Tech Talks Daily Podcast By Neil C. Hughes cover art

Tech Talks Daily

Tech Talks Daily

By: Neil C. Hughes
Listen for free

Get 3 months for $0.99 a month

If every company is now a tech company and digital transformation is a journey rather than a destination, how do you keep up with the relentless pace of technological change? Every day, Tech Talks Daily brings you insights from the brightest minds in tech, business, and innovation, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways. Hosted by Neil C. Hughes, Tech Talks Daily explores how emerging technologies such as AI, cybersecurity, cloud computing, fintech, quantum computing, Web3, and more are shaping industries and solving real-world challenges in modern businesses. Through candid conversations with industry leaders, CEOs, Fortune 500 executives, startup founders, and even the occasional celebrity, Tech Talks Daily uncovers the trends driving digital transformation and the strategies behind successful tech adoption. But this isn't just about buzzwords. We go beyond the hype to demystify the biggest tech trends and determine their real-world impact. From cybersecurity and blockchain to AI sovereignty, robotics, and post-quantum cryptography, we explore the measurable difference these innovations can make. Whether improving security, enhancing customer experiences, or driving business growth, we also investigate the ROI of cutting-edge tech projects, asking the tough questions about what works, what doesn't, and how businesses can maximize their investments. Whether you're a business leader, IT professional, or simply curious about technology's role in our lives, you'll find engaging discussions that challenge perspectives, share diverse viewpoints, and spark new ideas. New episodes are released daily, 365 days a year, breaking down complex ideas into clear, actionable takeaways around technology and the future of business.Neil C. Hughes - Tech Talks Daily 2015 Politics & Government
Episodes
  • 3513: How Dropbox Is Rethinking Work With AI And Dropbox Dash
    Dec 9 2025

    Did you ever stop and wonder how many hours you lose each week hunting for files, tabs, links, or half-written ideas scattered across your apps? It is a familiar frustration, and it sits at the center of today's fast-tracked conversation with Dropbox VP of Engineering, Josh Clemm. Josh has spent two decades building products shaped around scale, personalisation, and clarity, and he brings that mix of experience to Dropbox's push into AI and knowledge management.

    In this episode, Josh shares stories from his time at LinkedIn and Uber, including the surprising Krispy Kreme promotion that took down Uber Eats across the globe and triggered a major rethink of architecture and resiliency. That experience shaped his belief that chaos often teaches the most. It also sets the stage for why he sees AI fluency as a leadership requirement rather than a trend.

    You will hear how Dropbox is approaching internal experimentation, why context rot and work slop are real problems inside companies, and why the empty chat box often creates more anxiety than opportunity.

    Josh walks through the thinking behind Dropbox Dash, a standalone AI powered knowledge layer that connects all of your cloud apps, understands their content, and turns search into something sharper and faster. He explains why context aware AI is the next leap, how Dash builds knowledge graphs across apps, and why the future of AI might look less like single player workflows and more like tools that sit inside the flow of teamwork.

    It is a wide ranging conversation that moves from engineering history to the practical steps behind building AI products that feel useful rather than overwhelming. So here is the question that sits underneath everything Josh shared. What would your day look like if your information finally made sense without you having to chase it?

    Tech Talks Daily is Sponsored By Denodo.

    To learn more, visit denodo.com

    Show more Show less
    39 mins
  • 3512: How D2L's Rob Telfer Sees Universities Adapting to an AI First World
    Dec 8 2025

    What does learning look like when technology shifts faster than most university systems can adapt? That question shaped my conversation with Rob Telfer, who leads education strategy for D2L across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

    Rob returned to the show with a clear view of how AI is transforming higher education and why so many institutions are struggling to keep pace with expectations from students, employers, and society.

    Rob opened by laying out the reality universities face today. Financial strain, fluctuating enrolment, employer demands changing at speed, and a generation of learners preparing for roles that may not even exist yet. Against that backdrop, he described AI as the biggest catalyst the sector has seen in decades and explained how it has already reshaped academic policy, assessment models, and daily teaching practice.

    We explored practical examples of where AI is already creating meaningful change. Rob shared how D2L is helping institutions introduce adaptive learning, on demand student support, and content creation tools that reduce the pressure on educators. These are not speculative ideas. They are used by universities serving tens of thousands of learners, improving accessibility, easing workloads, and giving students faster, more personal support.

    The conversation moved to employability, a worry at the centre of almost every higher education debate. Rob explained how curriculum design needs to shift from theory first to skill first, and how deeper collaboration between academia and industry can help close widening gaps. He described why AI should be woven through the learning experience rather than bolted on at the end, and how that alignment can shape graduates who are confident with the tools they will soon use in the workplace.

    A striking theme came from the mismatch between student behaviour and institutional policy. Many students use AI daily, even where guidance is unclear or restrictive. Rob argued that ignoring the reality only pushes students into the shadows. Universities that teach responsible use, clear evaluation methods, and prompt literacy will better prepare their learners for the world they are about to enter.

    We ended by looking ahead to 2026. Rob believes the institutions that thrive will be the ones that act with intent, create clear AI policies, invest in meaningful technology, and keep human connection at the centre of learning. Those that resist or delay may find themselves struggling to compete in a sector where expectations rise quickly and alternatives for learners continue to grow.

    If you work in education or care about the future of learning, Rob's insights offer a candid, practical view of what must change. Which of his observations resonates most with your own experience, and how should universities evolve from here? I would love to hear your thoughts.

    Useful Links
      • Connect with Rob Telfer on LinkedIn
      • Learn more about D2L
      • Follow on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook

    Tech Talks Daily is Sponsored By Denodo.

    To learn more, visit denodo.com

    Show more Show less
    30 mins
  • 3511: BCG on Closing the Gap Between AI Experiments and Real Business Impact
    Dec 7 2025

    How do you guide a workforce through the fastest shift in technology most of us have seen in our careers? That question shaped my conversation with David Martin from BCG, who works at the intersection of talent, culture, and AI. He joined me from New York, with Amelia listening in, and quickly painted a clear picture of what is really happening inside global enterprises right now.

    We started with the widening split between AI fluent teams and those stuck in endless pilots. David explained why the organizations getting results are the ones doing fewer things with far greater ambition. Many others scatter energy across small use cases, save minutes instead of hours, and never reach a scale where value becomes visible.

    Training surfaced early as one of the biggest gaps. Not surface level workshops, but the deeper hands-on learning that helps people change how they work. David described why frontline teams lag behind, why engineers still miss major capabilities, and how leadership behaviour dramatically affects adoption. Curiosity and communication play a bigger role than most expect.

    We explored the move from isolated AI experiments to real workflow transformation. David shared examples from engineering, customer service, and operations where companies are finally seeing measurable results. He also explained why agents remain underused, with hesitation, data quality, and unfamiliarity still slowing progress. Shadow AI added another layer, with half of workers already using tools outside corporate systems.

    The conversation returned often to people. David outlined BCG's 10-20-70 rule, showing why technology is never the main bottleneck. Culture, roles, and process make or break outcomes. Leaders who provide clarity and a sense of direction see faster adoption. Those who remain hesitant create uncertainty that spreads across teams almost instantly.

    As we looked toward 2026, David shared cautious optimism. He sees huge potential in areas like healthcare and sustainability, along with a wave of workflow redesign that will reshape daily work. His own learning habits are simple, from podcasts to regular reading, and driven by a desire to set a strong example for his children as they grow into a world shaped by AI.

    If you want a grounded view of where AI is genuinely delivering change, this conversation offers rare clarity. What resonates with you most from David's perspective, and how will you approach your own learning in the year ahead? I would love to hear your thoughts.

    Tech Talks Daily is Sponsored By Denodo.

    To learn more, visit denodo.com

    Show more Show less
    25 mins

Featured Article: The Best Tech Podcasts for Industry Pros and Enthusiasts Alike


With global developments in the tech world breaking nearly every single day, it can feel impossible to keep up with the latest news. These podcasts—just a few of the best tech podcasts streaming now—are vital tools in a rapidly shifting technological environment. Covering everything you could ever want to know about technology, from the latest news and developments to the future of the industry and more, these listens will ensure you’re ahead of the curve.

No reviews yet