FT Tech Tonic

About this podcast

We are in the midst of a digital revolution, where the line between our physical world and cyberspace is blurring. Tech Tonic is the show that investigates the promises and perils of this new technological age. This season, FT innovation editor John Thornhill takes us into the emergency rooms, city centres and even cruise ships where tech innovation is solving some of the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, as he explores what this tech-driven world means for us all.

FT Tech Tonic

Episodes

2021
Episode 5. Levelling the playing field
The digital revolution will be shaped by whoever controls our data. What does this mean for consumers and businesses? Tim Bradshaw, the FT’s global tech correspondent, looks at the increasing power of ecommerce giants. The idea of a few big companies controlling the market is an uneasy one for many so has the pandemic finally created the impetus to rein in the power of Big Tech? Hosted by the FT’s innovation editor, John Thornhill. Produced by Camille Petersen. Sound design and mixing by Breen Turner. The executive producers are Cheryl Brumley and Liam Nolan. Review clips: C-SPAN, Reuters, US Department of Justice, The Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institution. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
March 29, 2021
26 min
Episode 4. The digital graduate
About 1.4bn students in more than 130 countries have spent parts of the past year adapting to learning online. The crisis has put the education sector into overdrive, and accelerated the way we use technology to study. For adult learners, distance learning offers a cheaper and more flexible alternative to the university degree. Are online qualifications about to gain greater credibility and create more flexibility in the job market, or is this surge in digital education a passing fad? The FT’s San Francisco correspondent Patrick McGee speaks to edtech innovators who are rethinking traditional degrees and a trucker who learned to code. Hosted by John Thornhill, innovation editor at the Financial Times. Review clip: "I adore my Commodore 64" advert (1983, music by Terry Bush). Produced by Camille Petersen, with additional producing and editing by Oluwakemi Aladesuyi. Sound design and mixing by Breen Turner. Original music was composed by Metaphor Music. The executive producers are Cheryl Brumley and Liam Nolan. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
March 22, 2021
25 min
Episode 3. Chasing digital footprints
Early in the pandemic, Taiwan legally gathered location data from more than 600,000 of its citizens to stem the spread of coronavirus. South Korea, another south-east Asian democracy, has similar legal measures in place. How far are those of us who live in democratic societies willing to trust "big government" with our data? The FT’s Greater China correspondent Kathrin Hille speaks to Taiwan's digital minister Audrey Tang and the country's former deputy prime minister Chen Chi-mai about this data-driven approach to solving a public health emergency. Hosted by John Thornhill, innovation editor at the Financial Times. For insights on Asia's booming tech scene, here is a free sign up to our #techAsia newsletter: https://www.ft.com/newsletter-signup/tech-asia The producer and editor was Liam Nolan. Sound design and mixing was by Breen Turner, with additional audio editing by Howard Shannon. Location sound was recorded by Aki Chen. The executive producer was Cheryl Brumley. Additional reporting by Nicolle Liu in Hong Kong and Edward White in Seoul. Emma Zhou in Beijing helped with translation. Original music was composed by Metaphor Music. Review clip: CNN. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
March 15, 2021
23 min
Episode 2: Disrupting the hospital
Could a piece of high-tech cloth keep Covid-19 patients out of hospital and allow them to be monitored at home? The FT’s pharma and biotech correspondent, Hannah Kuchler, reports on the wearable technology changing healthcare during the pandemic, and examines what it means for the future of patient care. Hosted by John Thornhill, innovation editor at the Financial Times. Produced by Liam Nolan. Sound Design by Breen Turner and Louise Burton. Aimee Keane is the editor and the executive producer is Cheryl Brumley. Original music by Metaphor Music. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
March 8, 2021
23 min
Episode 1: The future is here now
Our lives are increasingly moving from the offline to the online world, leaving a long trail of data in our wake. These data can be used to wield economic and political power, and to define us as communities and as individuals. What are the opportunities and risks? Hosted by John Thornhill, innovation editor at the Financial Times. Produced by Liam Nolan. Sound Design by Breen Turner and Louise Burton, with additional production by Oluwakemi Aladesuyi. The editor is Aimee Keane, and the executive producer is Cheryl Brumley. Original music was composed by Metaphor Music. Review clips: NASA, Reuters, Computer History Museum, BBC, Thames TV/Freemantle, CBS. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
March 1, 2021
20 min
A new season of Tech Tonic
The show that investigates the promises and perils of our digital age is back with a new season. FT innovation editor John Thornhill will take us into the emergency rooms, city centres and even cruise ships where tech innovation is solving some of the unprecedented challenges brought about by the pandemic, as he explores what this tech-driven world means for us all. Tech Tonic returns on Monday, March 1. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.
February 26, 2021
1 min
2019
AI research and big tech
John Thornhill talks to David Barber, director of the UCL Centre for Artificial Intelligence in London, about how academic researchers can work with business and the wider community to create the best outcomes for society. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
December 16, 2019
32 min
Niklas Zennström and Tom Wehmeier on the state of European tech
Niklas Zennström, founder of Skype and Atomico and Tom Wehmeier, Atomico partner and author of The State of European Tech report, talk to the FT's John Thornhill about whether Europe is becoming a tech hub. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
December 9, 2019
23 min
Dave Ferrucci on teaching computers to think
Dave Ferrucci, CEO, founder and chief scientist of Elemental Cognition, talks to Richard Waters, the FT's West Coast editor, about his efforts to train computers to use language to reason. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
December 2, 2019
27 min
Google's Kate Brandt on sustainable tech
Kate Brandt talks to John Thornhill about Google’s drive to minimise and offset the energy used in its operations and supply chains, and about its environmental insights explorer which helps cities find ways to reduce their carbon emissions. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
November 25, 2019
24 min
Digital technologies and the developing world
Economist Stefan Dercon tells John Thornhill about the findings of a research project he led, showing how, used wisely, technology can enable development, rather than just replace labour and put people out of work. Read his report here For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
November 18, 2019
27 min
ENCORE: Jeni Tennison on open data
John Thornhill talks to Jeni Tennison, chief executive of the Open Data Institute, about her work in helping to develop best practice for the use and sharing of data, and about how Brexit will affect Britain's data economy. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
November 11, 2019
25 min
Scott Kupor on VC funding
John Thornhill talks to Scott Kupor, managing partner at Andreessen Horowitz, about his book Secrets of Sand Hill Road: Venture Capital and How to Get It, about the conditions needed to grow tech companies and the potential drawbacks of a venture capital dominated market. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
November 3, 2019
32 min
Rana Foroohar on taming big tech
John Thornhill talks to FT colleague Rana Foroohar about her book Don’t Be Evil - How Big Tech Betrayed Its Founding Principles - And All Of Us For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
October 28, 2019
23 min
Stuart Russell on losing control of AI
John Thornhill discusses how to make artificial intelligence safe for humans with Stuart Russell, professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California, Berkeley, and author of new book ‘Human Compatible: Artificial Intelligence and the Problem of Control’. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
October 21, 2019
31 min
Jaan Tallinn on AI safety
John Thornhill talks to Jaan Tallinn, founding engineer at Skype and Kazaa, about his subsequent career as a tech investor and his concerns about AI safety. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
October 14, 2019
23 min
Wanted: work for humans
Madhumita Murgia discusses what happens when robots can do most of the work humans do with Calum Chace of the Economic Singularity Club, Mike Wooldridge, professor of Computer Science at Oxford University and Kathryn Parsons, founder of Decoded For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
October 7, 2019
26 min
What kind of art can AI produce?
Mathematician Marcus du Sautoy puts his theories about creative AI to the test before a live audience at the recent FT Weekend Festival in London. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
September 30, 2019
20 min
John Maeda on designing the future
Design guru John Maeda tells Tim Bradshaw why he thinks a diversity of viewpoints and listening to what consumers want will be more valuable to the companies of the future than creating the next breakthrough technology. For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
September 23, 2019
29 min
Sarah Chan on neural interfaces
Bioethicist Sarah Chan contributed to a report this month on neurotechnology by the UK’s senior scientific academy. She talks to John Thornhill about the potential health benefits of neural interfaces but also the difficulty of regulating the commercial use of devices that interact with our brains. Read the Royal Society's report here All FT stories will be free to read on Wednesday September 18th when there will be a 24-hour paywall freeze. Here are a couple of recommendations to get you started: Neural interfaces should upgrade, not degrade, humans How China dodged a trade war recession For information regarding your data privacy, visit acast.com/privacy
September 16, 2019
24 min

FT Tech Tonic

About this podcast

Categories

About this podcast

Categories

FT Tech Tonic

Episodes

Episode 5. Levelling the playing field

Episode 4. The digital graduate

Episode 3. Chasing digital footprints

Episode 2: Disrupting the hospital

Episode 1: The future is here now

A new season of Tech Tonic

AI research and big tech

Niklas Zennström and Tom Wehmeier on the state of European tech

Dave Ferrucci on teaching computers to think

Google's Kate Brandt on sustainable tech

Digital technologies and the developing world

ENCORE: Jeni Tennison on open data

Scott Kupor on VC funding

Rana Foroohar on taming big tech

Stuart Russell on losing control of AI

Jaan Tallinn on AI safety

Wanted: work for humans

What kind of art can AI produce?

John Maeda on designing the future

Sarah Chan on neural interfaces