BASELINE

Digital identity is no longer just about logging in, it’s about who and what we trust in a world where AI agents are multiplying faster than humans.In this episode of BASELINE, I speak with Jacoby Thwaites, ex-Google technologist and now CTO of Magic ID. We dive into the UK’s plans for mandatory digital ID by 2029, Switzerland’s national e-ID referendum, and why identity has become the #1 attack vector in cyber security.Jacoby explains why humans today are “ghosts in the digital world,” why bots already outnumber humans online, and how trusted communities could give people and AI equal standing in digital society.

What does it really mean for the UK to become an “AI superpower”? In this episode of BASELINE, James Robson, former Data Protection Officer for the Labour Party (2023–2025), goes inside the hype and the reality. From protecting the most sensitive political data in Britain, to assessing the impact of billions in AI investment, James brings a unique perspective on how artificial intelligence will reshape jobs, democracy, and trust in government.

AI can now trigger real infrastructure changes, not just surface insights. But can you really trust it to touch production? In this episode of BASELINE, Rodney Foreman from Itential introduces the MCP Server: a new orchestration and control layer that allows AI agents, LLMs, and AIOps platforms to take real-world action with policy enforcement, validation, and full guardrails. We explore what the Model Context Protocol (MCP) is, how Itential connects AI systems to infrastructure safely, and why trust—not speed—is the real unlock for enterprise AI. With real-world examples like Selector and Lumen, this conversation shows how automation, compliance, and coordination are finally converging. If your AI strategy stops at insights, this episode will show you what’s next.

Dr Michael Barros brings a rare blend of scientific depth and human clarity. From showing us why every neuron is important to revealing how electroceuticals could transform medicine and how true intelligence is embodied, he turns complex frontiers of neuroscience into ideas anyone can grasp. His work at the University of Essex and the Alan Turing Institute is pioneering, but more than that, he speaks with humility and hope about the future of humanity and AI. This is one of those conversations that makes you rethink what it means to be alive, to learn, and to imagine what comes next.

Mike Lewis has spent over two decades uncovering the hidden inefficiencies that quietly drain millions from organisations. As Managing Director at Equantiis, his calm, pragmatic approach focuses on what others miss - the small inefficiencies that, once fixed, transform performance, morale, and growth.

In this conversation, we explore how AI can help eliminate those overlooked problems, why fear and hype often distract from the real work, and how finding just a few minutes of wasted time can unlock massive value.

Martin Bishop, former Chief Technologist for UK Public Sector at AWS, joins Baseline to explore what really works when governments and enterprises adopt AI.We talk about why embracing pilot failure is key to progress, how two-person teams are now winning seven-figure government tenders, and what legacy estates mean for transformation.

Martin also shares lessons from AWS, UK public sector procurement, sovereignty, education, and delivery at scale including how he helped stand up vaccine infrastructure in a single weekend.If you want to know what’s hype, what’s real, and how to turn AI into lasting progress, this episode is for you.BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise. In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

In BASELINE052, Ian Smith sits down with Dr John Fletcher - Oxford, Imperial, and Cambridge-trained physicist and Chief Scientist at The Innovation Game. John is not just a world-class academic - he’s a rare innovator who bridges the gap between research and real-world impact.

At The Innovation Game, he is building technology that creates genuine competitive advantage, not just another layer of AI hype. His work proves how algorithms can solve critical problems in logistics, medicine, and science showing that the future of AI is about application, not buzzwords.BASELINE exposes the truth behind AI’s unstoppable rise. In-depth interviews with AI experts, real analysis, and insights you can trust on the technology reshaping our world.

https://www.tig.foundation

Venture capital is changing fast and the next wave of fundraising will be powered by data, AI, and intelligent matching between founders and investors. In Part 2 of this BASELINE conversation, Daniel Sawko (CEO of ShipShape VC) shares how hyper-contextual investor search can save founders from wasted meetings, how AI will reshape deal flow, and why frontier markets like space and defence are creating entirely new funding dynamics. From the Mira Murati fundraise for Thinking Machines to the rise of LP intelligence and decentralised VC, this episode is essential for founders, VCs, and LPs looking ahead at the future of capital allocation.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:

00:00 – Cold open: Smarter fundraising for a new era

02:00 – AI hype cycles and misaligned pitching

10:15 – Investor–founder fit vs product–market fit

19:40 – New frontiers: space, defence, and AGI-era funding

33:20 – LP search and decentralising venture capital

45:00 – The intelligent future of fundraising

What happens when AI meets a healthcare system in crisis? Learn what’s real, what’s hype, and how tech could transform care without losing compassion.

00:00 – Intro: AI in Healthcare, Hype vs. Humanity01:12 – Meet Rhonda Siddall: Freelance Medical Writer02:54 – The Human Dimension of AI Deployment05:10 – The NHS in Crisis: Burnout, Compassion & Reality07:48 – Predictive AI in Diagnosis: COPD & RA10:32 – Efficiency vs Empathy: What Are We Optimising?12:01 – Hidden Bias in Health Data: Women Left Behind14:45 – Can AI Understand Emotion and Shame?17:02 – Utopia or Dystopia: Rhonda’s Final Reflection19:32 – Final Thoughts & Viewer Call to Action

Most founders spend up to 50% of their time trying to raise money — but many pitch to the wrong investors, burning time and relationships without results. In Part 1 of this BASELINE conversation, Daniel Sawko, CEO of ShipShape VC, explains why fundraising has become theatre, why warm intros dominate venture capital access, and how early-stage startups can focus on building traction instead of chasing the wrong capital. This is a must-watch for founders who want to stop wasting time and get investor-fit right from day one.

EPISODE CHAPTERS:00:00 – Cold open: Selling a cruise ship to an ice cream van

01:40 – Why traditional fundraising is broken

09:10 – Networks, warm intros, and VC access

18:45 – The pressure to perform vs building a real business

27:30 – Fundraising as sales: marketing your equity to the wrong market

38:15 – Why founders should prioritise customers over capital