In this era of scientific breakthroughs, particularly with the emergence of artificial intelligence, one would reasonably expect parallel gains in women’s rights and other human rights. However, as I turn to YouTube each day and tune into the news, I’m greeted by the spectacle of a MAGA clown of a former president, grumbling and blustering during breaks in his criminal trial. Amidst his rants, I can’t help but notice how the rhetoric of his supporters often undermines the progress of women’s rights, casting shadows of regression over what should be an era of advancement. Amidst these complex ..read more

Nine in 10 (90%) Irish executives anticipate a medium to high impact to their organisation’s business processesin the next three years as a direct result of generative AI chatbots, with almost two in five (39%) reporting it as transformational change, according to Accenture’s annual Technology Vision Report for 2024. Accenture’s Technology Vision 2024: “Human by Design: How AI Unleashes the Next Level of Human Potential”, which is run across 20 countries and 21 industries, revealed that 97% of Irish executives agree that the capabilities of AI are expanding, moving from assisting to act ..read more

Sustainability has become a central focus in many workplaces, especially environmental sustainability, with businesses striving to make their offices more energy-efficient or eco-friendly. In 2021, the UN reported that the tech industry was responsible for 2-3% of global carbon emissions and this figure is expected to rise in the future. Tech environments, such as data centres, use staggering amounts of energy and unfortunately, this cannot be avoided all that much. However, it is possible for tech environments to adopt a more sustainable method of operating by looking at other elements of e ..read more

Longford County Council has announced the launch of ‘Perfectly Located Longford’, a new investment brochure aimed at attracting businesses to County Longford. The brochure was launched by Longford County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Colm Murray, joined by the elected members. Available to read at LocalEnterprise.ie/Longford, ‘Perfectly Located Longford’ offers a roadmap to help businesses see how to successfully set up or expand into County Longford. Included within the brochure are inspiring local business success stories and information on business supports. It also profiles County Longford ..read more

The annual Guaranteed Irish Tech Forum took place with a panel of four female leaders in the tech industry with non-tech backgrounds. ‘Unveiling Unconventional Paths within the Tech Sector’ was the theme for this year’s event and the non-techie panel gave interesting insights into why their backgrounds are key to the success of their roles in tech. AI is the hot topic in tech today and the panel see it as an opportunity for businesses but also cautioned against rushing into using it as a sole strategy. Maureen O’Rourke, Head of Digital Transformation Programme at An Post spoke of their recen ..read more

To mark International Girls in ICT Day, Microsoft is hosting a virtual Dream Space event for primary school students across Ireland to inspire them about the opportunities unlocked through STEM and emerging technologies, such as AI. The unique event will be streamed live from Microsoft Dream Space and feature learning sessions delivered by two fifth-class Dream Space Student Ambassadors from Alexandra College, Dublin, to peers across the country. Every primary school across the island of Ireland is invited to join the free event on Thursday, 25th April, between 10 am and 12 noon, with the pr ..read more

Salesforce, the global leader in CRM, has released the new State of Service report, sharing insights from over 5,500 service professionals across 30 countries — including 100 from Ireland. The report covers the priorities, challenges, and strategies shaping customer service, including how service teams are tapping AI and data to increase revenue, efficiency, and customer satisfaction amid rising customer expectations. Key insights from the research include: Organisations Lean into AI to Boost Efficiencies. To scale service without sacrificing quality, organisations are increasingly turning ..read more

We look at this thoughtful attempt to dig into the complexity of real world situations and the attempts to make better models to understand what is happening around us and why. See more about the author Doyne Farmer here. Making Sense of Chaos: A Better Economics for a Better World, reviewed This is a challenging topic to do well. Models are always limited by their inherent nature, how many factors do you incorporate? How much data do you need, over how long a time period? How do you factor in the slightly to very unpredictable behaviour of humans themselves, and their inclination towards ca ..read more

Creo is delighted to announce the shortlist for the Sony Future Filmmaker Awards 2024. The shortlist of 30 filmmakers across six categories are awarded the unique experience of attending a week of special events at the Sony Pictures Studios lot in Los Angeles, including a workshop program providing unparalleled access behind-the-scenes of the industry and culminating in the Awards ceremony on May 30, 2024 where the six category winners, chosen by a selection of expert judges, are announced. Established by Creo and sponsored by Sony, the sophomore edition of the major annual awards program fo ..read more

Successful Return for Dublin’s StartUp Weekend for Women “Why do we organize a Startup Weekend event focused on Women?” asks Leyla Karaha . “It’s important to create a safe space for aspiring women tech entrepreneurs to kickstart their businesses.” First event in 2021 In 2021, Leyla organised the first event, which was open to all, but the turnout was telling. Out of 15 pitches, only one was from a woman. Similarly, among the nine teams formed, only one had a mixed-gender composition. Recognizing the need for change, in 2022, she pivoted to focus on organising women-centric events, and ..read more