From AI regulation and digital sovereignty to blockchain and net neutrality, we delve into the big questions shaping Europe's digital future. But we don't stop at talking - we hit the streets.
Our team explores how these technologies and policies impact Europeans' lives. With clear explanations, Q&As, and lively debates, our English-language podcast is a must-listen for those interested in the impact of technology on European society.
Stay ahead of the curve! New episodes are released every other Wednesday.
Listen to all Euronews Tech Talks episodes
1 - Generative AI: The Creature, the Tool and the Plum cake
In the months since, ChatGPT emerged, Europeans have become newly empowered. In this first episode of Euronews Tech Talks, an Italian programmer delegates code-writing, a French artist reinvents her practice, a Cypriot student brainstorms, and a German teacher ignites minds.
But as the AI revolution unfolds, and the stuff of sci-fi becomes reality, we wonder if we’re in for a happy ending, or something else.
2 - Generative AI: Terminator's Nuclear Winter or Wall-E's Robotic Paradise?
The risk of apocalyptic scenarios and human extinction has been an unavoidable part of the conversation around AI programmes like ChatGPT since their release. But are these concerns being blown out of proportion?
In this episode, we hear from two experts: Dr. Sabine Hauert, a robotics-specialised scientist who envisions a future reminiscent of Wall-E rather than Terminator, and Dr. Matthew Glanville, an education-focused mathematician who is less concerned about students cheating than he is about them underutilising the technology.
3 -Q&A: Will Generative AI surpass human minds?
How is ChatGPT affecting the workforce? Can it tell us where to buy illegal drugs? Will artificial intelligence become smarter than humans?
Our team attended VivaTech, one of Europe's largest tech and start-up fairs in Paris, to gather concerns and questions surrounding generative AI technology. Then we asked experts to respond to those queries.
4 - Blockchain: Crypto Valley
Cryptocurrency has been talked about for years. You might even know someone who has invested in Bitcoin or one of the thousands of other ‘cryptos’ that exist. But has cryptocurrency and its blockchain technology fully landed in Europe?
In this episode, we look at Europe's so-called “Crypto Valley”, discuss trust in decentralised banking systems and see how renewable energy sources are changing Bitcoin mining in Europe.
5 - Blockchain: What are Web 3 and NFTs and do we actually need them?
Blockchain is more than just Bitcoin. It has applications across various domains, including paying taxes and creating art. One of its most ambitious proposals is a censorship-free Internet, where our privacy is not compromised while browsing.
We hear from two tech experts in this episode of Euronews Tech Talks: Maria Paula Fernández believes that Web 3 holds the promise of a superior Internet and Dr Alex Preda discusses whether it is already a reality or still in the realm of utopia.
6 - Q&A: Will blockchain ever become mainstream?
If all their processes are so secret and protected, how can we ensure blockchain is not used illegally? What is blockchain competing against? What is the purpose of Web 3? And how much do blockchain technologies pollute?
Our team attended one of the biggest theatre festivals in Europe, the Festival d'Avignon, and answered these questions while exploring blockchain through theatre. Please take your seat and enjoy this far-fetched comparison.
7 - Space Exploration: Very down to Earth
It's been more than 50 years since humans first stepped onto the Moon—a landmark moment that remains unmatched. But even though we’re not all taking weekend trips to the lunar surface, don't think for a second that space exploration has slowed down. In fact, it's picked up steam.
In this episode, we're journeying through Spain, France, Germany, and the UK to uncover how the work being done up there is making our lives better down here.
8 - To the Moon and beyond, with astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and scientist Angelique van Ombergen
“Whenever we expand our capabilities, we want to go places.”
While in conversation with ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti and Lead for Life Sciences, Angelique Van Ombergen, India made history by becoming the first country to land near the lunar south pole.
With that space exploration milestone in the backdrop, we envisioned a near future with the Lunar Gateway already operational, serving as the first international station on the moon, as we delved into a captivating topic: Can humans feasibly hibernate for long-duration space travel?
9 - Q&A: Life exists outside of Earth with astronaut Matthias Maurer
Will humans ever be born on the Moon? Until then, ESA astronaut Matthias Maurer answers questions about life on the International Space Station, humanity's last frontier. From daily routines to his deepest fears, from his diet to his daring first spacewalk. The questions come from France's largest planetarium at Vulcania Theme Park.
10 - Who is actually in the metaverse these days?
Leonida is a 13-year-old, and almost every day, he enters a metaverse. There, his avatar meets the avatars of some of his friends in the real world, and together, they travel from world to world. Does this mean that THE metaverse already exists? And if so, why do we want to be there?
11 - What am I missing out in the metaverse?
If you're not a teenager deeply immersed in Roblox, Minecraft, or Fortnite, you might be wondering what you're missing out on in the metaverse.
We spoke with three experts in the field of virtual reality (VR) education: Matt Sanders from Meta, Christopher Mallet from Bodyswaps, and Alexander Nick from GoStudent. They elaborated on the benefits of acquiring diverse skills in a VR environment, ranging from learning a foreign language to honing job interview preparation.
12 - Q&A: Will we spend more time in the metaverse than in real life?
Do you want to experience Hell or Purgatory? We put on our virtual reality glasses at Italy’s Museum of Cinema in Turin to learn about the metaverse. Will the metaverse soon be able to replicate all the features of the real world? This is one of the key questions we asked experts to learn more about how to access the metaverse and the risks it could bring as it evolves.
13 - Almendralejo: When deepfakes are used to undress teenagers
It was a quiet Sunday when Spanish journalist Marian Rosado was browsing her Instagram account and suddenly stumbled upon an unusual Instagram live broadcast.
The well-known gynecologist Miriam Al Adib was revealing a very personal and shocking situation: her 14-year-old daughter just told her somebody used an app to take her photo from social media and made it look like she was naked.
This is just the beginning of a scandal that placed a quiet town in southern Spain in the spotlight.
14 - Seeing is no longer believing
Identity theft, non-consensual porn content, scams, misinformation...Is it possible to use AI deepfake technology for something other than causing harm?
We speak with John Egan, the CEO of L'Atelier BNP Paribas, in an attempt to find some answers: “It's like talking about knives. If we're only discussing knife crime, we're not going to talk about how knives are used in the kitchen for cooking, right?"
15 - Q&A: Fake news isn't new, deepfake news is
How can we protect ourselves from being deepfaked? Can a single photo published on social media ruin our lives? Is there a way to regulate it, or are we living in the Wild West? We posed these questions to experts in debunking fake news and privacy protection in AI.
16 - Are hackers criminal masterminds?
Is hacking illegal? How can it be harmful? And can it be beneficial for society?
Prepare for an exploration of human dilemmas in the digital realm through three notorious hacking cases in video game history.
17 - The Hydrogen Rush
It can be white, green, blue, pink or grey. It can be produced by natural gases, renewable energies, coal, nuclear power, and carbon capture. It stores and transports electricity. What is it? Hydrogen!
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine and the European search for alternative energy sources, this chemical element has gained lots of attention. Some politicians and researchers even dare to describe it as the future fuel of Europe.
18 - Of Hydrogen-Powered Trucks, Flying Taxis and Cheese
The concept of trapping pure hydrogen in cells isn't just something out of a sci-fi movie anymore. Engineers are working hard on creating fuel cells for transportation that act like batteries, suitable for all sorts of vehicles like trucks.
In this episode, we chat with Michael Perschke, CEO of Quantron AG, about hydrogen-powered trucks and how he uses cheese metaphors to explain how they work.
19 - Q&A: Is it possible to heat my house with hydrogen?
The best-kept secret of Meucci, the Italian high school, is its green boiler. It's tucked away amidst the tall trees in its garden and a fenced concrete structure, but it has piqued the curiosity of its students about this promising new energy source.
To answer their questions, we talk to Rosalinde van der Vlies, the Director of Clean Planet in DG Research and Innovation at the European Commission.
20 - The Europeans behind the world's first AI regulation
13 March 2024, Strasbourg: The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, is about to announce the approval of the AI Act, the first Artificial Intelligence regulation in the world.
In this episode, we meet the authors: Brando Benifei and Dragos Tudorache. Together, they made history in the world of AI. Regulators worldwide will look to their text for inspiration.
21 - Should we accept the cookies?
Think about what you did yesterday with your phone. Did you look for an address? Did you order food? Did you read a newspaper? Did you listen to a podcast? Did you open an app or take a photo? It's all registered. Today, it's almost impossible to live without leaving a digital footprint.
How can we be sure this very long trail of data protects us and does not violate our privacy? In this special episode, we traveled to Vienna, the capital of Austria, to find answers at the Fundamental Rights Forum 2024.
22 - Digitalising ORs with surgeon Nadine Hachach-Haram
Dr. Nadine Hachach-Haram, a London-based plastic surgeon, once noticed that despite the increasing digitalisation, operating rooms lagged in leveraging their potential to democratise access to quality healthcare. This realisation led her to become what she calls an "accidental entrepreneur" and found her company, Proximie, to introduce technology in traditional operating rooms.
23 - Tech for women's well-being with Ida Tin
Ida Tin, the Founder of the menstrual tracker app Clue, and the woman who coined the term for tech tailored towards women’s health and well-being: Femtech. Can you imagine this term didn’t exist before 2016?
24 - Quantum Pharmacy with Jean-Philip Piquemal
Quantum is the smallest possible amount of something in the universe, but it could spark the most significant revolution in medicine of the century. How? By accelerating the discovery of new drugs through quantum computing.
25 - Birthing Europe’s new rocket Ariane 6
Europe's space sector is popping some long-awaited champagne: it has a new baby that is ready to take its first steps. What's Ariane 6 like? What's new about it? What space adventures await?
26 - Green or red button for Ariane 6’s launch?
Raymond, Aline, Anne-Sophie, and Romain are four of the many Europeans involved in the building and launch of Ariane 6, Europe’s brand-new rocket.
27 - A day with advanced quantum computing
When Emma Müller, a 44-year-old German woman, wakes up each morning, she already has a detailed plan for her health status, dietary suggestions, and exercise recommendations to optimise her day. She works only three days a week thanks to her high productivity levels.
28- Q&A Is Schrödinger’s cat dead?
What is quantum computing? Will it simplify our lives and increase our productivity? What challenges does it face and will it replace parts of our laptops and smartphones for quicker computations? Plus the century's mystery: Is Schrödinger’s cat dead or alive?
29- Concordia
Imagine living for months without seeing daylight in a place where temperatures range from -80 to -20 degrees Celsius, and spending an entire year with only a small group of colleagues. Located in the heart of Antarctica, Concordia Station hosts scientists from the European Space Agency (ESA) who are interested in researching how humans can adapt to extreme environments.
30- The body in space
John McFall is the subject matter expert for a European Space Agency study aimed at fully integrating an astronaut with a physical disability into a long-duration mission to the International Space Station. He is also the first world's astronaut candidate with a physical disability.
31- Anti-ageing tips from astronauts
Travelling to space has been found to alter different parts of the human body, so what's the most effective strategy for combatting accelerated ageing in space? Astronauts offer a model for studying this and can provide insights into how these processes work and how to counter them.
32- Inside Europe’s first IBM quantum data centre
IBM has opened its first European quantum data centre in Ehningen, in the south of Germany. What is it? And how will it impact the lives of European citizens? Euronews Tech Talks travelled to Germany to discover it.
33- The Atomium: Fears and hopes, then and now
In this Q&A episode, we take you on a time travel to explore the origins of nuclear energy and address your questions about it with Diane Cameron from the Nuclear Energy Agency.
34- Nuclear energy: The debate
Should green advocates support or oppose nuclear energy? The answer to this question and many more on the Euronews Tech Talks nuclear energy debate with Michele Governatori and Myrto Tripathi.
35- Nuclear fusion: The JET project
What makes fusion energy so challenging, and why is there so much hype around it? Euronews Tech Talks explored these questions through the JET project.
36- Q&A: Lithium, the key to a sustainable future?
Lithium, often referred to as “white gold,” is among the most sought after raw materials in the world. This metal plays a central role in our daily lives, as it is used in the rechargeable batteries that power our smartphones, PCs, electric vehicles, and e-readers. But what is so special about lithium and what environmental cost does it have?
37- How would we live without lithium?
At first glance, lithium might look like a simple metal characterised by a funny soft texture. However, its use in lithium-ion batteries has made it a game-changer in our modern world.
In this episode of Euronews Tech Talks, we talk to Maitane Berecibar, head of the battery and innovation centre at the Vrije Universiteit in Brussels; Julia Poliscanova, senior director at Transport and Environment in Brussels; and Aurore Carré, head of the energy storage section at the European Space Agency (ESA) to understand the revolutionising impact of lithium on how we travel around the world and in space.
38- Does Europe need lithium mines?
Europe is believed to possess significant yet unexploited lithium resources in Germany, Czechia, Serbia, Spain, Portugal and Austria. However, mining projects in these countries have faced strong opposition from citizens and environmental groups.
Euronews delves into the debate with insights from two experts with contrasting views on the issue: Lindsey Wuisan, resource justice and new economies' campaigner at the NGO Friends of the Earth Europe and Peter Tom Jones, director of KU Leuven Institute for Sustainable Metals and Minerals.
39- Reconditioning and recycling lithium-ion batteries
In 2022, an estimated 62 billion tonnes of electronic waste were produced globally. Of this, only 22.3 per cent was documented as formally collected and recycled.
This includes lithium-ion batteries and to explore their lifecycle, Euronews Tech Talks spoke with Alban Regnier, president and co-founder of the French company Volt R and Alberto Tosoni, CEO of the Italian company Ecomet Refining.
40- The Moon, Mars, and beyond with ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano
The Artemis program, Mars exploration, and the future of the International Space Station mark an exciting era for space. ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano joins Euronews Tech Talks to discuss these projects and Europe's role in them.
Former commander of the International Space Station, Parmitano is now based in Houston, in the United States. There he works as the liaison officer between the European Astronaut Centre and the Johnson Space Centre, he answers the call: “Houston, we have a problem!” and he trains other astronauts for spacewalks.
41- Does space need a clean-up? A conversation with ESA expert Quentin Verspieren
In Gravity, the 2013 film directed by Alfonso Cuarón, astronauts Matt Kowalski and Ryan Stone are on a spacewalk when they are struck by an expanding cloud of debris, tearing Stone away from the spacecraft.
While the film’s plot is fiction, it is based on a real theory proposed by NASA expert Don Kessler in 1978. His theory is that once space debris reaches a critical mass, collisions will trigger a chain reaction generating even more debris.
Whether Kessler syndrome is already a reality remains a topic of debate in the scientific community. What is certain is that the recent boom in space exploration is raising many questions about how to manage space junk.
To better understand space debris and its risks, Euronews Tech Talks spoke with Quentin Verspieren, the space safety programme coordinator at the European Space Agency (ESA).
42- Can observing Earth from space help tackle climate change? A conversation with ESA expert Jean-Christophe Gros
The Soviet Union launched Sputnik I, the world’s first artificial satellite, in 1957, forever changing history.
Nearly seven decades later, satellites have become an integral part of our daily lives, powering global positioning systems (GPS), providing weather forecasting, and monitoring climate change.
But how does Earth observation really work? And what challenges can it help us solve? To answer these questions, Euronews Tech Talks spoke with Jean-Christophe Gros, the EU programme coordinator at the European Space Agency (ESA).
