My guest this time on the Data Revolution podcast is Jonathan Mast, who runs White Beard Strategies, a business that helps folks to use Generative AI to power their sales and marketing activities. We had a great chat about how people can get started in using Generative AI in their everyday activities.

In this chat, Jonathan Mast discusses the transformative role of AI in various aspects of life and business. He emphasises that AI amplifies human skills and experience, making it a useful tool for individuals of all ages. The discussion covers practical applications of AI in daily tasks, its impact on business productivity, and the importance of navigating privacy concerns. Jonathan also explores the evolving landscape of content creation and SEO in the age of AI, and he shares insights on how individuals can adapt their skills to leverage AI effectively. The chat concludes with actionable tips for those looking to integrate AI into their lives.

In this episode of the Data Revolution podcast, I speak with Jodie Miners about the importance of cybersecurity for small businesses, focusing on the SMB 1001:2025 standard. We discuss the challenges small businesses face in implementing cybersecurity measures, the benefits of achieving certification, and practical steps to enhance data protection. Jodie shares valuable resources available for small businesses to improve their cybersecurity posture and emphasizes the need for data governance and business continuity planning in the face of rising cyber risks.

Links to the items discussed are here https://datarevolution.tech/

In this episode of the Data Revolution podcast, I speak with Dr. Tama Leaver about the evolving role of data and AI in society, particularly focusing on children's interaction with generative AI, the implications for privacy and consent, and the challenges of educating young people in a rapidly changing technological landscape. We discuss the biases inherent in AI tools, the importance of critical engagement with technology, and the need for a more nuanced understanding of privacy in the digital age. Our conversation emphasises the agency individuals have in shaping the future of AI and the importance of equipping the next generation with the skills to navigate this complex environment.

Takeaways

• Children are using generative AI without parental knowledge.
• Generative AI tools can amplify existing biases.
• Education systems are rushing to adopt AI without proper context.
• Privacy frameworks are struggling to keep up with AI advancements.
• The convenience of AI often overshadows privacy concerns.
• Visual social media is heavily influenced by AI limitations.
• AI tools are still in their infancy and often produce errors.
• The future of AI should prioritise human agency and ethics.
• Parents need to engage with their children's use of AI tools.
• Critical thinking is essential for navigating AI-generated content.

Articles discussed

Leaver, T., & Srdarov, S. (2025). Generative AI and children’s digital futures: New research challenges. Journal of Children and Media, 19(1), 65–70. https://doi.org/10.1080/17482798.2024.2438679 [Free to access Preprint: https://zenodo.org/records/14741236 ]

Srdarov, S., & Leaver, T. (2024). Generative AI Glitches: The Artificial Everything. M/C Journal, 27(6), https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.3123 [Open Access]

Leaver, T. & Srdarov, S. (2023), ChatGPT Isn't Magic: The Hype and Hypocrisy of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) Rhetoric, M/C Journal, 26(5), https://doi.org/10.5204/mcj.3004 [Open Access]

Great to have old friend, Gladwin Mendez, back on the podcast to talk about the emergence of the new role of fractional Chief Data Officer (CDO).

The rise of fractional CDOs reflects the growing recognition of data's strategic value in modern businesses. As organisations increasingly rely on data-driven decision-making, many are turning to fractional CDOs - experienced professionals who offer their expertise on a part-time or project basis. This flexible model allows companies, particularly SMEs and startups, to access high-level data leadership without the cost of a full-time executive. Fractional CDOs help businesses to start on their data journey ensuring compliance, optimising analytics, and driving innovation, all while aligning data strategies with broader organisational goals.

https://datarevolution.tech/

Welcome to season 3! My guest for this episode is Dr David Bray He has been thinking deeply about AI for many years. We had a wideranging chat about AI, cybersecurity, new AI’s, state actor attacks and the ongoing greyzone war, the need to use data to maintain free societies, and the importance of working locally and building community.

Some things that we touched on were the need to secure our hardware and data supply lines, the need for human agency – data as a kind of human voice. David is a big advocate for data rights to be managed via existing contract law, which seems like a good idea to me.

https://datarevolution.tech/2025/02/david-bray/

My guests for this episode are Kane Murdoch and Shaun Lehmann. They work in the area of academic integrity at one of Australia's major universities and have been thinking seriously about the problems facing us in academia of ensuring that students behave with integrity in their assessments. The issue is typically referred to as "contract cheating" which includes students outsourcing completion of their work, or *contracts it out, to a third party. This practice risks devaluing university degrees and destroying trust in the quality of degrees.

Kane and Shaun argue that the way to combat this practice in the age of AI is to change the way that we assess students in higher education. Have a listen to their arguments and let us know what you think.

This time my guest is my friend Ross Dawson. He is always on the cutting edge of new stuff, as you would imagine for a futurist. We had an amazing chat about his current passion for cognitive AI and how it is going to change the world of work. I loved his ideas for humanity working together with AI.

"Ross Dawson is a world-renowned keynote speaker, strategy advisor, and entrepreneur he inspires with powerful, practical insights into the future and how to seize today’s opportunities."

This time my guest is Dr Emma Briant, globally renowned researcher on misinformation, disinformation and propaganda. We had a great chat about how these are now the new battlegrounds and how data underpins them. Of course we mentioned the US (a bit). Emma shared her new research and some other resources such as her Patreon. I commend all these resources to you – they are amazing resources for understanding this hotly contested area.

Resources and links

• Website: http://emma-briant.co.uk/
• Patreon: https://patreon.com/emmalbriant
• Book: Routledge Handbook of the Influence Industry
• Udemy course: https://www.udemy.com/course/propaganda-disinformation-level-1-beginners/?referralCode=F6D164B12D33A03ADF60
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emmalbriant/
• Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/emmalbriant.bsky.social
• Mastodon: https://mastodon.online/@emmalbriant
• Twitter: @Emmalbriant

Had a great chat with Kobi Leins about some good feedback on the Australian Governments Microsoft Copilot pilot (full story here: Australian Government trial of Microsoft 365 Copilot). We also had a wide-ranging chat about the upcoming training deficit all organisations have in respect of AI, the recent changes in the federal AI space.

Links to stuff we mentioned:

https://www.digital.gov.au/initiatives/copilot-trial/microsoft-365-copilot-evaluation-report-full

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/worklab/work-trend-index/copilots-earliest-users-teach-us-about-generative-ai-at-work

https://www.industry.gov.au/news/four-new-centres-help-australian-businesses-adopt-ai

https://substack.com/home/post/p-151681219

This time my guest is Dr Brandon Rohrer. He is a data scientist who originally started in researching robots to assist with stroke recovery, and who now works on solving data challenges. Brandon, whom I tracked down via his online discovery work on https://e2eml.school/blog.html where I was captivated by his journey in understanding AI. It is a great resource, and I did show it to my team who also loved it.

We had a fascinating and wide-ranging chat that went from the demise of Twitter to the challenges of getting robots and AI to be more human.