Dónal and Ciarán return for a new year of new updates and new concerns in the world of Generative Artificial Intelligence. Again for 2026, the podcast will provide roughly quarterly updates on major themes and topics and this Spring episode covers recent news and connects with older themes and conversations.

Topics in this episode

• "BUBBLEWATCH" - new precarious developments in the massive valuations of a small number of tech companies at the forefront of AI development, and some concerns about stock prices and where future income will come from to cover the escalating costs.
• Grok (xAI) and the fallout from the use of the tool in generating non-consensual sexual imagery - and its wider impact in raising awareness about unregulated uses.
• Agentic AI and the rise of OpenClaw - a framework for providing semi-autonomous AI task management, which has seen recent swift uptake and security concerns.
• Related discussion of the MoltBook story, and perceptions about insight into what AI is thinking
• AI Hype and recent viral articles, and their effect in driving worried people to purchase subscriptions 
• Safer Internet Day and how people, especially parents, can take a more critical look at safe and appropriate use of AI tools

Resources & Links

• Safer Internet Day resources on AI for teachers and parents
• Matt Shumer's viral article, Something Big is Coming, and Ed Zitron's very  critical podcast rebuttal, which also contains an annotated version of the original.
• Coverage of Meta's patent on AI impersonation of dead users, and Meta's troubling memo indicating their desire to use political turmoil to cover release of a controversial feature
• An example of the MoltBook hype, from the Guardian
• Coverage of AI as a threat to democracy in Ireland

You can get in touch with us - [email protected] - where we'd love to hear your questions, comments or suggestions!