By David Stephen who looks at GPT-5 in this article.

AI benchmarks have created a false impression about how to evaluate AI models: test AI for complex questions that several humans can't answer; even if AI does well, conclude that AI has not matched vital human intelligence.

If AI gets things right that several humans would - on average - not get right, should that not be considered a significant leap? If there are quality knowledge of professional value that AI was trained on and can accurately reproduce, what does it matter that a human being can do something intelligently in the real world - which AI can't - but has no economic value?

GPT-5, AI and Superintelligence?

Yes, proportioning human intelligence with economic value is inappropriate, but society seems to do that in how resources are allocated and how rewards are split.

There are many things that AI can do, when prompted, to solve certain problems that would have taken a lot more to achieve, without AI, for many. AI is showing its competitive ability at two principal spheres: against the brain and for economics [supplying intelligence].

It does not matter if AI passes a benchmark test or not. It does not matter what model is prior or latest, if AI outputs intelligence that is useful and valuable, it is doing what the brain can do, and showing its ability to come close, match or surpass it [for intelligence].

There are lots of recommendations that world models, for AI, are necessary to exceed transformers. However, there are so many human activities that AI can't do yet that seem so simple for humans but not considered smarts. Some say AI can't solve new major problems. There are major fields of science where many experts know as much but can't solve problems there also. While the comparison is not balanced, AI has access to the knowledge. It is almost impossible to have someone just learn all about a major field in a shrunk timeline. AI is currently in possession of a lot of important knowledge. Brains may differ.

GPT-5

The chatter among some is that GPT-5 is not a transcendent leap in AI architecture and that scaling laws are obsolete. In conceptual brain science, it is unlikely to make such conclusion. AI has come for the human brain. Some can see other AI models, AGI [artificial general intelligence], superintelligence and so on, but any good enough AI [say GPT-4o range] may tad depose vital [intelligence] aspects of the brain's functionality.

Gloating over GPT-5 solves nothing about how the brain works. It contributes nothing to mechanisms that can be used to explain neurological observations. It is better to extensively explore ways to improve natural human intelligence; how to shape the mind against unwanted emotional outcomes by AI. Then develop intense AI alignment and AI safety models that can be adopted across the industry.

The reality of AI is here. It is already adopted socially and productively. It does not matter its flaws, it is doing much, for many, already. The AI companies can be criticized for several of their unethical, unfairness and more heavy-handed methods. They can be criticized for not having human intelligence research labs. However, what can be done towards solution?

Human Intelligence

How does human intelligence work? If someone is taking a new advanced class, why is grasping sometimes hard? Why is the school system graded, requiring years and several curricula? What should be understood about how humans learn, to prospect better path to understanding and problem-solving? If humans went to school to increase the chances for work, but now, AI can do some of the work, how should new learning purposes be structured?

GPT-5 would make errors - as sampling - to disdain it, but against a regular brain for knowledge of value, the story might be different.

There is a new [August 12, 2025] spotlight in The New Yorker, What If A.I. Doesn't Get Much Better Than This?, stating that, "GPT-5, a new release from OpenAI, is the latest product to sugge...

TOBi, Vodafone Ireland's award-winning AI-powered self-service assistant, might still be getting to grips with Irish phrases like "acting the maggot" or "sucking diesel", but it is already doing the hard work behind the scenes, helping customers 24/7 with top-ups, billing queries and much more. TOBi now resolves 60% of customer service queries without the need to talk to someone, a milestone in AI-led customer care.

New research conducted amongst 1,000 people on behalf of Vodafone Ireland by Coyne Research shows that AI has officially been adopted by consumers and has become an everyday tool. Almost half of all Irish adults (48%) now use AI weekly, with usage rising to 66% among Gen Z, nearly a quarter of whom use it every day. One in three people are already using AI for customer service, while one in five rely on it to help write something, whether it's an email, college assignment or social post.

Two in five consumers (40%) now claim to have a good understanding of AI technology, evidence that awareness of AI is growing rapidly. Confidence is even stronger among men, with nearly half of males (48%) believing they have a good or very good grasp of what AI can do. This rising confidence is reflected in overall experience as 40% of consumers say their interactions with AI have been positive, signalling a major shift in how the technology has moved from a niche innovation to a routine part of how people in Ireland work, communicate, and solve problems.

Vodafone Ireland is also addressing uniquely Irish challenges through TOBi's ongoing development, as it constantly learns to understand Irish accents and Irishisms. With three in five survey respondents acknowledging their own difficulties in understanding certain Irish accents (particularly Kerry, Cork, and Donegal), TOBi is being specially trained to recognise regional dialects and local expressions, from "banjaxed" to "acting the maggot."

Interestingly, one in three people believe AI can understand Irishisms, such as "grand" or "c'mere to me" - though "banjaxed" (60%), "sucking diesel" (59%) and "acting the maggot" (52%) were named the most confusing for both AI and people alike to understand. Gen Z and Dubliners are the most confident that AI like TOBi is catching on to these Irishisms.

The development of TOBi is part of Vodafone Ireland's broader €10million investment in enhancing its customer care experience, resolving common customer queries and expanding care channels to ensure faster, more flexible help for customers. As a result, Vodafone Ireland now offers the longest customer care hours and the largest retail footprint in the market, as well as the only 24/7 AI resolution option available from any Irish telecoms provider.

"TOBi isn't just a chatbot," said Ciaran Barrett, Commercial Operations Director at Vodafone Ireland. "TOBi helps our customers every day by giving them fast, intuitive support any time of the day or night- whether they want to check a bill, query a charge or top up their account. TOBi learns from every interaction, adapting to how Irish people speak and what they need. This is AI made useful, not just clever."

"Our research shows that Irish people are becoming more comfortable with AI - and we're meeting that shift with technology that actually delivers. TOBi is getting smarter, faster and more helpful all the time. While TOBi is still learning to understand every accent and irishism, it absolutely gets what our customers need and is fully supported by our team of care specialists as well as the largest retail footprint in the country - giving our customers real choice in how they connect with us."

Unlike many digital assistants that simply provide information, TOBi is fully integrated with Vodafone Ireland's core operating systems, enabling secure, real-time account changes and issue resolution, distinguishing Vodafone Ireland's care offerings from its competitors.

As TOBi grows in popularity as a support option, Vodafone Ireland's customer care...

Esri Ireland, the market leader in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), has announced a new partnership with surveying and data acquisition specialist, Murphy Geospatial (a Woolpert Company). This strategic collaboration will combine advanced location intelligence and geospatial data capabilities to accelerate the delivery of large-scale infrastructure, urban planning, and environmental projects across the island of Ireland.

The announcement comes as the Government recently pledged an overall investment of more than €100 billion in Ireland's infrastructure over the next five years as part of the National Development Plan (NDP).

As vital infrastructure projects grow ever more complex, organisations increasingly require data that is highly accurate and detailed. The demand for real-time mapping capabilities, spatial analytics, 3D modelling, building information modelling (BIM) integration and digital twin representation is rising across sectors such as architecture, engineering, construction, manufacturing, utilities, and energy.

This new partnership will combine Esri's cutting-edge ArcGIS System with real-time data acquisition and integration services from Murphy Geospatial, driving actionable insights across the entire lifecycle of critical infrastructure projects. Both public and private sector organisations will benefit from powerful digital mapping and precise data capture, enabling faster, more informed decision-making. Streamlined processes and increased automation will transform raw data into interactive maps and valuable analytics, supporting project implementation and enhancing the delivery of essential services.

Esri Ireland and Murphy Geospatial customers will benefit from enhanced data acquisition and analysis capabilities, particularly in field-collected data and on large-scale data projects. Murphy Geospatial deploys aerial, vehicle-mounted, and terrestrial scanners to gather data, ensuring access to even hard-to-reach locations. All data is subjected to rigorous quality control and assurance, reducing the risk of data loss or misinterpretation.

More efficient workflows will drive productivity and collaboration for organisations, while easing the burden on internal teams. Additionally, customers will gain access to increased resources from both Murphy Geospatial and Esri Ireland, supporting project success at every stage.

Paul Synnott, Managing Director of Esri Ireland, commented:

"The Government's recent funding boost for the NDP marks the largest infrastructure investment in Irish history. Now, more than ever, our customers will rely on high-quality, accurate, and precise data to help them better understand the influence of location, place, and geography on their decisions. Our partnership with the team at Murphy Geospatial enables us to bring their market-leading data acquisition expertise directly to our customers. It's a partnership that simply makes sense, combining the power of Esri's ArcGIS system with Murphy Geospatial's advanced data acquisition solutions to deliver value far greater than the sum of its parts."

Niall Murphy, CEO of Murphy Geospatial, added:

"Data accuracy demands are rising, and customers need confidence in their data in order to drive today's increasingly complex projects. Data and GIS systems often live in silos, but this partnership will combine these advanced capabilities to deliver solutions to key industry challenges. From building bridges and developing transport lines to implementing flood relief measures, the potential of geospatial data is huge, and we look forward to leveraging location intelligence to drive further actionable insights. This partnership will accelerate project successes, add increased value, and fuel growth for both customer bases."

See more stories here.

By David Stephen who considers Human Intelligence in this article.

There is no AI company on earth, currently, that has a Human Intelligence Research Lab. This means a lab that exists just to study and show how human intelligence works. None, zero.

This lab would not cost them as much as AI, and could become more important and profitable than their work on AI - given the world's population. However, they don't, even the so-called good people doing AI for humanity research. Something like, for all the investments in AI, this fraction must go to outlining [natural] human intelligence. Human intelligence is human jurisdiction. AI, regardless of whose, is based without, subjecting its availability to facilities.

A Lab for Human Intelligence Research

There is no lab, anywhere - in or of any organization - that has produced a model of how human intelligence works. Simply, there is no lab, currently, anywhere, that seems close to that goal or seeking - directly - to develop and explain how human intelligence works.

There are all kinds of human and machine cognition labs. Many often state that they are using AI to understand the human brain. There is little to no merit to any project whatsoever, around using large language models [LLMs], or other AI approaches toward understanding how human intelligence works. They have no outstanding postulate, no case for probable components - aside from neurons - and no way to show what they are doing, without AI.

Human intelligence is defined as the use of memory [or information] in the brain. Simply, excellence in using what is known is intelligence. Now, how does an individual use what is known to result in intelligence? Say there is information, how does the individual use the information for the best possible outcome, in reality? What was mechanized in the brain? What are the components of intelligence? What are the attributes? How are they similar or different from those of memory, emotion, feeling, and regulation of internal sensations?

Maybe working on human intelligence is so hard it seems impossible. Maybe labs have given up on human intelligence. Maybe some have concluded that human intelligence is hopeless so nothing can be done to change it. However, no matter the excellence of artificial intelligence, it is still not humans' in terms of unassisted [or unattached] possession. Neurotechnology is also not humans. They are all external and will be externally accessed. They could be owned in some form or controlled by others, or subject to external servicing and management. The are no guarantees that natural intelligence would widely benefit [all humans] no matter their [AI and neurotechnology universal] adoption.

AI in Education

If AI is helping in education, what exactly should AI be helping since AI can do it all, including aspects of work, post-college. Simply, while AI can assist understanding, what can AI currently change or not change, about the [natural, not augmented] efficiency of human intelligence?

How should AI guide learning, that, without AI, learning can advance, naturally? What should be known about how human intelligence works to ensure that the architecture is used to set boundaries about AI's impending sweep of the educational system?

Human Intelligence

How does any human being pass an exam? Study and answer questions in smart ways? How does anyone do an activity, with great planning and then carefully execution, to have the desired outcome?

Only two factors matter, it appears, in the question of human intelligence, what information exist in the brain and how they go from one point to the other to result in [use as] intelligence?

If complex solutions are sort to problems, what makes figuring them out difficult or otherwise? What can be shown as a basic model of how human intelligence works to prospect approaches to memory, learning, comprehension and problem solving, to move the world forward by humans, wherever located, without ultimate dependencies on AI, or neurot...

Business activity in the Irish SME sector has edged into negative territory for the first time since 2020, according to a new business confidence survey by lender Linked Finance. Post-pandemic trade was strongest for SMEs in 2022, and over the last three years, that has remained in positive territory, until now. While that sentiment reflects the overall general picture, sectors within the SME sector are still performing well, particularly larger businesses.

One-in-three SMEs reported that business results were lower year-on-year, an increase of 2% on the same period last year. While the increase is not overly significant, it does show that several factors - both externally and domestically - are affecting the performance of SMEs.

Business optimism amongst all Irish-based SMEs surveyed was 67% six months ago, but that has now dropped to 61%. Exporter optimism in Q1 2025, which had increased due to a bounce in orders rushed to warehouses ahead of threatened tariffs in the US, has dissipated somewhat. The retail and wholesale trade is the one area within the broader SME sector that saw increased optimism levels in the second quarter, with positive sentiment up 5% year-on-year.

Business activity and outlook

While just over two-in-three businesses reported that their activity is the same, or higher, compared to the same period 12 months ago, it is the first time in five years that the tracker tipped into negative territory in terms of the gap between positive and negative (-3%). Given the uncertainty in the markets and geopolitics in Q2, this still shows a good degree of resilience.

While large businesses are holding up well, medium-sized SMEs (4-9 people) have seen the biggest change year-on-year, with almost a quarter reporting that business activity is down compared to the same period last year.

Activity levels at indigenous businesses are almost flat year-on-year, while the number of exporters who experienced a drop in trade between Q1 and Q2 2025 jumped by 10% - mainly the result of increased activities in Q1 as exports were boosted ahead of incoming tariffs.

Dublin-based SMEs performing better

Dublin-based SME businesses are performing much better than those in the regions in terms of business activity. Dublin-based firms noted an improvement in activity - with 76% reporting trade was the same or higher - but for those based outside the capital, only 62% reported this was the case.

The sentiment for Q3 2025 is now in slightly negative territory (-3% gap on positive over negative), with mid-sized businesses seeing the biggest impact here. Only one-in-five expect Q3 2025 to bring a boost in business, compared to almost one-in-two when surveyed this time 12 months ago. On the positive side, large SMEs remain optimistic for Q3, with 46% expecting an upturn in business.

Linked Finance CEO Niall O'Grady said that it was understandable that some businesses are adopting a cautious mode, concerned about tariffs or revising their forecasts:

"We live in uncertain times, and it is not surprising that SMEs in Ireland are tempering their outlook given constant reports, and now confirmation, about tariffs. This is combined with continuing conflict in both Europe and the Middle East.

"However, there are several positive takeaways from the data, particularly that large companies remain bullish for the next quarter, which is important as they employ the most people here. In addition, micro businesses are seeing a slight improvement while the retail and wholesale trade is showing some green shoots."

The quarterly Business Confidence survey is conducted by Ipsos B&A on behalf of Linked Finance, which is Ireland's leading SME peer-to-peer lender. In operation since 2013, Linked Finance has lent more €350 million to the Irish SME sector, and recently raised €50 million in wholesale funding that is available to its SME borrowers. The most recent survey was conducted several days before the EU and the United States agreed a deal on tariffs.

Impa...

Granite Digital, Ireland's leading full-service digital transformation partner, has announced it has acquired Zesty, the award-winning web design and engineering agency, from News UK & Ireland, part of one of the world's leading media groups. With the addition of Zesty, Granite forecasts its revenues to exceed €20 million in 2025.

This strategic acquisition reinforces Granite's position as Ireland's largest independent digital agency and expands Granite's geographic footprint further, including a strong presence in Belfast. The combined entity now comprises a team of more than 170 digital specialists and serves over 1,200 clients with strengthened capabilities across the entire digital journey.

Founded in 1996, Zesty has been at the forefront of web design and development in Ireland, the UK and internationally for almost three decades. Its client roster includes Belfast City Council, Sport Scotland, Ernst & Young, Power NI, Phoenix Natural Gas, Rentokil, Bank of Ireland and Northern Ireland Electricity Networks. The agency also recently won the Excellence in Digital Accessibility Award for its transformative work with Dublin Bus, demonstrating their commitment to creating inclusive digital experiences.

For existing and prospective clients, this acquisition means access to Ireland's deepest pool of digital expertise - from accessibility specialists and user experience (UX) designers to enterprise developers and digital strategists - all working collaboratively as part of one team.

Granite crafts innovative digital solutions in partnership with clients, which focus on driving increased growth for businesses. The company partners with leading technology companies including Kentico, Umbraco, AWS, WP-Engine, Strapi, Drupal, TerminalFour, TikTok and Google. This comprehensive technology stack ensures clients receive the optimal platform solution for their specific needs.

Conor Buckley, CEO of Granite Digital, commented: "The acquisition of Zesty marks another transformative milestone in our growth journey. With roots in one of the world's most recognised media groups, their exceptional track record in delivering award-winning digital experiences, combined with our digital transformation capabilities, creates an unmatched offering for businesses across Ireland and internationally looking to grow their businesses. This deal strengthens our ability to deliver end-to-end digital solutions while expanding our technical expertise and geographic reach. Clients can now partner with a single agency that truly understands every aspect of their digital needs."

Scott Taunton, EVP, President, News Broadcasting said: "Zesty has been part of the family for us across many years, but it has become clear that to achieve its long-term growth potential, an owner with an aligned skill and mindset would best serve the agency. In Granite, I believe we have found that owner. I'm extremely proud of what the team at Zesty has achieved, and I'm excited to see them build on that with Conor and the team at Granite."

The Zesty team will join Granite's growing family of digital specialists across its offices in Dublin, Cork, Galway, Belfast, New York, and Dubai. All existing client relationships will continue seamlessly with enhanced service capabilities.

This latest acquisition continues Granite's strategic growth trajectory, following the successful integrations of WONDR, Armour, and more than 10 other strategic acquisitions that have solidified Granite's position as a leader in the Irish digital services sector.

See more stories here.

Guest post By Emma Clark, CEO and Co-founder of Orivium, with an interesting look at leasing metals

From smartphones to servers, electric vehicles and AI chips, the engines of modern innovation rely on a relentless flow of rare earths and critical minerals. However, shockingly, these precious resources and most geopolitically fraught materials are still being treated as disposable.

A single tonne of discarded smartphones holds up to 300 times more gold than a tonne of mined ore. Yet in 2019, just 17.4% of global e-waste was formally recycled. The rest? Lost to landfills, shipped abroad, or incinerated. Meanwhile, demand continues to surge, with the EU expecting an 18-fold increase in lithium demand by 2030, and 5-fold increase in cobalt needed.

The future for Leasing Metals?

More than just an environmental crisis, this is becoming a strategic vulnerability, as Europe imports over 90% of its rare earth elements and is entirely dependent on external supply for several key minerals. As geopolitical tensions rise and global supply chains are stretched thin, this throwaway model is looking increasingly unsustainable and shortsighted.

This is where I'd like to introduce the idea of regenerative mining, a new supply chain paradigm that offers tech companies a smarter and more resilient way forward: leasing metals instead of owning them.

Imagine a world where tech companies don't own the metals inside their devices, but instead, they lease them. Much like leasing a vehicle fleet or cloud servers, this model treats metals as strategic assets that are accounted for, recovered, and recirculated across multiple lifecycles.

This shift realigns incentives. When materials are leased, there's a built-in motivation to track their use, ensure recovery at end-of-life, and design products for disassembly and reuse. What emerges is not a linear flow from mine to landfill, but a circular loop, where metals power one generation of devices, then return to serve the next. There are already, of course, industries where leasing has or is becoming a norm such as jet engines, construction equipment and IT infrastructure (often billed as "as-a-service").

With leading tech manufacturers and cloud providers based in Ireland, the "metals-as-a-service" approach offers an opportunity to help shape the future of sustainable innovation in Europe. It builds on existing industrial practices in other sectors and applies them to the urgent, growing challenge of material scarcity in high-tech industries.

In order for this model to be viable, metals must be efficiently and cleanly recovered from used products, manufacturing scrap, and even low-grade ores once considered uneconomical.

The good news is that this is no longer merely speculative. Emerging technologies now enable precisely this, using ambient-temperature chemical processes that can extract critical minerals like copper, gold, and cobalt from complex waste streams, without high heat, cyanide, or other toxic inputs. Some methods can recover metals up to 100 times faster than conventional techniques, expanding the economic potential of e-waste and stranded ore bodies. Urban mines such as old data centres, decommissioned EV batteries, and obsolete electronics have a become massive, underutilised resource that can underpin a new industrial strategy, as opposed to a recycling challenge.

Leasing metals establishes secure, localised loops of critical materials, enabling tech companies to reduce their exposure to geopolitical risks and trade disruptions, and enhancing their overall supply chain resilience. At the same time, recovering metals from existing products and infrastructure dramatically lowers the environmental footprint of extraction, by requiring less energy, generating fewer emissions, and avoiding further land degradation. Economically, leasing preserves the residual value of materials that would otherwise be lost, reducing long-term input costs and empowering businesses that are built on responsible...

Healthcare inequality in Africa and Asia is one of the most urgent challenges of our time. Millions still live too far from clinics, cannot afford treatment or face shortages of trained medical staff. But a quiet revolution is underway, one where technology is not just supporting healthcare systems but actively bridging the gap between urgent need and immediate care. At the centre of this shift is Helpster Charity, a tech driven platform using innovation to connect underserved patients with a global network of donors, hospitals and volunteers. Through its Health Help Platform, the organisation is creating a real?time link between local cases and life?saving support, transforming how medical aid reaches those who need it most.

The Stark Reality in Numbers

Let us take a step back to look at the numbers.

According to the World Health Organisation and World Bank, at least half of the global population, around 4 billion people, do not have full coverage of essential health services. In sub-Saharan Africa, service coverage is among the lowest in the world, often scoring below 50 out of 100 on WHO's universal health coverage index. In Asia, particularly in rural areas of countries like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Indonesia, entire communities are underserved by healthcare systems.

In Bangladesh, for example, the doctor-to-population ratio stands at approximately 1:1580, well below the WHO's recommended minimum of 1:1000. Meanwhile, about 2 billion people globally face financial hardship from healthcare costs, either because they are pushed into poverty or forced to spend an outsized portion of their income on care.

Digital tools are increasingly proving to be a lifeline but we must act with urgency to ensure access.

Helpster: A Tech-Driven Lifeline

This is where Helpster, a rising tech-based nonprofit, brings a refreshing and scalable solution to the table. Headquartered online and powered by innovation, Helpster is not your traditional charity. It is a tech startup with heart, purpose and code. Through its easy-to-use app and website, Helpster connects donors directly to underprivileged families across Africa and Asia who are in urgent need of medical treatment but cannot afford it.

Imagine a young boy in rural Nigeria needing surgery to correct a congenital heart defect. Or a mother in Cambodia who requires chemotherapy but lacks both insurance and financial support. With Helpster, their stories can be shared quickly and safely with a global network of donors who want to make a real and immediate impact. Each case is verified and updated in real time. This creates a direct channel of support that cuts through red tape and delivers funds quickly where they are needed most.

Technology That Breaks Down Barriers

It is a simple model but a powerful one. And it works because it taps into what technology does best: breaking down barriers. Helpster is leveraging the power of digital tools to ensure that families without a voice can be heard, and that generous people across the world can give in a way that is targeted, impactful and transparent.

The traditional model of healthcare aid, while important, often suffers from logistical bottlenecks, outdated infrastructure and a lack of data integration. What Helpster does differently is build a real-time, digital bridge between urgency and empathy. Its platform is mobile-friendly, built to accommodate patchy connectivity, and designed to be accessible even in areas where digital literacy is still growing. That is no small feat, given that over 700 million people in Africa and Asia now use smartphones. Mobile-first approaches are viable and essential.

Health Help Platform: The Innovation Changing Everything

At the heart of Helpster's ecosystem lies its revolutionary Health Help Platform, a universal digital platform that allows hospitals and verified volunteers to submit real-time medical cases from anywhere in the world.

This tool changes the equation. Instead of watching helplessly as ...

Ukraine's largest tech event, IT Arena, will return to Lviv for the twelfth time, gathering top tech experts, startup founders, investors, and entrepreneurs. From September 26 to 28, Lviv will once again become a hub where innovative ideas are born, impactful partnerships are forged, and the leaders shaping the future of technology, business, and Ukraine's defense capabilities unite.

IT Arena 2025 will host over 6,000 participants from 30 countries and return to its original venue - Arena Lviv Stadium.

Lviv Three Days of Innovation, Networking, and Opportunities

"Twelve years ago, IT Arena launched at Arena Lviv Stadium with just 800 participants. Since then, it has grown into an international platform for discussing the tech trends of the future. Today, we return to the stadium as a global event that brings together thousands of visitors - visionaries, innovators, and thought leaders from around the world, as well as founders and developers who create technology, drive innovation, and shape the future every day. IT Arena is a symbol of the new Ukraine - technological, ambitious, strong, and competitive on the global stage," said Stepan Veselovskyi, CEO of Lviv IT Cluster, the founding organizer of IT Arena.

Topical talks and expert speakers: what to expect from this year's program

Every year, IT Arena offers three days of discussions on trends, innovations, opportunities, and challenges in tech and business. This year, the program will feature four main stages - Business, Technology, Product, and Startup - and a new dedicated Defense stage, which will bring together Ukrainian and international startups, engineers, and investors working on defense technologies - from software to hardware solutions.

Key topics will include artificial intelligence technologies, cybersecurity, and innovations in the defense sector. The event will also focus on tech leadership: speakers and participants will explore how to scale businesses responsibly amid rapid technological change and market volatility. Founders, executives, and business leaders will have the chance to network and discuss current challenges in the exclusive Executive Lounge.

The event will welcome top-tier speakers, among them is Mykhailo Fedorov, First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Transformation of Ukraine, who will take the stage to highlight the country's achievements in digital transformation and the implementation of digital tools in defense and education.

Meanwhile, independent journalist Terrell J. Starr will explore how the war has shaped global perceptions of Ukraine through the lens of cultural differences and technological advancement.

AI as a driver of transformation in business, governance, and defense

A primary focus of IT Arena 2025 is the impact of AI on governance, defense capabilities amid full-scale war and hybrid threats, and business transformation. Speakers will discuss how AI is reshaping policy, leadership, and decision-making, as well as the opportunities and risks it presents for Ukraine in the context of war and global competition.

The program will feature talks and panels with leading AI experts. Yonatan Levin, CTO and co-founder of Stealth Startup, will discuss modern AI architecture and its applications in business. He will also share his experiences building scalable AI solutions and explain how generative AI is reshaping both business and society.

Cybersecurity: the cornerstone of tech protection

Cybersecurity will be another key theme of the event. Technical and business experts will share theory and real-world cases on how to counter cyber threats - an especially urgent topic amid Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and its hybrid attacks on other nations. Discussions will also address cybersecurity policies in Ukraine, the EU, and global enterprises.

Speakers will present innovative solutions, real attack scenarios, and defense strategies that help ensure national security and business stability.

Among the speakers is Wi...

SD Worx Ireland, a leading payroll and HR solutions provider, today announces new survey results which show that almost a quarter (24%) of employees in Ireland took leave for their mental health last year. This is higher than the European average of 18%. The survey found that some 29% of employees admit that working in their organisation negatively impacts their mental health.

The independent study was carried out by iVOX on behalf of SD Worx and surveyed 1,000 employees in Ireland on topics relating to their wellbeing. It found that while half (50%) say they find their work mentally demanding or stressful, 45% of workers feel comfortable discussing this with their team. In addition, 43% say their organisation actively undertakes initiatives to support mental health.

The survey also explored how employees perceive their work obligations and found that 39% feel guilty when they take time off work. The same percentage feel pressure to work even when they are sick. Such issues may explain why over half (56%) see their job as simply a way to earn a living.

Despite the pressures that many face, 53% of employees feel they are ultimately satisfied with their work-life balance. In addition, some 69% say that their organisation publicly presents itself as committed to supporting its employees' wellbeing.

Eimear Byrne, Country Leader, SD Worx Ireland, said: "This research highlights some concerning trends around mental health and wellbeing in the Irish workplace. Employees are feeling under pressure, which is resulting in many not believing in the work that they are doing. At a time when there is full employment in Ireland, organisations must prioritise creating environments where people feel supported, valued, and able to do meaningful work.

"It is encouraging to see that employees are not only being more open about their mental health at work, but that employers are placing an increased focus on their wellbeing. This must include financial wellbeing - but only 35% of employees believe that their organisation cares about the financial wellbeing of its workers. Payroll must be part of this conversation. Timely, accurate pay builds financial security, while fair and transparent processes around sick leave, entitlements, and rewards help create a culture of trust. By combining smart systems with human insight, businesses can actively support the financial and mental wellbeing of their people."

See more stories here.

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