BEHIND THE ALGORITHM

Greig Dowling & Nigel O'Neill
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Behind the Algorithm is a podcast series exploring the human and philosophical layers behind technology. From AI ethics to digital culture, we unpack the ideas, biases, and unintended consequences shaping our tech-driven world. Join us as we dive deep with experts, innovators, and thinkers to reveal the forces influencing the algorithms that influence us. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a sceptic, or just curious about the bigger picture, this is where tech meets humanity.

  1. 3 Sept

    BTA BYTES - What is Cognitive Surrender?

    When does using AI to make work easier become surrendering our ability to think? Nigel O’Neill is joined by Gustavo Burnier, Chief Revenue Officer at GoodHabitz, to explore cognitive surrender—the shift from asking technology to perform specific tasks to allowing it to structure our reasoning, opinions and decisions. Gustavo explains how cognitive surrender differs from cognitive offloading and examines why the confident, human-like way large language models communicate can make their answers difficult to challenge. The conversation also considers research into AI-assisted decision-making, the effect of time pressure on our willingness to accept incorrect answers, and the potential for cognitive erosion as we increasingly rely on these tools. The episode concludes with four practical ideas for using AI more deliberately, including introducing friction by design and treating AI as a sparring partner that tests and strengthens human thinking rather than replacing it. BTA Bytes is brought to you by Behind The Algorithm. Find more episodes at https://www.behindthealgo.com.

    BTA BYTES - What is Cognitive Surrender?

  2. 26 Aug

    BTA BYTES - What is a data warehouse, and why does it matter?

    In this episode of BTA Bytes by Behind the Algorithm, Nigel O'Neill is joined by Aaron Phethean, CEO of Meltano, to explain what a data warehouse is and why it matters. Aaron explores how organised, accessible data supports faster decisions, improves the effectiveness of AI and helps organisations control storage costs and cybersecurity risk. He also explains why a sound data strategy should cover what a business removes as carefully as what it retains.

    BTA BYTES - What is a data warehouse, and why does it matter?

  3. 19 Aug

    Who Gets to Build An AI Utopia?

    What would an AI-enabled society that genuinely improves people's lives actually look like? Tiffany St James, Chief AI Officer for Liverpool City Region and the UK's first regional public sector Chief AI Officer, joins Greig Dowling and Nigel O'Neill to examine the choices that will determine who benefits from artificial intelligence. The conversation moves beyond predictions of mass unemployment and technological abundance to consider the practical impact AI could have on healthcare, social care, education, public services and small businesses. Tiffany also explores the growing risk of an AI divide, the importance of technological sovereignty, why traditional government procurement is poorly suited to emerging technology and how organisations can experiment with AI without simply using it as a mechanism for cutting jobs. As businesses increasingly automate entry-level work, the discussion also raises a less considered question: if AI performs the junior tasks through which people traditionally develop expertise, where will tomorrow's senior professionals come from? Ultimately, creating a better AI-enabled society may depend less on the capabilities of the technology than on the decisions governments, businesses and citizens make about how it is deployed. In this episode: • What an AI utopia could realistically mean • AI's potential impact on public services • Jobs, automation and the future of human purpose • The emerging AI divide • Government procurement and innovation • AI sovereignty and dependence on global technology companies • Education and the future workforce • Why businesses should think carefully before removing junior roles • Who gets to shape our AI-enabled future

  4. 11 Aug

    BTA BYTES - AI Candidate Fraud Explained

    Artificial intelligence is changing recruitment in ways few organisations expected. In this episode of BTA Bytes, Nigel O’Neill speaks with Tosh Onishi, former Regional Head of Talent Acquisition at Visa and Okta, about the growing challenge of candidate fraud. Together they explore how AI-generated identities, deepfakes and remote hiring have enabled sophisticated recruitment scams, including the reported North Korean IT worker programme that has targeted organisations through legitimate recruitment processes. The discussion covers: • Why candidate fraud is becoming more sophisticated • How AI is reshaping recruitment and identity verification • The opportunities and challenges created by remote hiring • Practical steps organisations can take to strengthen their hiring processes • Why better onboarding and face-to-face verification still have an important role to play A practical and thought-provoking conversation for recruiters, HR professionals, business leaders and anyone responsible for building teams in the age of AI.

    BTA BYTES - AI Candidate Fraud Explained

  5. 30 Jul

    BTA BYTES - Most business documents are still built on technology that predates the internet.

    In this episode of BTA BYTES by Behind The Algorithm, Daniel Hembling joins Nigel O’Neill to explain why interactive documents represent the next major shift in business communication. Learn how organisations are replacing static PDFs, spreadsheets and reports with intelligent, dynamic documents that connect to live data, reduce cloud costs and improve decision-making. The discussion covers AI-ready information, enterprise software, digital transformation, banking innovation and why the future belongs to information flows rather than static files. If you work in technology, digital transformation, AI, finance, operations or business leadership, this episode explores how interactive documents could reshape the way organisations create, manage and share information.

    BTA BYTES - Most business documents are still built on technology that predates the internet.

  6. 20 Jul

    When Big Tech Becomes a Geopolitical Power

    Technology companies are becoming some of the most influential actors in global politics. Filmed live at University College London, Greig Dowling and Nigel O’Neill are joined by Melanie Garson, Associate Professor in International Security at UCL, to explore how technology is reshaping geopolitics, national security and the balance of power between states. The conversation examines the growing influence of companies such as SpaceX, Google, Microsoft, Amazon and Nvidia, from Starlink’s role in the war in Ukraine to the strategic importance of AI, semiconductors, satellites, data infrastructure and cyber capabilities. They explore whether governments have become too dependent on private technology companies, whether the US and China are genuinely locked in an AI arms race, and how countries such as the UK can build technological sovereignty while remaining part of an interconnected global system. As private companies gain capabilities once reserved for states, the question is no longer whether technology influences geopolitics. It is how much power these companies should have.

  7. 7 Jul

    BTA BYTES - The Invisible Threat Orbiting Earth

    Space has become critical infrastructure. Yet every year, it becomes more dangerous. In this episode of BTA Bytes, We're joined by Harrison Box, CEO of Paladin Space, to explain one of the fastest-growing challenges facing the modern space economy: space debris. With more than 100 million pieces of orbital debris travelling at speeds of up to 7.5 kilometres per second, even tiny fragments have the potential to destroy satellites, threaten astronauts, and disrupt the services that underpin modern life from GPS and communications to weather forecasting and financial networks. Harrison explains what space debris is, why it has become such a significant global challenge, and how innovative technologies are being developed to make Earth’s orbit safer and more sustainable. The conversation explores the growing commercial space sector, the risks posed by the Kessler Syndrome, and why international cooperation will be essential if we are to preserve access to space for future generations. In this episode: • What space debris actually is—and why it’s becoming a global problem • Why tiny fragments can cause catastrophic damage in orbit • The Kessler Syndrome and the risk of cascading collisions • How space debris threatens satellites, astronauts, and critical infrastructure on Earth • Why targeted debris removal could extend satellite lifespans and reduce costs • The role of regulation, commercial innovation, and international collaboration in protecting the space economy BTA Bytes is the short-form podcast from Behind The Algorithm, where leading experts answer three simple questions: • What is it? • Why is it important? • What are the key takeaways? #BTABytes #BehindTheAlgorithm #SpaceDebris #SpaceInnovation #SpaceEconomy #NewSpace #OrbitalSustainability #SatelliteTechnology #FutureOfSpace #Technology

    BTA BYTES - The Invisible Threat Orbiting Earth

  8. 22 Jun

    BTA BYTES - What is Agentic Commerce?

    The next evolution of online shopping may not involve consumers browsing websites at all. Nigel O’Neill sits down with AI entrepreneur Choi Travers to discuss agentic commerce: a rapidly emerging model in which AI agents research products, compare alternatives, negotiate purchases and increasingly transact on behalf of users. From AI-powered product discovery and autonomous purchasing to the disruption of advertising, publishing and traditional e-commerce models, this episode examines the opportunities and challenges created by a world where machines increasingly make buying decisions. A practical and accessible guide to understanding one of the most important commercial shifts emerging from the AI revolution.

    BTA BYTES - What is Agentic Commerce?
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About

Behind the Algorithm is a podcast series exploring the human and philosophical layers behind technology. From AI ethics to digital culture, we unpack the ideas, biases, and unintended consequences shaping our tech-driven world. Join us as we dive deep with experts, innovators, and thinkers to reveal the forces influencing the algorithms that influence us. Whether you're a tech enthusiast, a sceptic, or just curious about the bigger picture, this is where tech meets humanity.

Information

  • Creator
    Greig Dowling & Nigel O'Neill
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    21
  • Copyright
    © Behind the Algorithm. All Rights Reserved.
  • Show Website
    BEHIND THE ALGORITHM
  • Provider

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