Quantum computing has been called the next big technological revolution, potentially as transformative as AI. Governments are investing billions, banks are already experimenting with the technology, and startups are racing to turn decades of research into real-world systems. In this episode, originally from The Business, another podcast from The Times, James Palles-Dimmock from UK startup Quantum Motion talks about the race to scale quantum computing, how close we are to a real breakthrough, and whether the technology could change industries from finance to drug discovery.

Presenters:

Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times

Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio

Guest:

James Palles-Dimmock, chief executive, Quantum Motion

Producer: Miriam Hall

Senior Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Kate Ford

Photo credit: Getty

Get in touch: [email protected]

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An explosive fallout between AI giant Anthropic, OpenAI and the US Department of War has ignited a fierce debate in Silicon Valley about who gets to decide how artificial intelligence is used in defence. Former Pentagon adviser and founder of Primer.ai, Sean Gourley, joins Danny and Katie to explain how this technology is already embedded in military operations, and explore whether Silicon Valley bosses should get a say when it comes to national security. Is AI making war smarter or more dangerous?

Clip: Bloomberg TV

Producer: Marnie Duke

Executive Producer: Priyanka Deladia

Get in touch: [email protected]

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Do Nvidia’s latest results confirm a tech boom or signal the makings of a bubble? Danny Fortson and Katie Prescott ask how a once-niche graphics chipmaker ended up at the centre of global tech, geopolitics and the stock market. Author Stephen Witt joins them to explain Jensen Huang’s rise and the company’s extraordinary dominance.

Guest: Stephen Witt, Author of The Thinking Machine: Jensen Huang, Nvidia, and the World's Most Coveted Microchip

Image: Getty

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This episode of The Times Tech podcast is sponsored by PwC.

Artificial intelligence is entering a new phase. It’s no longer just about chatbots generating text or analysing data. The next frontier is agentic AI systems that can coordinate tasks, make decisions and act with a degree of autonomy. In this sponsored bonus episode, brought to you by PwC, Katie Prescott speaks to Lilia Christofi, Partner for AI and Data at PwC, about what agentic AI really means in practice. 

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As world leaders and tech bosses gather for India’s AI Impact Summit, Danny Fortson and Mark Sellman ask if these global summits are shaping AI or struggling to keep up with it? They also hear from Carina Prunkl, lead author of the new International AI Safety Report, about risks, jobs, autonomy and whether safeguards are keeping pace with technology. Plus, OpenAI snaps up viral agent OpenClaw. 

Image: Getty

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Nikola Mrksic, CEO of Nvidia-backed London startup PolyAI, joins Danny and Katie to talk about AI voice assistants transforming customer service. He explains why voice AI is finally working, how PolyAI handles real-world calls and real-world accents, and what happens to jobs when bots can do the work of thousands. Plus, the ‘SaaSpocalypse’ – the $1 trillion sell-off that signals investors may finally believe AI is eating software.

Image: PolyAI

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Today’s episode is from The Business – The Times’ flagship podcasts covering business, finance and the economy.

Octopus Energy has gone from market entrant to market leader in just 10 years. Greg Jackson, chief executive and co-founder is at the forefront of this business success story. The secret sauce? It’s nothing to do with energy - it’s the Kraken software that links the company to its customers and suppliers. So how did he do it? Why does he think 'spaghetti stacks' of ancient software are what’s holding so many businesses back? And what plans does he have to float Kraken? From memories of his failed career as a game designer, why corporate life can be addictive - and why he thinks business leaders should be optimistic in a challenging world, Dom and Katie hear his lessons from the frontline.

Presenters:

• Dominic O’Connell, columnist and business presenter, Times Radio
• Katie Prescott, Technology Business Editor, The Times and host of the Times Tech Podcast

Guest:

• Greg Jackson, CEO and co-founder, Octopus Energy

Producer: Miriam Hall

Senior Producer: Julia Johnson

Executive Producer: Kate Ford

Get in touch: [email protected]

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A new open-source AI agent called OpenClaw has set Silicon Valley buzzing and with a single line of code, anyone can use it. Does this free tool threaten the AI business models behind trillion-dollar Big Tech IPOs, and could it signal a looming AI bubble? Plus, Danny Fortson and Katie Prescott also speak to Jurgi Camblong, founder and CEO of SOPHiA Genetics, about how AI is already being used in hospitals to decode complex medical data and transform cancer diagnosis and care.

Photo: Getty

Clip: @AlexFinn on X.com

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Are we heading for the next ChatGPT moment? Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei, has sparked debate about the growth of AI and its acceleration into a risky new phase. But is it real danger or Silicon Valley hype? Danny Fortson and Katie Prescott are joined by Barney Hussey-Yeo, CEO of UK fintech Cleo, on what it’s actually like building with AI right now and whether society is ready for the next turning point. Plus, the backlash over tech CEOs cozying up to US President Donald Trump amid anger over his immigration crackdown.

Image: Cleo

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World leaders in Davos are talking about 'tech sovereignty', but can Europe or the UK really achieve digital autonomy when so much of the AI and cloud infrastructure is controlled by a handful of US firms? Danny and Katie talk to Hany Farid about the geopolitics of tech, and the fear of an 'AI kill switch' - is this scaremongering or a real concern?

Guest: Hany Farid, UC Berkeley professor and Co‑Founder & Chief Science Officer at GetReal Security.

Image: Getty

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What happens when AI gets it wrong? After a backlash over the misuse of Elon Musk’s AI tool Grok, new restrictions have been imposed on editing images of real people. Is this a sign that AI regulation is lagging, and who should be in charge – governments or Silicon Valley? This week, Danny and Katie are joined by AI computer scientist Kate Devlin from King’s College London to discuss why this moment could be a turning point for global AI rules.

Image: Getty

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