Simon Hodgkins, Founder of The Global Discussion and international business strategist, speaks about the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence adoption in Ireland. Drawing insights from the AI Island 2026 report, Simon explores how organizations are transitioning from experimentation to operational deployment and what leadership teams must do to scale AI responsibly.00:00 – Introduction to AI in Ireland01:05 – The AI Island 2026 Report Explained02:15 – AI Adoption Across Irish Organizations03:45 – Efficiency and ROI Driving AI Investment05:10 – Integration Challenges and Legacy Systems06:45 – The AI Skills and Leadership Literacy Gap08:00 – Governance and Responsible AI Use09:20 – The Strategic Outlook for AI in 2026---Watch or Listen to The Global DiscussionSpotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/3QdMqfzyvca6EVlEJ80I4nWeb ► https://www.theglobaldiscussion.comYouTube ► / @theglobaldiscussionOthers ► LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and FacebookJoin the newsletter via the website for updates on new episodes.

Simon Hodgkins, Founder of The Global Discussion and international business leader, shares a thought-provoking solo perspective in this episode exploring one of the biggest misconceptions about artificial intelligence.Is AI really like a person, or are we framing the conversation incorrectly?Simon argues that treating AI as if it were human can lead to strategic mistakes in leadership, governance, and decision-making. Instead, AI should be understood as infrastructure: a probabilistic system that must be engineered, evaluated, and governed responsibly.In this episode, Simon explores:• Why the language we use about AI matters• The danger of humanizing technology• The “interface illusion” behind conversational AI• Leadership responsibility and governance in AI adoption• How marketers and organizations should rethink AI workflowsThis episode offers a clear, strategic perspective for leaders navigating the rapidly evolving AI landscape.---

00:00 – Introduction: AI Isn’t People01:07 – Why Language Shapes AI Strategy02:49 – Understanding Probabilistic AI Systems03:51 – Blame vs Design: Leadership Framing05:00 – The Risk of Treating AI as a Co-Worker10:04 – The Interface Illusion Explained12:10 – Governance, Accountability, and AI15:10 – Final Thoughts: Strategic Clarity in the AI Era---Watch or Listen to The Global DiscussionSpotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/3QdMqfzyvca6EVlEJ80I4nWeb ► https://www.theglobaldiscussion.comYouTube ► / @theglobaldiscussionOthers ► LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and FacebookJoin the newsletter via the website for updates on new episodes.

Amanda Slavin, Founder of The Future Frequency and an engagement strategist working at the intersection of education, technology, and AI, speaks with Host Simon Hodgkins in this episode.Amanda shares insights from her journey across education, hospitality, marketing, and technology, and explains how engagement frameworks can reshape how we learn and interact with information.The conversation explores AI passports, learner data ownership, the future of education, and why human skills like curiosity and reflection may become the most valuable abilities in an AI-driven world.00:00 – Introduction Amanda Slavin01:32 – Amanda’s Journey: Education, Restaurants, and Engagement03:10 – What Is The Future Frequency?05:05 – Personalizing Content Through Engagement Levels06:48 – AI Passports and Personalized Learning Systems09:15 – Data Ownership and Learner Sovereignty13:40 – Human Connection in a Digital Learning World17:20 – Challenges and Breakthroughs in Engagement20:05 – Brands, Influencers, and the Biggest Classrooms21:20 – AI, Jobs, and the Future of Human Skills23:05 – Teaching Humans to Be Human Again24:05 – Where to Connect with Amanda SlavinWatch or Listen to The Global DiscussionSpotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/3QdMqfzyvca6EVlEJ80I4nWeb ► https://www.theglobaldiscussion.comYouTube ► / @theglobaldiscussionOthers ► LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and FacebookJoin the newsletter via the website for updates on new episodes.

Simon Hodgkins, Host of The Global Discussion podcast, explores the rapidly evolving FinTech sector in this episode, highlighting the key trends shaping the future of financial services.

From the growing role of artificial intelligence to the increasing importance of regulation, compliance, and trust, Simon outlines nine important areas that financial leaders, innovators, and technology professionals should be paying attention to.

As FinTech firms evolve from disruptors into core players within the financial ecosystem, responsible AI, regulatory clarity, and strong governance are becoming essential for long-term success.

00:00 – Introduction to FinTech Trends

01:10 – FinTech’s Evolution from Disruption to Infrastructure

02:20 – Why AI Is Central to Financial Innovation

03:45 – AI Applications in Financial Services

05:10 – Ethical and Risk Considerations in AI

07:00 – Regulation and the EU AI Act

09:00 – Why Compliance Teams Matter in FinTech

11:00 – Scale, Trust, and Competitive Advantage

13:10 – The Future of FinTech and Responsible Growth

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Simon Hodgkins, Host of The Global Discussion, explores the idea that AI is not simply a tool upgrade but a true work redesign moment, reshaping productivity, leadership, and value creation.00:00 – Introduction: AI as a Work Redesign Moment01:12 – Why Productivity Was Never About Speed03:05 – AI as Exposure: Questioning Performative Work05:48 – Where the Biggest Productivity Gains Are Happening08:32 – From Output to Impact: What Really Matters11:20 – Knowledge Work Is Being Repriced14:10 – Management as the Hidden Bottleneck17:45 – Lower Cognitive Load and the Future of WorkWatch or Listen to The Global DiscussionSpotify ► https://open.spotify.com/show/3QdMqfzyvca6EVlEJ80I4nWeb ► https://www.theglobaldiscussion.comYouTube ► / @theglobaldiscussionOthers ► LinkedIn, X, Instagram, and FacebookJoin the newsletter via the website for updates on new episodes.

Simon Hodgkins, Host of The Global Discussion, explores “The Great Acceleration” in this solo episode, unpacking the key strategic themes emerging from ARK Invest’s Big Ideas 2026 report. He examines how artificial intelligence, robotics, blockchain, and energy systems are converging to reshape economic structures, compress timelines, and redefine competitive advantage.

00:00 – Introduction: The Great Acceleration

01:15 – Why ARK’s Big Ideas 2026 Is a Strategic Signal

03:20 – AI as a General Purpose Technology

05:45 – The AI Consumer Operating System

08:30 – Productivity Shifts & Knowledge Work

10:55 – Robotics, Energy & The Physical Economy

12:40 – Blockchain and Software-Defined Finance

14:10 – The Real Risk: Organizational Inertia & Final Thoughts

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In this episode of The Global Discussion, Host Simon Hodgkins steps away from the traditional interview format to explore a pivotal shift underway in the world of artificial intelligence.

The first act of AI was loud. This second act is potentially far more powerful.

Drawing on real-world trends and patterns across technology cycles, Simon makes the case that we have already moved beyond the infrastructure arms race. The spotlight is no longer solely on chips, data centers, and model size. Instead, the focus has shifted to something more consequential: adoption.

This episode challenges listeners to think differently about what progress in AI really looks like, and why the most transformative changes rarely make headlines.

00:00 – Introduction: A Different Kind of Episode

00:40 – The First Act of AI: Chips, Compute & Capital

02:01 – Why Adoption Creates Long-Term Value

03:14 – Behavior Change vs. Technical Change

05:25 – AI in Advertising: Human Judgment Repositioned

07:40 – Security & Investigations: Smarter, Faster Decisions

08:55 – Enterprise Software & Durable Advantage

10:00 – The Cultural Shift & The Hard Questions

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Simon Hodgkins speaks with Omaid Hiwaizi on this episode of The Global Discussion. Omaid Hiwaizi has been busy navigating the intersection of creativity, technology, and human behavior. His story, which he shared on The Global Discussion podcast, is shaped by migration, curiosity, and a relentless desire to work on ideas that matter. It is also the story of someone who refuses to view innovation as an abstract notion. For Omaid, technology is valuable only when it moves the needle for real people in the real world.

00:00 - Introduction to the episode and guest Omaid Hiwaizi

00:33 - From Iraq to the UK, immigrant story and early life

01:14 - Maths, avant-garde design at i-D, and starting a first agency at 24

02:04 - Building HHM and Crayon, then moving into WPP, Sapient, and Blippar

03:24 - Working on emerging tech and complex propositions at Future Positive

06:36 - Making complexity compelling, L cells, GLP-1, and consumer storytelling

12:52 - Lessons from Blippar, Covent Garden AR campaign, and real business KPIs

24:44 - AI’s true impact, disappearing junior roles, no-code, and careers of the future

Watch or Listen to The Global Discussion

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