Latest news with #DublinTechWeek
RTÉ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RTÉ News
Musicians shouldn't feel threatened by AI
As a founding member and drummer with The Police, Stewart Copeland knows what it takes to make a hit. He has embraced the latest technological advances throughout his career and believes musicians should not feel threatened by artificial intelligence (AI). He was one of the keynote speakers at this year's Dublin Tech Summit, focussing on the impact of tech on the music industry. At a time when many artists are worried that AI could steal their work and even one day replace them, Mr Copeland has a more optimistic view of how technology and music can work together. "I was one of the first artists to be threatened by technology," he said. "In the late sixties or early seventies someone invented the drum box. "It was the beginning of the threat to all drummers because a machine played it better." He agrees however that the threat was unfounded. "As in most cases of advancing technology, some people are displaced and others and empowered and I think that is probably the case with AI," he said. He believes AI is a blessing for creatives. "At the moment, AI is generating lame music that people don't respond to, who knows maybe it will get better, but at the moment, the creative types who are interacting with AI are using their tastes to discern between lame and cool." Mr Copeland says there are unanswered questions when it comes to AI and copyright, but believes it will be much harder for AI to replace musicians when it comes to live performances. "The kind of artistic work I do, banging on drums, my gig is safe." "As far as recording, yes the machines sought to replace me decades ago, but as for me showing up to perform in front of an audience, I don't think they want to watch a computer." The Dublin Tech Summit (DTS25) welcomed more than 8,000 attendees at the RDS this week. Industry leaders from around the world gathered to showcase and discuss the latest developments in technology, with a major focus this year on AI. The summit is the centrepiece of Dublin Tech Week, a week-long celebration of all things tech from 23 - 30 May, incorporating both industry and community-led events, supported by Dublin City Council and major city stakeholders. "DTS25 brings global tech leaders to our island not just to talk, but to shape the future. We want to bring people together to share ideas they can actually use in their work and in their everyday lives," said Clare Kilmartin, COO of Dublin Tech Week.
Irish Times
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
‘Dublin can be a leader' in blockchain, says digital finance founder Stani Kulechov
Decentralised finance company Avara has opened its new European headquarters in Dublin as it seeks to build up its presence in the EU. 'Dublin can be a leader in the space,' said Stani Kulechov, the founder of Avara, noting that the Irish capital 'is a great place to have a European headquarters'. The company opened its Dublin office a number of weeks ago, initially hiring eight developers, but has already outgrown its space through hiring additional electronic engineering roles. Avara has 90 employees globally, and is anticipating further growth in its Dublin office in the coming months. Mr Kulechov came to Dublin to headline two separate conferences as part of Dublin Tech Week, ETH Dublin and Blockchain Ireland, which he said is evidence of the 'strong blockchain community here in Dublin' and the enthusiasm towards the adoption of the technology. READ MORE 'Ireland has had blockchain developers that have been around since the beginning of Ethereum , there is quite a strong ecosystem with a lot of very strong talent.' Blockchain technology is a system in which information is channelled through a series of independent computers allowing, in one use case, for a decentralised financial system that does not require a central bank. 'As a company that wants to build this technology, we want to have a base somewhere that we can actually test things out locally before scaling them across the whole European Union,' Mr Kulechov said. Avara is headquartered in London and has an office in New York. It expects the Dublin office to be a catalyst for growth in the EU. 'Our goal is to be one of the biggest market participants, not just in the European Union, but globally,' Mr Kulechov said. He expects the company to grow to rival the biggest financial technology companies in the world: 'Obviously, it is going to take a while to get there but that is the mission.' [ John Collison of Stripe: 'I am baffled by companies doing an about-face on social initiatives' Opens in new window ] Avara's Aave decentralised lending protocol has recorded €40.3 billion in net deposits so far and is targeting €100 billion total value by the end of 2025. Mr Kulechov welcomed the recent implementation of EU regulation frameworks on the wider cryptocurrency industry, saying it gives 'clarity on the rules and creates a level playing field for everyone on how to build in that market'. He warned, however, that 'regulation can be overly excessive' and could slow innovation in the industry and would especially hit smaller companies in the space. Avara, alongside its subsidiaries, is a registered Virtual Asset Service Provider with the Central Bank of Ireland, with Mr Kulechov saying, 'It is important to choose the regulatory path, because that creates certainty, but also expectations for the customers on the safety and security.' Mr Kulechov anticipates that decentralised finance services will have a 'significant opportunity' as Central Bank interest rates decrease in the coming years and sees stable coins, cryptocurrencies linked to traditional currency, as the 'next big thing in decentralised finance'.
Irish Post
22-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Post
Global technology firm leaders head for Dublin
GLOBAL technology firms will make their way to Dublin this week for an inaugural event celebrating the city's position as a tech hub. The first ever Dublin Tech Week launches tomorrow with a series of events due to take place over seven days in the Irish capital. 'Dublin is one of Europe's most important tech hubs and a leading smart city,' Ross Curley, Head of Economic Development at Dublin City Council and Dublin Regional Place Brand, said. 'Dublin City Council and the Dublin Brand are proud to support the City's first ever Tech Week showcasing our world-class talent, cutting-edge innovation, and collaborative spirit,' he added. 'Initiatives like this not only highlight our position as a leader in the tech industry but also inspire future innovation, and strengthen our city's reputation as a forward-thinking, welcoming and thriving destination for local and global business.' The event will bring the capital's top innovators together with global tech leaders, creatives, educators, and the wider community at over 30 events due to take place in the city from May 23 to 30. They wil cover a range of topics, from AI and cybersecurity to blockchain, smart cities and fintech. 'This is more than just a calendar of events,' the organisers state. 'Dublin Tech Week is a movement, one that underscores the city's position as a bold, collaborative, and forward-looking global tech hub.' Flagship conferences due to take palce at the event include the Dublin Tech Summit at the RDS, the Blockchain Ireland Summit at Trinity Business School and ETHDublin at Dogpatch Labs. There will also be the opportunity yo build your own smarty city at Smart Dublin's 'The Connective Detective' event. 'Both the tech and wider community can immerse themselves in topics ranging from the future of AI and immersive tech, to ethical hacking, Web3 governance, smart urban planning, and the power of inclusive innovation,' the organisers add. 'Dublin Tech Week is open to all, whether you're a startup founder, developer, policy thinker, educator, student, or simply curious about what the future holds, there's a place for you in this citywide conversation,' they confirm. See More: AI, Dublin Tech Week, Innovation, Ireland
