The future of AI, self-improving systems, cybersecurity, AI for Good and the fight for global AI regulation

How powerful can artificial intelligence become — and can governments, industry and international organisations keep pace? We examine the rapid development of generative, autonomous and agentic AI, the cybersecurity risks that come with increasingly powerful systems, how AI can be used for good around the world, and whether global standards and regulation can provide meaningful guardrails without stopping innovation.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz with David Girvin, Bilel Jamoussi and Louise Humpington.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

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Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Website: http://www.anialichtarowicz.com

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

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10 Years of #KeepItOn: Documenting the Global Fight Against Internet Shutdowns

For a decade, Access Now’s #KeepItOn campaign has been documenting and fighting government-led internet shutdowns around the world. We look at why governments keep cutting people off, the impact on communities, elections and human rights, and what ten years of monitoring and campaigning has taught us. With shutdowns still increasing, has the fight to keep the internet on become more important than ever?

Lawyer less Contracts: When AI Starts Making Our Legal Deals

AI is changing the way contracts are created — but what happens when it moves beyond writing them and starts negotiating them too? We explore the rise of “lawyerless contracting”, asking whether AI could make legal agreements cheaper and more accessible, or whether we're handing machines — and the companies behind them — too much power over our legal lives.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Subscribe and listen to the ad-free PodExtra version here:

https://somewhere-on-earth-the-global-tech-podcast-the-podextra-edition.pod.fan/

Fancy buying us a coffee? You can do that here:

https://buymeacoffee.com/somewhereonearth

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Website: http://www.anialichtarowicz.com

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

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AI in Healthcare: 1,357 Medical Devices Cleared — Only 3 Tested on Patients

A new PLOS Digital Health study reveals a huge gap between AI medical devices being cleared for use and evidence that they actually improve patient outcomes. We look at what FDA clearance really means, who is being left out of clinical trials, and why countries such as Uganda could face particular risks.

Apple Spyware: What Your Threat Notification Really Tells You

An Apple spyware warning can be frightening but it doesn't necessarily mean your phone has been successfully hacked. We speak to Mohammed Almaskati, Director of Access Now’s Digital Security Helpline, about digital forensics, protecting sensitive information, why “no evidence” doesn't always mean you're safe, and how changing our everyday digital behaviour could help protect us.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

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Everything-to-Grid Energy: Turning Electric Cars, Batteries and Homes into Power Stations

What if your electric car could do more than get you from A to B? Professor ZhaoYang Dong explains how electric vehicles, home batteries, solar panels and buildings could become active parts of the electricity grid – helping balance renewable energy and demand.

From Broken Beans to Better Food: Bean Possible’s Waste-to-Protein Technology

At Web Summit Brazil, I meet Gabrielle Gautério, CEO of Bean Possible, a start-up turning broken beans into protein, fibre and starch for use in everything from bread and biscuits to sauces and yoghurt. Could upcycling food waste make everyday food more sustainable and affordable?

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

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If you like our show please rate and review us.

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Brazil’s AI-Powered Technology Helping Women Escape Bureaucracy and Access Support

From Web Summit Rio, we hear about a company that uses technology and AI to help women experiencing domestic violence to navigate Brazil’s complex public-service system. Its platform digitises paperwork, protective orders and social assistance, helping women access support more quickly, including women in remote communities who rely on WhatsApp and mobile data.

Cyber Judgment: Why Stopping Could Be Our Best Defence Against AI Scams

As generative AI makes phishing and social-engineering attacks more convincing, cybersecurity may no longer be simply about recognising the warning signs. We explore Cyber Judgment; a human-centred approach that teaches us to pause, question, verify and ask for help before acting. At its heart is the Japanese concept of Ma: creating a moment of space between stimulus and response, giving us time to make a safer decision.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some... (https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/some...).

Production manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

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Flying Boat Could Transform Amazon Transport

In the Amazon, where rivers are often the only roads, journeys can take hours or even days. Brazilian company Aero River is developing a “flying boat” that travels just metres above the water at speeds of up to 150 kilometres per hour, potentially transforming access to healthcare, education, business and essential services in remote communities.

Endometriosis, AI & the Future of Women’s Health

Endometriosis affects around 190 million women and girls worldwide, yet diagnosis can take years. The Endí App and platform is using AI and personalised health tracking to identify individual patterns, helping users understand their symptoms and potentially predict flare-ups. We explore whether technology and health data could change how this chronic disease is understood and managed.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:

➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)

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🦾 Affordable Bionic Prosthetics

A Brazilian start-up is using 3D printing and muscle-controlled technology to develop affordable bionic arms, giving amputees greater independence at a fraction of the cost of traditional prosthetics.

🧠 Can AI Diagnose Autism Earlier?

Researchers have created an AI-powered screening platform that analyses home videos and eye movements to help identify children at risk of autism from as young as 16 months, potentially reducing years of waiting for specialist support.

✈️ Turning Waste Oil into Green Aviation Fuel

Could used cooking oil and the native macaúba palm help decarbonise aviation? We explore a breakthrough Brazilian technology converting low-quality oils into sustainable aviation fuel and green diesel.

🎙️ PodExtra: Fighting Food Inflation with Technology

In this week's subscriber-only PodExtra, we travel to Nigeria to discover how a digital food marketplace is helping families cope with soaring grocery prices through affordable food, flexible payments and nutritional advice.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:

➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)

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💡 Bringing Light to the Amazon

Can a recycled plastic bottle change lives? At Web Summit Rio 2026, Ania Lichtarowicz meets Rodrigo Eidy, President of Litro de Luz Brasil, to discover how simple solar-powered lighting systems are bringing safe, sustainable light to remote Amazon communities. It's a story of innovation, sustainability and technology creating opportunity where electricity has never reached.

🤖 Robotics Giving People a Second Chance

Also in this episode, Ania speaks with Maria Wecker, founder and CEO of Scale Reabilitação, about robotic rehabilitation technology that's helping stroke survivors and people with neurological injuries regain movement and independence. From affordable healthcare innovation to the future of assistive robotics, discover how Brazil is emerging as a global leader in technology for good.

The show is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production Manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:

➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)

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If you like our show please rate and review us.

Can AI predict a tunnel collapse before it happens?

As cities grow and become more crowded, we are increasingly building underground. But tunnelling beneath busy urban areas can be dangerous, with unstable ground, changing geological conditions and the risk of damage to buildings and infrastructure above. We explore how AI is bringing together geological and construction data to predict potential tunnel problems up to seven days in advance.

What if your paediatrician was just a WhatsApp message away?

At three in the morning, a child has a fever but how do parents know whether to wait, give medication or rush to hospital? We explore how DocoKids connects families with real paediatricians through WhatsApp, even in communities with limited internet access, while AI works behind the scenes to help doctors save time and improve access to healthcare.

The presenter is Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:

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MIT’s flying and swimming robot takes inspiration from diving birds to explore the oceans of tomorrow

MIT engineers have created a remarkable aerial-aquatic robot that can swim underwater, launch through the surface and fly through the air, just like diving birds. Professor Raphael Zufferey explains how nature inspired this breakthrough, why moving between water and air is such a complex engineering challenge, and how these robots could help scientists monitor oceans, collect data and explore places too dangerous for traditional vessels.

Vaillant UK on heat pumps, innovation and the technology driving the transition to cleaner heating

At East Mids Tech Week, we spoke to James Fowler, Marketing and Strategy Director at Vaillant UK, about the future of home heating. From advanced heat pump technology to improving energy efficiency, he explains how engineering innovation could help reduce carbon emissions, lower energy use and transform the way we heat our homes.

The programme is presented by Ania Lichtarowicz.

Production manager: Liz Tuohy

Editor: Ania Lichtarowicz

Somewhere on Earth Productions UK Ltd. We’re a UK based production company creating podcasts and branded content that bring stories, places and people into focus. We’re all ex-BBC so the quality of the content is excellent and quality of the sound is amazing.

🎥 Learn more about what we do:

➡️ Official Website: https://somewhereonearth.co/

📩 Contact us or book a project: [email protected]

➡️ Email: [email protected]

📱 Follow us on socials:

➡️ Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/soeptech/?hl=en)

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If you like our show please rate and review us.