Neural networks are the backbone of many AI and machine learning systems. But how can they be applied to real-world scenarios?

Today’s guest is Damian Borth, Professor of Artificial Intelligence & Machine Learning at the University of St. Gallen. He is also the director of the Computer Science Institute at St. Gallen.

His work on neural networks has taken him to several subject areas including climate change, financial fraud detection, and text-to-speech. He is also the recipient of a Google Research Scholar Award.

We discuss what neural networks are, what they do, and how their application could help us save the world.

00:00 - Intro

02:02 - Damian’s background

03:01 - What is a neural network?

09:21 - Neural networks and climate change

12:44 - Neural networks and text-to-speech

14:56 - Bias in AI training data

12:44 - Academia and the real world

27:12 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Damian Borth: https://www.linkedin.com/in/damianborth/?originalSubdomain=ch

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

According to Alzheimer's Disease International, the number of people around the world with the condition will reach 78 million in 2030, and 139 million in 2050. As of 2024, there is no known cure for Alzheimer's, dementia, or similar degenerative brain conditions. So, how are those testing for these diseases using data and technology to help improve health outcomes?

Today’s guest is Rhoda Au, Professor of Anatomy & Neurobiology, Neurology, and Epidemiology at Boston University, and Director of Neuropsychology at the Framingham Heart Study. She’s also the Director of Global Cohort Development at the Davos Alzheimer's Collaborative.

We discuss Rhoda’s experience of paper-and-pen Alzheimer's testing in the early 90s, her switch to voice capture in 2005, and her thoughts about how medical data should be shared. 

00:00 - Intro

02:02 - The pen-and-paper days of Altizmer’s testing

12:34 - The ethics of voice capture

20:20 - Why we need to open up health data to the community

26:07 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Rhoda Au: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rhoda-au-1687277/

Boston University School of Medicine & Public Health: https://www.bu.edu/sph/

Framingham Heart Study: https://www.framinghamheartstudy.org/

Alzheimer's Disease International: https://www.alzint.org/

Alzheimer's Disease Data Initiative: https://www.alzheimersdata.org/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

We don’t often think about what's going on beneath the surface of our cities and towns. But how could more understanding of this underground world help deliver better public services and tackle environmental impact?

Today’s guest is Holger Kessler, a renowned geoscientist who has racked up an astonishing 25 years at the British Geological Survey. In early 2024, he started a new role at AtkinsRéalis but previously worked at the Government Office for Science as the Science Lead of the Future of the Subsurface Foresight Programme.

We discuss the siloed nature of data underground, the benefits of digital twins, and why it's so important to use the utilities we have underground. 

00:00 - Intro

12:24 - Why is subsurface data so siloed?

23:05 - Holger’s work in the London subterranean

28:15 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Holger Kessler: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holgerkessler/

British Geological Survey: https://www.bgs.ac.uk/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

Public services and higher education facilities are under enormous pressure to keep track of their funds. But what if they were able to utilise some of that money, and put it back into the hands of the communities they serve?

Today’s guest is Peter Forsgren, co-founder and COO of three+one, an organisation that assists clients across the United States in identifying opportunities to increase their revenue.

Peter has worked in public sector finance for a long time but also serves on his local school board. 

We discuss Peter’s first role out of college with the Oneida Indian Nation, break down just how much financial data is required to optimise funds and examine a few case studies that show the power of money saved.

00:00 - Intro

02:30 - Peter’s experience with the Oneida Indian Nation

10:53 - What does scalability look like for three+one?

18:33 - The plan for national domination

27:34 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Peter Forsgren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/peterdforsgren/

three+one: https://threeplusone.us/

Oneida Indian Nation: https://www.oneidaindiannation.com/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

The UK’s public sector uses vast quantities of data to keep its vital services running. But what's the best way to communicate with the public about these services?

Today’s guest is Giuseppe Sollazzo, who currently heads up data products and services at the Department of Work and Pensions. He’s spent his entire career at the heart of the public sector. Giuseppe initially aspired to be an academic, but one failed Ph.D. later, he realised he needed to be more agile in his career trajectory. This led him into the NHS, the Department for Transport, and placed him squarely at the nexus of how we communicate data across society. 

Giuseppe and his team also pen the famous Quantum of Sollazzo newsletter, which has become a staple in the open data community.

We discuss communicating data to citizens, the role of AI in the public sector, and the UK’s digital skills gap.

00:00 - Intro

02:46 - Legacy systems, public discourse, and information gathering at DWP

06:37 - The role of AI in the public sector

17:36 - The digital skills gap in the public sector

30:10 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Giuseppe Sollazzo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/giuseppesollazzo

The Quantum of Sollazzo: https://puntofisso.net/newsletter/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

It's been just over two years since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. How has disinformation played a part in the conflict, and what has been done to help combat it?

Today's guest is Olga Tokariuk, a Chatham House Fellow and journalist who specialises in research around disinformation. She has spoken widely about Russia's use of disinformation in the war and what it means for the public's wider trust in the media.

We discuss the four ways that technology and AI are being used in Ukraine, how to debunk and tackle disinformation in wartime, and how the public has been galvanised to think critically about the media they're consuming.

00:00 - Intro

01:54 - The four ways technology and AI are used on the battlefield

08:19 - What does disinformation look like in this conflict?

16:44 - The global decline of trust in the media

21:55 - How did the evolution of the DIA app help galvanise the public in Ukraine?

19:18 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Olga Tokariuk: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olga-tokariuk/

Chatham House: https://www.chathamhouse.org/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke. 

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate. 

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. 

Every two weeks, we're taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.

We can use archives to unlock our past. But how can these vast analogue data sets utilise technology and still retain their value? 

Today’s guest is John Sheridan, Digital Director at The National Archives. In his role, John looks after all things digital. He shapes the strategy and direction of its numerous digital services including the vast and extensive National Archive website.

We discuss the power of being able to easily access archival material, the increasing quality of document digitisation, and why archives are critical to the retention of primary sources.

00:00 - Intro

01:48 - What are the Archives up to right now?

07:31 - Why the Archives are important in a wider cultural context

17:35 - How archives save the world

23:00 - What challenges does new technology present?

26:18 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS

John Sheridan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnlsheridan/?originalSubdomain=uk

The National Archives: https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

Nuclear weapons still loom large on the world stage. So why has the number of nuclear tests dropped so dramatically?

Today’s guest is Megan Slinkard, Chief of the Software Applications Section in the International Data Centre at the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty Organization (CTBTO). Based in Vienna, Megan has worked in nuclear explosion monitoring for more than 10 years and is really at the coal face of the monitoring work that the organisation does.

We discuss Megan’s path to nuclear testing, how the CBTO has helped to create a culture where nuclear testing is rare, and how monitoring nuclear tests has helped bolster the CTBT (Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty).

00:00 - Intro

02:41 - Megan’s origin story

13:05 - What does CTBTO do when they detect an unusual event?

23:00 - How monitoring and testing can add robustness to a treaty

30:01 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Megan Slinkard: https://www.linkedin.com/in/megan-slinkard-4905b2167/

CTBTO: https://www.ctbto.org/

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realize them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production and operation.

Welcome to a brand new series of Data Today with Dan Klein, a podcast from Zühlke. 

We're living in a world of opportunities, but to transform opportunity into impact, we have to change the way we innovate. We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and thinking in traditional value chains. That's what this podcast is about.

In Season Two, we're asking the question, how can data help us save the world? We'll be exploring how we can build more equal societies, combat climate change, and improve global health with the right data strategies, practices, and applications.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We turn big ideas into working solutions that deliver positive and sustainable value.

Find out more at: https://www.zuehlke.com

When moving and transforming data, how do you make sure it retains its accuracy?

That's the question that drives today’s guest, Heather Savory. Heather has 30 years of experience in both the public and private sectors. She currently holds Non-Executive Director roles in the UK Parliament and Ministry of Justice and was previously the Director General for Data Capability at the Office of National Statistics (ONS).

We discuss connecting siloed data sources, how to communicate the importance of data with the public, and the benefits of sharing data.

00:00 - Intro

01:52 - How did Heather experience data and information handling in Parliament? 

07:13 - Heather’s journey from VLSI chips to government

10:59 - There's no digital without the data - what does this mean to Heather?

23:57 - Dan's final thoughts

LINKS:

Heather Savory: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-savory-63055b/?originalSubdomain=uk

Dan Klein: https://uk.linkedin.com/in/dplklein

Zühlke: https://www.zuehlke.com/en

Welcome to Data Today, a podcast from Zühlke.

We're living in a world of opportunities. But to fully realise them, we have to reshape the way we innovate.

We need to stop siloing data, ring-fencing knowledge, and looking at traditional value chains. And that's what this podcast is about. Every two weeks, we’re taking a look at data outside the box to see how amazing individuals from disparate fields and industries are transforming the way they work with data, the challenges they are overcoming, and what we can all learn from them.

Zühlke is a global innovation service provider. We envisage ideas and create new business models for our clients by developing services and products based on new technologies – from the initial vision through development to deployment, production, and operation.