AI Ireland with Mark Kelly

Today’s guest is Kieran McCorry, National Technology Officer at Microsoft Ireland. Artificial Intelligence is not just a new frontier but a paradigm shift that's reshaping business models globally. At the recent Dublin Tech Summit, these themes took centre stage as Kieran joined host Mark Kelly on the podcast to explore the current state and potential of AI diffusion in Ireland, highlighting both the progress and the obstacles that lie ahead.
Topics include:
0:00 The latest findings in Microsoft’s Global AI Diffusion Report
2:43 Seeing businesses shift from AI experimentation to productivity gains
4:40 Why AI transformation requires business redesign, not just tools
8:23 AI adoption requires incentives, measurement and cultural change
11:08 AI adoption grows when usage is measured and rewarded
12:42 How Enterprise AI unlocks greater value than consumer tools
14:47 AI-driven process redesign is coming to business and government
15:50 Why leadership engagement is critical to successful AI adoption

Today’s guest is Graham Abell, VP, Software Engineering & Ireland Site Lead at Workday. As continues to transform the landscape of business operations in our rapidly evolving digital world, Graham joins today’s episode to share insights about Workday's AI initiatives, their contribution to the EU AI Act and the broader implications of AI for businesses.

Topics include:
0:00 His journey from test automation engineer to product and engineering leader
2:54 Seeing Workday Dublin grow into a major global R&D hub
5:11 How Workday is building trusted, human-guided AI automation at scale
8:20 How AI is creating smaller, more versatile teams focused on business impact
9:37 Why Responsible AI must be built in from the start, not added later
11:19 Why leadership requires empathy, measurable outcomes and investing in future talent
13:00 His belief that AI should augment jobs, freeing people for higher-value work
15:16 Using AI as a personalised assistant for learning, productivity and decision support

Today’s guest is Brad Mallard, Chief Technology Officer at Version 1. In a world driven by rapid technological change, AI is not just about the technology itself; it’s about people, transformation, and real-world application. In today’s podcast, Brad shares how Version 1 is harnessing artificial intelligence to redefine business processes and educational experiences.Topics include:
0:00 Driving AI transformation across regulated industries worldwide at Version
2:39 Leading AI transformation through internal adoption and public sector innovation
5:12 How they prioritise AI adoption through people, education and change management
7:42 Emphasising AI governance, measurement and business value realisation
11:30 Addressing rising AI costs through token optimisation and model efficiency
15:25 How Version 1 enables AI agents across enterprise workflows and functions
19:06 Plans for continued AI-driven growth, job creation and investment in co-creation spaces
20:39 How Version 1's co-creation studios enable AI-powered, rapid prototype development with clients
23:09 Co-creating AI solutions with clients focused on early ROI validation
25:10 Delivering AI-for-good solutions improving education and productivity globally

Today’s guests are Sean Blanchfield CEO and Michael Cordner, CTO at Jentic. In a world driven by innovation and technological advancement, few developments stand as transformative as the emergence of general-purpose artificial intelligence agents. This shift is highlighted in today’s episode live from Dublin Tech Summit, as Michael and Sean chat about the profound implications of AI on both business and society.
Topics include:
0:00 How OpenClaw signals the arrival of universal AI agents
5:14 Using OpenClaw to validate Jentic's Vision for Governed AI
7:23 Why the Real Breakthrough Is Agents Working Together
8:58 Without Governance, AI Agents Create Organisational Chaos
11:54 Building AI Demands Perspectives Beyond the Tech Bubble
14:23 Staying Ahead in AI Requires Constant Experimentation
15:49 Their Vision that the Future Isn't Software, It's Agent Organisations
20:00 Why Traditional Org Charts Don't Fit the AI Era

Today’s guest is Ashish Kumar Jha, Professor In Business Analytics at Trinity College Dublin. Trinity College Dublin and Microsoft Ireland recently released their latest AI Economy Ireland 2026 report, showing that Ireland continues to perform strongly in AI adoption, but is falling behind in skills investment and organisational readiness. Ashish joins host Mark Kelly to discuss the key findings from the report, the increasing use of AI across different sectors, the main challenges organisations are facing, and practical strategies for effective AI integration.Topics include:
0:00 Finding widespread AI adoption, but uneven benefits between firms
2:46 Why AI needs structured processes and unified, well-managed data
4:44 The need to audit data, ensure rights, assess AI use and assign accountability
6:24 His advice to focus on real problems first, not AI novelty
8:14 How AI frees time if used well but misuse adds workload
9:36 Reengineer processes first and apply AI where it transforms work
10:47 Deciding to augment or redesign processes, experiment, then scale what works
12:42 Leaders must show AI’s value to allow teams build confidence
15:42 How to access the report available on Trinity College Dublin's website