Regulations 2013. Courses are led by experienced EHS International trainers and are available both in person and via live, instructor-led webinars.
Speaking on the new training courses, Derry Cronin, Group Business Operations Director at EHS International, said: "Project supervisors play a central role in keeping people safe and projects on track. These courses provide the practical knowledge and real-world context professionals need to meet their legal responsibilities with confidence."
The two-day PSDP course prepares participants to coordinate health and safety during the design phase, while the PSCS course equips professionals to manage safety on active construction sites. Both are fully accredited by IOSH, the world's largest chartered body for health and safety professionals.
Courses are offered by EHS International's expert trainers in-person in Cork and Dublin or via live instructor-led webinars, providing flexible options to suit all learners. Participants receive practical, up-to-date training and certification aligned with national regulations and industry best practices.
To register or learn more, visit: https://www.ehsinternational.com/iosh-training-courses/
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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3 days ago
2 minutes 54 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Dublin Fire Brigade invests in location intelligence to reduce fire risk across county
Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced that Dublin Fire Brigade has deployed a new digital mapping system designed to improve emergency response, strengthen firefighter and public safety, and enhance how critical resources are allocated across Dublin city and county.
Ireland's largest fire and rescue service, Dublin Fire Brigade was founded over 160 years ago. It provides fire, rescue, and emergency ambulance services 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, to Dublin's 1.5 million citizens. It recently established a new Organisational Intelligence Unit with a key goal to optimise the use of location-based information to effectively manage fire risks and help keep communities safe.
Built using Esri's ArcGIS technology, the new digital mapping system brings together operational data, such as the locations of fire stations and historic fire incidents, with third-party data – including census and population health information – for the first time.
Enhanced insights support increased safety for both the public and firefighters by raising awareness of buildings in Dublin with fire safety issues – such as inadequate means of escape, building defects, or over-occupancy. Using the technology, Dublin Fire Brigade can now map this information and put effective response plans in place that take known issues into account.
What's more, the technology is enabling Dublin Fire Brigade to carry out more targeted community fire prevention activities by focusing citizen safety campaigns on specific vulnerable groups, especially in locations that are experiencing clusters of dwelling fires. It can easily see where fire safety efforts are still needed to reach at-risk communities, as well as contextual data such as concentrations of smokers or elderly people.
In addition, Dublin Fire Brigade is using Esri's ArcGIS technology to identify optimal locations for new fire stations as Dublin continues to expand, as well as to ensure that aerial fire appliances are strategically located to reach the tallest and highest-risk buildings.
Dublin Fire Brigade plans to make the system widely available across varying departments within the organisation to enable more strategic planning and informed decision-making.
Rob Howell, Station Officer, Organisational Intelligence Unit, Dublin Fire Brigade, said: "It has been a really successful collaboration. The consultants at Esri Ireland have a high level of expertise, both in terms of their GIS knowledge and their project management skills. This technology gives us the ability to target our fire prevention strategies – we can deliver campaigns in the right locations to reach the most vulnerable people and have the biggest impact in terms of community fire prevention.
"Equally, we have to consider firefighters' health and safety as well as that of the general public and, by being better informed, we can improve our responses to incidents and keep our responders safe in fires and other emergency situations. The potential for location intelligence in the fire service is absolutely huge and has a big role to play in our future."
Gareth McBride, Customer Success Manager, Esri Ireland, said: "Dublin Fire Brigade is continuously evolving the fire service to meet the needs of Dublin's residents, businesses, institutions, and visitors. To support this, it is embedding geospatial data intelligence at the heart of operational and strategic decision-making. Location intelligence is helping the fire brigade in managing and reducing fire risks, addressing some of the biggest dangers in a changing cityscape. We are delighted to be working with Dublin Fire Brigade on such an important and necessary project, and excited to see its expanded capabilities as the technology is rolled out more widely."
See more stories here.
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3 days ago
3 minutes 56 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Women's Aid Ends Use of X
Women's Aid, a national organisation working to prevent and address the impact of domestic violence and abuse, including coercive control, in Ireland, will no longer maintain a presence on the platform X from 8th January 2026.
The organisation has watched the increased levels of unchecked hate, misogyny, racism and anti-LGBTI+ content on the platform with growing unease and concern. The current scandal, which has seen the creation and sharing of AI deepfakes, non-consensual intimate imagery, and production of child sexual abuse material by X's own AI Grok, in breach of the platform's own guidelines and regulations, is a tipping point.
This online violence against women and children – especially girls – has often devastating real-life impacts, and we no longer view it as appropriate to use such a platform to share our work.
This has not been an easy decision. Women's Aid was an early user of social media, including Twitter/X since 2009. We have engaged with and informed our supporters of the prevalence and impact of domestic abuse, promote our frontline support services to those affected and push for positive social change.
We firmly believe that social media platforms have a crucial role to play in a healthy society, providing crucial town hall spaces for thoughtful, respectful, constructive and positive dialogue. By leaving, we acknowledge that we are ceding the stage to the malign actors and bots who will continue to overrun the space, creating and spreading disinformation and other harmful content with effective impunity.
However, as an organisation working to end violence against women and children, we balance the costs with any benefits to our continued engagement in this space and find we can no longer tolerate this situation.
While we have reduced leverage on this platform, we call on Governments and Regulators in both Ireland and at EU level to act swiftly and decisively to create effective accountability, legislation and regulation to ensure companies must have guardrails that protect truth, and prevent harm so that in the future any user can use X, and any online platform safely.
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3 days ago
2 minutes 10 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Why Ireland Is Emerging as One of Europe's Most Compelling Solar and Battery Markets
By Warwick Johnston, CEO, SunWiz
Europe's solar story is often told as if the continent were a single market moving in one direction, but the latest data shows that this assumption is no longer true. We have just completed our Worldwide Market Index for Distributed PV & Energy Storage Systems (ESS), and the results reveal a far more complex picture: Europe is now a patchwork of sharply different growth trajectories, technology choices and economic outcomes. Within that mosaic, Ireland stands out as one of the most compelling solar and battery markets in Europe right now.
Ireland's future potential for Solar and Battery Markets
A key finding from the index is that there is no longer a single "rising tide" lifting all European markets equally. Some countries' PV markets are still accelerating strongly, while others are flattening or even contracting after years of growth. While battery adoption is rising almost everywhere, it's progressing at wildly different speeds, and for very different reasons. The idea of a one-size-fits-all "Europe strategy" simply no longer holds.
Ireland is a textbook example of why this matters, with its standout success rooted in its on-the-ground reality.
Our data shows that Ireland is one of the few European markets where both PV and ESS uptake are growing rapidly at the same time, and crucially, across both residential and commercial segments. Many countries have strong PV but weak batteries, or healthy residential demand but stalled commercial activity. Ireland has momentum on all fronts.
Payback economics are a big part of the story. Ireland now has one of the fastest residential PV payback periods in Europe, and for commercial PV it is effectively the fastest in Europe. Falling system prices, high electricity costs and supportive policy settings have combined to create a compelling investment case. For households and businesses alike, solar has moved from "nice to have" to "financial common sense".
Battery economics are following close behind. Ireland's residential battery attachment rate is far higher than most European markets, even though Irish systems tend to install smaller battery capacities than in countries like Germany or Italy. This points to a market that is highly pragmatic: households are adopting batteries to optimise self-consumption and resilience, rather than oversizing systems for theoretical maximums. It is a distinctly Irish fingerprint, and one that we've seen some manufacturers ignore at their peril.
Our index also highlights how product characteristics vary country by country. Panel wattages, inverter power classes, hybrid inverter penetration, ESS sizing and phase configurations all vary in ways that reflect local grid constraints, housing stock and consumer motivation. In Ireland's case, the data shows a strong tilt toward 5kW single-phase hybrid inverters, with a small number of leading brands capturing a dominant share of the market. This level of concentration has implications for supply chains, pricing power and installer training as the market matures.
Importantly, Ireland is ending the year on a high note. PV volumes remain strong, and residential ESS installations continue to climb steadily, even as some other European markets cool. That combination is rare and places Ireland firmly in the top tier of European opportunities for manufacturers and distributors planning for 2025–26.
The broader takeaway from the Worldwide Market Index is clear: Europe can no longer be analysed, or served, as a single market. Policy settings, grid rules, energy prices and household motivations combine differently everywhere, producing distinct national outcomes. Ireland's mix has aligned unusually well, creating a market that is simultaneously growing, profitable and technologically distinctive.
Ireland's solar and battery sector is no longer just catching up. It is setting its own pace, and in several respects, setting the benchmark for Europe.
Warwick Johnston is the CEO and Found...
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3 days ago
5 minutes 12 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Quantum Computing: Why Neuromorphic AI Needs a New Classical Storage
By David Stephen who looks at Neuromorphic AI in this article.
What are the structural foundations of human intelligence, in the brain? Simply, if intelligence is the use of memory, what is the architecture of human memory that makes intelligence, as an outcome, exceptional?
If AI would at least match human creativity and innovation, at the measure of extraordinary advancement, it may require more than just scale [of compute and data], which large language models [LLMs] currently have.
Neuromorphic AI Needs a New Storage
The trajectory of artificial intelligence towards artificial superintelligence may stall, without a new classical memory architecture — for storage, similar to the human brain.
Humans do not have complex intelligence because humans have a unique memory of every sensation. No. Human memory, conceptually, is mostly a collection of many similar things, such that the interpretation of anything is done with the collection, not with specificity, for the most part.
If an individual sees a door, or hears the sound of a vehicle, it is almost immediately interpreted, so that the relay [for what to do with it or not] proceeds, without intricate visits, to respective [unique] storages.
This fast interpretation objective ensures that it is possible to make quick decisions on several number of things using a general mode, so that when they are to be operated or improved, it is not always with intricacies, delaying efficiency.
Also, because the interpretation came from the collective storage of doors or of the sound of a vehicle. This does not mean that there isn't specific knowing of things, there are, but they are generally fewer — aside language — and exist separately from the pack. Still, what gets used [say in language] may come from collections.
An example of this is speaking, where, even though words are specific, what presents sometimes may not just be what was expected but something within the collection. However, language is still easier because of learning early. How so? Several memories exist separately from early on, but tend to collect, because of similarities, conceptually. Yet, language stays mostly that way even though there are collections with images, sounds, scents and other similarities of the same thing.
A disadvantage of collection is that learning [say language or advanced physics, for a non-physics person] as an adult has to join collections not just exist alone. That process is slower than early on, resulting in delays. Specificity on the other hand, as an adult too makes it tough to know many faces more easily, and so forth.
Collection
Now, because the group is used for interpretation, it is easier, generally, to make decisions faster, and have relays [or transport] within the brain get around with little barrier for whatever results are sought.
Also, most collective storages have overlays, where it is not just the collection but where a collection overlaps with another one. Simply, aside from a collection of door, there is an overlay of a part of it with wood, or with safety and so forth.
Human Intelligence
If the goal of an individual is to improve something, say an art, by some creative action, it is generally easier to have lots of relays across collective storages and their overlays. Simply, storages in the mind are structures that allow to pick what is vital and also re-combine them.
Some overlays may not even be obvious but storages might set them, that by the time relays get there, it is possible to find something new. Some overlays are not fixed as there might be several options they are connected to, so they rotate from some to others, from time to time.
This is a reason that even when people do the same thing often, they still do it in slightly different ways.
Aside from storages, relays are also excellent, shaping how reaches are found, using different dimensions, toward goals of improvement or operational intelligence.
Simply, storage is a major factor in what makes human intelligen...
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3 days ago
7 minutes 24 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Snacking with less salt, AI-powered food safety and how to manage the cocoa crisis set to feature at Kerry's Young Scientist Exhibition stand
Kerry is to showcase the latest science underpinning advances in sustainable nutrition at this year's Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition.
The company, a global leader in specialist ingredients for the food and beverage sector, is a Silver Sponsor of the event and will present the Kerry Sustainable Nutrition Award, recognising outstanding student projects that demonstrate scientific innovation in sustainable nutrition.
From January 7–10 at the RDS, Kerry experts will be on hand to provide key insights on pressing global food challenges, from coffee and chocolate supply issues to sodium reduction and AI-driven food safety solutions.
Attendees will have a chance to step into the world of sustainable nutrition at Stand 113, where Kerry brings science to life through five interactive experiences, showing how innovation creates real-world impact for consumers and the planet.
Great taste with less salt
With global sodium intake exceeding twice the WHO recommendation, reducing salt without compromising on taste remains a significant industry challenge. Kerry will showcase how its TasteSense Salt technology enables up to 60% sodium reduction while maintaining flavour and food safety. Visitors can experience a live tasting demo comparing standard crisps with reduced-salt alternatives – seeing first-hand how healthier snacks can still taste great.
Improving Human Healthspan
Healthspan is about living better, not just longer – at Kerry's stand attendees will see how science can provide dietary solutions to proactively boast wellness over a lifetime. Kerry experts will highlight science-backed solutions supporting stress reduction, immune health, gut health, and skin wellness, tailored to age and gender needs. The showcase will feature clinically validated ingredients including Sensoril® Ashwagandha, Wellmune®, BC30, and Plenibiotic, which support energy, resilience, and long-term wellbeing.
AI- Powered Food Safety
Unsafe food remains a global health challenge. Kerry will demonstrate how its AI-driven predictive model analyses thousands of data points to anticipate food safety risk, reduce analysis time by 80%, accelerate development by up to 10 months, and deliver safer food solutions to market, faster.
Cracking the Cocoa Crisis
Chocolate is a timeless favourite, but cocoa supply is under threat from crop disease, climate change, and soaring prices. Visitors will discover how Kerry's Cocoa Boosters enable up to 50% cocoa powder reduction without compromising an indulgent taste. These solutions help manufacturers manage costs and deliver the chocolate experience consumers love, sustainably.
(Still) Getting the Caffeine Kick
Coffee lovers expect rich flavour, but roasting can create acrylamide, a potential carcinogen. Kerry's Acrylerase®enzyme reduces acrylamide in target applications by up to 90% post-roast, without changing production processes. The result: advanced consumer health, regulatory compliance, and sustainability. Kerry's interactive experience on this issue – close to any coffee lover's heart – will highlight how innovation can protect both taste and wellbeing.
Catherine Keogh, Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Kerry said: "Kerry's partnership with the Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition is both an exciting initiative and a natural fit. Science and technology are at the heart of everything we do. From our roots in Irish dairy to leading the way in sustainable taste and nutrition, our 1,200 scientists are creating innovations that make food healthier, tastier, and more sustainable. This sponsorship is about inspiring the next generation of innovators who will tackle some of the world's biggest food challenges."
The Kerry Sustainable Nutrition Award aligns with Kerry's Beyond the Horizon sustainability strategy and its ambition to deliver sustainable nutrition solutions to more than two billion people by 2030.
See more stories here.
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4 days ago
4 minutes 13 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Accenture report finds72% of Irish organisations seeking sovereign solutions
Irish organisations are accelerating efforts to secure greater control over technology and data, according to a new Accenture report. Sovereign AI: Own Your AI Future, surveyed nearly 2,000 organisations across 28 countries and 18 industries, and reveals that 72% of Irish businesses are pursuing sovereign solutions—10 percentage points higher than the European average of 62%.
Sovereign AI refers to the ability of a country to develop and deploy AI using local infrastructure, data, models and talent to protect data from foreign access, bolster competitiveness and decrease reliance on overseas technology providers.
Key findings from the report include:
54% of Irish organisations plan to increase investment in sovereignty measures—covering cloud, AI, data and security—within the next two years.
Almost half (48%) are considering or evaluating sovereign cloud investments, significantly ahead of Europe (33%) and global peers (35%).
46% cite national security or industry-specific requirements as their top reason for pursuing sovereign AI, compared to 32% in Europe and 27% globally.
86% view sovereign AI as critical for compliance, trust and resilience—well above the European average of 75%.
Irish organisations are seeking a balanced approach: combining local sovereignty with global innovation. While 42% are considering local providers (versus 26% in Europe), 72% acknowledge that global technology partnerships remain essential for competitiveness. Trust in global providers could be strengthened by local infrastructure and transparency, however. 76% say having data centres built in the country or region where their organisation is headquartered would increase trust and 72% say transparency into how and where data is accessed, stored and governed would do the same.
Austin Boyle, Head of Technology, Accenture in Ireland, commented on the findings: "Irish organisations are ahead of their European peers in making sovereignty a strategic priority. Security is clearly driving this shift, with 46% citing national security as their top reason, and 86% viewing sovereign AI as critical for compliance and trust. By embedding sovereign AI and cloud into their strategies now, Irish businesses can transform security from a defensive measure into a source of resilience, trust and competitive advantage."
Accenture recommends four actions to maximise opportunities from sovereign AI:
CEO Ownership: Sovereign AI must be a CEO-led priority, aligning AI strategy with enterprise risk, growth and geopolitical realities for maximum impact.
Reframe Sovereignty: Organisations should shift from viewing sovereignty as mere risk mitigation to leveraging it as a source of value creation and competitive advantage.
Expand Your Ecosystem: Companies should build hybrid ecosystems that combine local trust with global innovation, tailoring sovereignty measures to where they matter most.
Redefine Architecture: Firms need to architect AI across a multi-cloud continuum, embedding sovereignty into every layer – data, infrastructure, models and applications – for resilience and adaptability.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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4 days ago
4 minutes 22 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Science takes centre stage as the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition kicks off
Thousands of students from across Ireland will arrive at the RDS Dublin this week for the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist and Technology Exhibition (YSTE), one of the world's leading student science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) events.
This year's exhibition is the first under new title sponsor Stripe, the programmable financial services company, dual-headquartered in Dublin and San Francisco. It will be officially opened tomorrow by the President of Ireland, Catherine Connolly, and Stripe cofounder and former YSTE winner Patrick Collison. The opening ceremony runs from 2:00-3:00 p.m. and will be livestreamed at youtube.com/@StripeYSTE.
From Wednesday, 550 student projects–selected from 1,974 entries–will go on display across five categories: Technology, Biological and Ecological Sciences; Social and Behavioural Sciences; Chemical, Physical and Mathematical Sciences; and Health and Wellbeing. A judging panel of experts from science, technology, and business will select over 200 prize winners, including the overall winner, who will take home €7,500 in prize money and represent Ireland in the EU Contest for Young Scientists (EUCYS).
Cutting-edge science and technology on display
The 2026 entries highlight the issues that matter most to young people today, with students employing cutting-edge scientific methods and technology to tackle real-world problems. Nearly a quarter of projects (24%) use or examine AI, covering everything from the future of education and work to predicting crop health and the properties of dark matter.
Environment and climate-related projects make up 22% of those on display, covering climate action, biodiversity, and renewable energy. These include investigations of climate action, solar panels, more environmentally-friendly types of plastic, biofuels made from algae or spoiled milk, and new ways to reuse energy from data centres, busy roads, or simply opening the door.
Health also remains a key focus for students, with projects exploring disease detection and modelling, new treatments for cancer and diabetes, health tech, and mental well-being.
Eileen O'Mara, chief revenue officer at Stripe, said:
"We're thrilled to kick off the 2026 Stripe Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition, Stripe's first as title sponsor. The students are putting the final touches on an incredible array of projects, from AI-powered medical diagnosis to new types of energy. This competition is an important launchpad for every student that takes part, and a real accelerator for Irish science and technology. It's been 21 years since our cofounders Patrick and John Collison took part, and we couldn't be more excited to help shape this national treasure for the next generation."
Dr Tony Scott, cofounder of the YSTE, said: "It is profoundly rewarding to see the exhibition enter this new chapter with Stripe. Since the beginning, our mission has been to help inquisitive young people reach their potential. Having a globally successful company, founded by one of our alumni, now holding the title sponsorship is the ultimate testament to the exhibition's enduring impact."
Old favourites and new innovations at the exhibition
— Discovery Lab: New this year, visitors to the exhibition will be able to interact with cutting-edge technology provided by sponsors, including drones, robot dogs, and a quantum computer.
— On-stage acts: Special acts during the week include Mark the Science Guy, with a new show exploring some of the world's most extreme environments; The Drop Science Bubble Show, where scientist Finn reveals the physics and wonder of bubbles; a career panel for students hosted by Stripe; and drumming workshops with the Irish Aid Centre team.
— Awards ceremony: Over 200 awards, including the Stripe Young Scientist & Technologist of the Year award, will be announced on Friday, January 9. The closing ceremony will be livestreamed from the Stripe YSTE YouTube from 5:00 p.m.
Tickets to the Stripe YSTE can be purchased at st...
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4 days ago
5 minutes 12 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Mike Butcher on how Artificial Intelligence Is Rewriting the Rules of Business Strategy
Mike Butcher is one of Europe's most respected voices on innovation, startups and emerging technology, with decades spent analysing how ideas scale into global businesses. His work sits at the intersection of entrepreneurship, investment and the real-world impact of technological change.
As a long-time editor at TechCrunch, he has interviewed founders, investors and policymakers shaping the modern digital economy. This experience has cemented his reputation as a highly credible technology speaker, known for cutting through hype to focus on what genuinely drives progress.
In this exclusive interview Mike Butcher shares his insights on artificial intelligence, business risk and why the smartest organisations view technological disruption as an opportunity rather than a threat.
Question 1: With generative AI lowering the barriers to scale, what genuinely excites you most about where technology is heading next?
Mike Butcher: "Well, the thing is that technology is no longer just about scale or efficiency. It's all about taking control and exponential speed.
"Because of generative AI, individuals and small teams can now do things that previously required lots and lots of staff or a lot of capital. That means it's a huge and very democratising effect on entrepreneurship and startups, and also problem solving for corporates as well.
"The challenge, though, is whether startups and incumbent companies can channel all of that well and efficiently, and at speed."
Question 2: You've suggested AI is becoming more than a tool. How do you see artificial intelligence evolving into the operating system of modern businesses?
Mike Butcher: "What appears to be happening is that generative AI is moving from being a tool in the toolbox to being the actual operating system of business. It's becoming a kind of new layer of SaaS.
"We're starting to see companies designing as AI-first from day one, not just in workflows, but in the whole thing. Product design, customer interaction, everything.
"And I think what's going to happen is that AI-native companies will quickly overtake companies just trying to incorporate AI. Companies that might be adding AI to their operations, but the question is, is it sort of endemic to the whole system?
"Being able to compete with AI-native companies is going to become an issue. And secondly, defining AI-native might become a whole new thing."
Question 3: As AI adoption accelerates, what are the most significant risks business leaders need to manage right now?
Mike Butcher: "Well, there seems to be three big risks.
"Firstly, there's an over-reliance on generative AI, because automating too much could actually sort of hollow out company culture and its resilience.
"The second is opacity, because black-box systems that AI sometimes appear to be can often create trust and accountability gaps inside organisations.
"And then regulation, because AI is colliding with politics, law and ethics. How algorithms are built and how they present themselves, guardrails, safety, all come together in the generative AI era.
"I think the smartest companies will see risk management not as a drag on the whole strategy, but as a competitive advantage."
Question 4: When you speak to audiences about technology and strategy, what mindset shift do you most hope to leave them with?
Mike Butcher: "Well, I come from things very much in a journalist manner. I'm really about asking questions.
"I don't think really my job is to hand people ready-made conclusions. A lot of the time it's about challenging their assumptions and widening their perspective, getting them to ask the right kinds of questions that are going to help their business and their strategy.
"I think if somebody walks away from something I've said at a speech and is thinking differently about technology or their own role, then I think I've done my job."
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4 days ago
4 minutes 49 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Dell Technologies at CES 2026: XPS Returns, Alienware Expands and Ultrasharp Monitors
Dell Technologies announces a strategic expansion of its consumer and gaming portfolio. The company reintroduces the iconic XPS laptops with reimagined designs across new form factors and price points, expands its Alienware line to reach more gamers and launches two industry-leading UltraSharp monitors.
Jeff Clarke, Vice Chairman and Chief Operating Officer, Dell Technologies:
"We're getting back to our roots with a renewed focus on consumer and gaming. XPS is back, better than ever, with a complete redesign that delivers exceptional craftsmanship in our thinnest, lightest form factors yet. We're also bringing XPS 13 back as our most accessible XPS ever.
In gaming, we're building on recent momentum and effectively doubling Alienware's notebook lineup. These moves are about broadening our portfolio and expanding our coverage so we can reach more customers with the best products at every price point."
XPS Returns with Complete Redesign
Dell is bringing back XPS with a streamlined design. For the first time, the iconic XPS logo appears on the laptop cover, signalling its return. The new XPS 14 and XPS 16 feature a sleek design crafted from CNC-machined aluminium, refined interfaces, stunning displays, and optimised performance. These devices have the best battery life in the industry, delivering up to 27 hours of Netflix streaming or 40+ hours with local video playback.
These are Dell's thinnest laptops, measuring just 14.6mm. The XPS 14 weighs roughly three pounds – more than half a pound lighter than the previous generation – and the XPS 16 comes in at 3.6 pounds, almost a full pound lighter than its predecessor. Available with tandem OLED display options and Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors and built-in Intel Arc graphics featuring 12 Xe cores, the new XPS line delivers impressive visuals with the perfect balance of portability and performance.
Later this year, Dell will expand the XPS portfolio with new products across different price points and form factors, including the return of the XPS 13, expected to be the thinnest and lightest XPS laptop ever, offered at the most accessible XPS price yet.
Read more about XPS here.

Alienware Expands to Reach More Gamers
Alienware is doubling the breadth of its laptop family to reach more gamers. Later this year, the brand will introduce two new product classes: an ultra-slim gaming laptop (roughly 17mm thin) that pairs high performance with unmatched mobility, and a new entry-level laptop that brings Alienware to a much broader audience at significantly lower price points.
With these additions, Alienware ensures there's something for everyone—from dedicated gaming enthusiasts to casual gamers to those with hybrid interests.
Alienware debuts anti-glare OLED displays on the 16 Area-51 and 16X Aurora laptops, delivering stunning OLED visuals with breakthrough anti-glare technology. Responding to one of the top requests from the community, these displays let gamers experience the deep blacks, vibrant colours and exceptional contrast of OLED in any lighting condition.
These laptops, along with the Alienware 18 Area-51, feature the powerful new Intel Core Ultra 200HX processors. Additionally, the Alienware Area-51 Desktop is equipped with AMD's new Ryzen 9850X3D processor and 3D V-Cache technology, pushing the ceiling of gaming performance.
Read more about Alienware here.

Industry-Leading Dell UltraSharp Monitors
Dell introduces two groundbreaking monitors.
The Dell UltraSharp 52 Thunderbolt Hub Monitor is the world's first 52-inch 6K monitor and the first monitor to achieve the highest tier of TÜV Rheinland Low Blue Light certification. It's designed for financial traders, data scientists, engineers, and executives who need maximum screen real estate without a multi-monitor setup.
The Dell UltraSharp 32 4K QD-OLED Monitor, a CES 2026 Innovation Award honouree, is the world's first commercial DisplayHDR True Black 500 QD-OLED monitor with Anti-Glare Low-Reflectance (AGLR) technology...
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4 days ago
5 minutes 42 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
I Wish 2026 announces first speakers amid continued gender gap in applied STEM
International Rose of Tralee and apprentice electrical engineer Katelyn Cummins has been announced as one of the first headline speakers for I Wish 2026, as the organisation continues to showcase applied STEM at its re-imagined I Wish Festival, taking place on 5 February 2026 at the RDS Dublin.
As technologies such as artificial intelligence continue to reshape design, builds and innovation, the 12th annual I Wish will place a strong emphasis on applied STEM skills and future-ready career pathways for females. This includes a new dedicated Construction Zone, delivered in partnership with the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). The zone will provide hands-on demonstrations; insight into apprenticeships and engineering pathways; and direct engagement with women working across this evolving sector.
Almost 4,000 female teenage students from across the island of Ireland will attend the 12th annual I Wish Festival for an immersive, experience-led programme designed to build confidence, curiosity and awareness of real-world STEM careers. Registration is still open at iwish.ie/tickets.
I Wish co-founder Gillian Keating said: "Construction has the lowest female representation of any sector in Ireland, at just over 10% overall, and only 1% on building sites. Ireland urgently needs these skills, and we must work harder to encourage young women to consider construction pathways. Early exposure is critical. If girls don't see these careers as options in school, the talent pipeline simply won't meet industry demand."
The 2025 I Wish Survey of Female Students' Attitudes to STEM found that access to practical STEM subjects remains dramatically lower for girls in single-sex schools, with just 5% reporting access to Construction Studies and 6%to Engineering, compared with 85% and 74% respectively in mixed schools, despite near-universal access to Biology and Chemistry.
Katelyn Cummins, the 2025 International Rose of Tralee, is currently completing the third phase of an electrical apprenticeship with Alpha Drives Ltd. A passionate advocate for apprenticeships and alternative pathways, she has used her platform to champion applied STEM routes into engineering and construction-related careers.
Additional confirmed speakers for I Wish 2026 include Irish Olympian Gráinne Walsh; Mary O'Donnell, I Wish alumna and aeronautical engineer; Marie Moynihan, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resource Services at Dell Technologies; Weronika Mozolewska, Quality Assurance Engineer at Dell Technologies; and Elaine Laird, Head of People and Culture at Logitech. Further speakers will be announced in the coming weeks. TV Presenter, Katja Mia will be MC for I Wish 2026.
Co-founder Caroline O'Driscoll added: "Year after year, students tell us they're interested in STEM but don't always see where it can lead. I Wish exists to bridge that gap by connecting girls with real people, real careers and real opportunities. We're incredibly grateful to our industry partners and speakers who continue to support I Wish. Their involvement is essential in helping students understand what's possible and in building the future STEM workforce Ireland needs."
To support nationwide access, Iarnród Éireann will again provide free rail transport from 22 locations across the Republic of Ireland, while a partnership with Translink will ensure accessibility for students travelling from Northern Ireland.
The I Wish Festival is supported by Deloitte, along with Dell Technologies, Regeneron, Johnson & Johnson, Iarnród Éireann and Logitech.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of ...
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4 days ago
4 minutes 38 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
CES 2026: Intel Core Ultra Series 3 Debuts as First Built on Intel 18A
Intel has just unveiled Intel® Core Ultra Series 3 processors, the first AI PC platform built on Intel 18A process technology that was designed and manufactured in the United States. Powering over 200 designs from leading, global partners, Series 3 will be the most broadly adopted and globally available AI PC platform Intel has ever delivered.
"With Series 3, we are laser-focused on improving power efficiency, adding more CPU performance, a bigger GPU in a class of its own, more AI compute and app compatibility you can count on with x86." – Jim Johnson, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Client Computing Group, Intel
Series 3 Adds a New Class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 Processors
Within the Intel Core Ultra Series 3 mobile lineup, a new class of Intel Core Ultra X9 and X7 processors come packed with the highest performing, integrated Intel® Arc graphics. They are purpose-built for multitaskers that handle advanced workloads like gaming, creation and productivity on the go. The top SKUs feature up to 16 CPU cores, 12 Xe -cores and 50 NPU TOPS, delivering up to 60% better multithread performance, 1 over 77% faster gaming performance2 and up to 27 hours of battery life3.
The Series 3 family also includes Intel Core processors, intentionally designed to power mainstream mobile systems. Leveraging the same foundational architecture of Intel Core Ultra Series 3, the Intel Core lineup enables more performant and efficient laptop designs at lower price points.
Series 3 Accelerates AI Adoption in Robotics, Smart Cities, Automation and Healthcare
For the first time, alongside their PC counterparts, Series 3 edge processors are certified for embedded and industrial use cases, including extended temperature ranges, deterministic performance, and 24×7 reliability.
Intel Core Ultra Series 3 delivers competitive advantages in critical edge AI workloads with up to 1.9x higher large language model (LLM) performance4, up to 2.3x better performance per watt per dollar on end-to-end video analytics5, and up to 4.5x higher throughput on vision language action (VLA) models6. The integrated AI acceleration enables superior total cost of ownership (TCO) through a single system on chip (SoC) solution versus traditional multi-chip CPU and GPU architectures.
Availability
Pre-orders for the first consumer laptops powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 processors will begin Jan. 6, 2026. Systems will be available globally starting Jan. 27, 2026, with additional designs coming throughout the first half of the year.
Edge systems powered by Intel Core Ultra Series 3 will be available starting Q2 2026.
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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4 days ago
4 minutes 1 second

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
ESB Networks Aims to Further Boost Energy Awareness as the Weather Watch Schools Programme Expands
ESB Networks has announced the nationwide expansion of its Weather Watch Schools Programme, an innovative educational initiative for Junior Cycle and Transition Year Geography students linking weather patterns to renewable energy generation in an engaging and educational way.
Now reaching approximately 15,000 students in 180 schools nationwide, including 10 Gaelscoileanna, the programme has more than doubled in scale since its first phase last year. Each school receives a free in-class weather station to enable students to track real-time weather conditions and learn how these affect electricity generation and consumption, as well access to educational materials on the subject.
Evaluation from last year demonstrated clear educational impact and led to meaningful energy conversations in the home:
•73% of students showed improved awareness of energy use
•Understanding of the link between weather and renewable generation rose by 50%
•More than 75% could correctly identify peak demand times, up from 33% pre-Weather Watch
•48% reported discussing electricity use at home within the previous month
This year's programme introduces new modules focusing on Ireland's wind farms. Using OS maps and aerial imagery, students explore how physical geography influences site selection and evaluate the social and environmental benefits of wind energy. Tailored materials for Irish-medium schools also ensure the programme is accessible in both English and Irish.
Lindsay Sharpe, Customer & Strategy Manager at ESB Networks, said:
"We are pleased to expand the ESB Networks Weather Watch programme this year and to see the genuine enthusiasm from students and teachers in classrooms across the country. Research from participating students and teachers show that students are not only increasing their understanding of the link between energy use and renewable generation, but they are actively engaging on it and starting powerful conversations about energy use in their wider everyday life with family and peers.
"This awareness shows how ESB Networks Weather Watch has developed from a classroom initiative into an important part of ESB Networks' Networks for Net Zero strategy. We look forward to supporting this continued growth in everyday understanding of energy use and choices, so we can continue to shape a more sustainable future for all."
The initiative encourages energy awareness conversations beyond the classroom, supporting ESB Networks' "Is This a Good Time?" campaign to promote smarter electricity use. By linking theory to practice, students gain a clear understanding of how Ireland's climate connects to its renewable future and can bring this back into their homes.
Weather Watch also now plays a role in driving the cultural shift needed to achieve Ireland's Networks for Net Zero ambitions. By making energy literacy part of everyday learning, the programme empowers students to bring sustainability thinking beyond the classroom, influencing attitudes and behaviours across Irish homes.
A participating teacher added:
"The ESB Networks Weather Watch Programme has really captured enthusiasm and interest from our Geography students as it makes energy and climate issues real for them. They can see the direct link between what they learn in geography and how renewable energy works in practice. The students really enjoy using the weather station to collect data, and it helps them consider sustainability in a real-world way. As a school, we are looking forward to implementing the programme again this year."
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help pro...
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4 days ago
4 minutes 27 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
6 easy swaps to slash energy bills by €1,232 per year
Despite steadying inflation, many households are still feeling the post-Christmas pinch and the bite of hefty energy bills during the winter months.
Switcher.ie's calculations show that households could save around €1,230 per year on their energy bills by switching up, scaling back or making simple swaps.
1. Dial it down
Keeping our homes warm can quickly burn a hole in our pockets during the winter months. It can cost between €8 and €15 per day, depending on the size and energy efficiency of your home.
However, just turning your gas central heating off an hour earlier each day can save you around €10 per week and dialling down the thermostat one degree can save an extra €7 per week – altogether slashing around 25% off a typical gas bill.
Only using one room? Consider an energy-efficient portable heater to take the chill off rather than heating the whole house. Swap out your old fan heater for an infrared one, and save €6 per week.
You could save: Up to €400 per year
2. Switch it up
Winters can be pretty gloomy in Ireland, with house lights on for up to 10 hours a day. Add outdoor lighting to the mix, and electricity costs can rocket.
Switch to solar-powered outdoor lights, and glow up your neighbourhood for free even on cloudy days.
Lift the spirits indoors by replacing your old 60-watt bulbs with low-energy 5-watt LED bulbs and save at least €2.60 per week. For a cosy glow, USB-powered lamps could save you even more.
You could save: Over €135 per year
3. Cut the power
Cut back on dishwashing costs and stack up savings by loading your dishwasher to the max and halving your cycles from 6 per week to 3. Using less power on dirty dishes could save around €87 per year.
Buying power tools for a spot of DIY, or gardening? Go cordless – you'll use less power and only pay for charging time. Simply hoovering with a cordless model can save around €10 a year.
You could save: Around €90 per year
4. Ditch the dryer
Save over €3 per week on laundry costs by ditching the dryer. It's one of the most expensive appliances to run, using up to 3 kilowatts (kWh) per hour, so air dry whenever possible, reduce your use or shorten the cycle.
To further shrink your washing costs, fill your machine and cut the number of loads you run each week. Squeezing more into the drum, reducing the number of cycles, and air-drying instead of tumble drying could save around €15 per month.
You could save: Around €177 per year
5. Entertain for less
The energy-guzzling Christmas period drains many household budgets, with kitchen activities typically accounting for around 20% of the average energy bill.
Next year, consider switching off the oven and plugging in smarter gadgets for big family get-togethers. Gently cooking the meat in a crockpot, rustling up roast potatoes in an air fryer and steaming veg in the microwave could save time and money on big family events.
Together, these smart swaps carried into 2026 could snip €173 per year off your energy bill.
You could save: Around €173 per year
6. Scale back shower time
Reduce your shower time by 5 minutes and save over €100 per year. Dial down the temperature and save even more. Just drying your hair for 10 minutes daily could cost around 0.80c per week, so spend longer towel drying your hair and cut your blow dry by 5 minutes to halve costs.
Together, a shorter morning routine could save you almost €10.00 per month and give you 10 mins extra in bed each day!
You could save: €109 per year
Switcher.ie's Energy Expert, Eoin Clarke says
"Whilst the cost of living crisis has eased and energy prices have stabilised, households are bound to be feeling the post-Christmas pinch now the cold weather has set in and energy bills bite.
On the upside, there are several simple swaps we can make around the home to lower our energy costs.
Whether you need to replace big-ticket goods like your fridge and washing machine, or smaller items like light bulbs, always choose the energy-saving option and consider investing in new kitchen...
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5 days ago
8 minutes 17 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Pure Telecom survey reveals 51% of adults in Ireland are using fitness tracking apps
Pure Telecom, the Irish-owned telecoms provider, today announces new results from its annual Connected Lives survey, which reveals that while 51% of adults in Ireland use fitness tracking apps, 35% of users say they have not helped them to become physically healthier.
The nationally representative survey of 1,001 adults in Ireland was conducted by Censuswide on behalf of Pure Telecom and shows that Ireland is a health-conscious nation engaging with the latest technologies to improve or maintain their health and fitness. It found that 50% of adults use nutrition tracking apps and this rises significantly to 76% among 18- to 24-year-olds and 66% among 25- to 34-year-olds. Meanwhile, 38% say they use mental health apps, rising to 56% of 18- to 24-year-olds.
The majority (61%) of adults in Ireland now use smart watches that track their health and fitness data. The research shows that these have become so essential to many people's fitness routines, that 36% of smart watch users won't work out without tracking it on their watch. The uploading of these workouts to fitness apps has led one-in-four fitness app users to compete with friends in terms of their performance.
While many are yet to see any health benefits – such as fewer niggles or colds – from using fitness apps, over half (51%) of users believe they have helped them to become physically healthier. A similar proportion, 50%, feel they have helped them to reach their fitness goals. A further 57% say that their use of apps motivates them to work harder at their fitness, while 50% believe they are responsible for improving their mental health.
Social media is also playing a role in helping the population to get, or stay, healthy. A significant 39% say social media motivates them to be healthy, and in the past year, 51% of adults have followed the advice of a fitness influencer. Video-sharing social media apps, meanwhile, are helping 30% to eat healthier. Of those who work out regularly, 16% post images of themselves doing so on social media. This rises to 24% among men and falls to 12% among women.
Paul Connell, CEO, Pure Telecom, said: "Online fitness apps, smart watches and social media platforms are giving consumers more power to take control of their health and fitness. But with that power comes a responsibility to educate users on their limitations, and the value of consulting a qualified expert. As the festive season winds down, many of us will be looking to get more active and these technologies are a great way to supplement our healthy lifestyles, rather than take over them.
"At Pure Telecom, we are committed to providing the high-speed broadband needed to help people become their healthiest selves and enjoy the sense of community and friendly competition that fitness can bring."
See more stories here.
More about Irish Tech News
Irish Tech News are Ireland's No. 1 Online Tech Publication and often Ireland's No.1 Tech Podcast too.
You can find hundreds of fantastic previous episodes and subscribe using whatever platform you like via our Anchor.fm page here: https://anchor.fm/irish-tech-news
If you'd like to be featured in an upcoming Podcast email us at Simon@IrishTechNews.ie now to discuss.
Irish Tech News have a range of services available to help promote your business. Why not drop us a line at Info@IrishTechNews.ie now to find out more about how we can help you reach our audience.
You can also find and follow us on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Snapchat.
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5 days ago
3 minutes 52 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
You're always worried about the what if's Neil Sands, Halo Founder
Halo, the world's first AI-powered equine performance predictor and insurance platform, launched late last year, redefining how risk is measured and managed in the bloodstock industry. Its insurance capabilities have been developed in conjunction with leading reinsurance broker, Guy Carpenter, and underwriter, Markel. Unlike traditional offerings, Halo integrates real-time predictive analytics with embedded, flexible cover to deliver protection that finally matches how the industry actually operates. I caught up with Neil Sands the Founder of Halo.
Neil talks about his background, what Halo does, predicting the horses value, AI and more.
More About Halo:
Halo is an AI-driven insurtech platform designed for the equine industry. By combining predictive analytics, performance modelling, and embedded insurance, Halo delivers real-time risk insights and tailored protection for horse owners, trainers, and insurers. Its proprietary AI agent, Hailey, provides advanced sales, breeding, and race planning recommendations, making Halo the new intelligence layer for bloodstock. Halo is part of the Fox Design venture studio.
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5 days ago
1 minute 18 seconds

Irish Tech News Audio Articles
Audio versions of the articles from our news feed.