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As AI initiatives gather steam, the public and private sectors are assessing the level of investment necessary to unlock the value of the new technology. It’s clear that large funds and a strategic approach will be necessary to bring the workforce along with employers.

The UK government has announced several billion pounds in collective funding for AI projects and infrastructure deemed necessary for expanding the UK’s AI sector. As governments around the world look to unlock AI success of their own, however, is the UK’s current approach enough?

In this episode, Jane and Rory speak to Alex Case, senior director and government industry principal EMEA at Pegasystems to discuss how well the UK is positioning itself to take advantage of the growing AI market.

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UK competition watchdog says it has “very real concerns” over big tech AI dominanceUK AI regulation: Lawmakers reportedly eye a tighter approachMicrosoft believes the UK can become a "global leader in AI", but regulation needs fixingInvestment in UK AI firms plummeted last year despite the hype surrounding generative AIThe UK government’s AI goals are being stifled by ‘apocalyptic concerns’ over safety

The EU’s AI Act has been approved, bringing in sweeping requirements, controls, and regulations for the development and use of AI tools throughout the region.

But what are the precise measures it brings in, how can businesses prepare for the new rules, and what are the penalties for non-compliance?

In this episode, Rory speaks to Nader Henein, VP Analyst at Garner, to explore the implications of the EU AI Act, how companies can prepare for the measures it brings in, and what it means for AI use worldwide.

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How the EU AI Act compares to other international regulatory approachesHow will the EU AI Act affect businesses?EU hammers out deal on AI Act, but it may have missed the markFrance, Germany, and Italy align themselves on AI regulation, but the EU may not like itEuropean AI startups risk being “regulated out of existence” under EU AI actWhat is GDPR? Everything you need to know, from requirements to finesGDPR costs are forcing firms to rethink data strategies

This week has seen Google Cloud’s annual Next conference in full swing, with the hyperscaler having made major announcements on generative AI and the infrastructure necessary to support it.

Having spent the past year playing catch-up with Microsoft and OpenAI, Google Cloud is now in a place where it’s ready to press its advantage in AI, years after the company first declared itself “AI first”. But has it succeeded in this mission, and if so – what are the tangible benefits for Google Cloud customers?

In this episode, recorded live at Google Cloud Next 2024 Rory speaks to Bola Rotibi, Chief of Enterprise Research, CCS Insight, to explore some of the most notable trends at the event and unpack why Google has a strong advantage in the AI space.

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Google Cloud Next 2024: All the news and announcements liveGemini Code Assist could be Google's secret weapon to challenge GitHub CopilotGoogle Cloud doubles down on AI Hypercomputer amid sweeping compute upgradesGoogle Cloud targets ‘AI anywhere’ with Vertex AI AgentsAnthropic could be the champion AWS and Google needGoogle’s Hugging Face partnership shows the future of generative AI rests on open source collaborationMicrosoft Copilot review: AI baked into your appsYou’re going to have an AI copilot for everything you do – and you’ll probably hate it

March has been a month of concern for those in the cyber security community following revelations of extensive hacking campaigns carried out by state-backed groups.

In the latter part of the month, it was reported that APT 31, a Chinese state-backed threat group, had accessed information on tens of millions of UK voters in a breach of the Electoral Commission. Threat actors had also targeted US politicians and businesses. 
What can we learn from the breach and how can organizations protect themselves against future state-backed threats?

In this episode, Jane and Rory welcome back Ross Kelly, ITPro’s news and analysis editor, to explore the month’s cyber security developments.

Is your firm missing out on AI? It’s a question that has weighed heavy on the minds of tech leaders for the past 18 months and as new developments are announced leaders are presented with an ever-increasing buffet of AI products.

While the pressure to commit to AI adoption can be intense, it’s essential that leaders integrate AI in a strategic fashion. But what does this mean in a practical sense and how can leaders match this need for caution against their fear of missing crucial AI opportunities?

In this episode, Rory speaks to Sharon Mandell, CIO at Juniper Networks, to unpack how the expansion of AI is being handled by businesses, the response leaders can take to increased competition, and what forms AI will settle into at an enterprise level.

Read more:
The future of generative AI lies in open sourceThree open source large language models you can use todayBig Tech AI alliance has ‘almost zero’ chance of achieving goals, expert saysWhy not to invest in generative AI – for nowOpenAI's Sam Altman: Hallucinations are part of the “magic” of generative AIWill Nvidia's AI dominance shake up the public cloud ‘big three’?

This classic episode of the ITPro Podcast was first published on 9 June 2023.

Quantum computing is an inevitable technology, with the private sector and nation-states racing to be the first to unlock its potential. While it can be used for all kinds of good, quantum computing could also be used to unravel critical systems.

The UK is one of several nations investing in quantum computing, with its government having announced £900 million for its own exascale quantum computer. Stakes are high as we enter into what some have dubbed a ‘quantum arms race’, with the first to successfully crack encryption holding all the cards when it comes to its myriad use cases.

In this episode, Rory and Jane speak to Tim Callan, chief experience officer at cyber security firm Sectigo, about the current state of quantum computing research and how the industry can prepare for this seismic shift.

For more information, read the show notes here.