Why AI relies on human drivers

Why AI relies on human drivers

July 14, 2026 · 28 min · Season 1 · Episode 5

About this episode

The episode discusses the critical role of human drivers in AI, particularly in healthcare, through the experiences of guest Maria during crises.

Episode Highlights: Crisis Management: Maria's resilience was tested through the COVID crisis and the Ukrainian refugee crisis, where she played a pivotal role in managing the response efforts. Tune in to hear how she used "energy buckets" to build team resilience. Data Security Challenges: Discussing the ongoing data security issues faced by the HSE, Maria underscores the inevitability of cyber threats and the critical role of the CISO. Cross-Departmental Collaboration: The Ukrainian refugee crisis required seamless collaboration across multiple departments and organisations, including EY and Microsoft. Discover the complexities of aligning diverse teams to support refugees, such as ensuring access to cancer treatment centres. Managing Expectations: With a large stakeholder group, prioritising needs and managing expectations were crucial. Maria highlights the importance of plain English communication and open conversations to align everyone's efforts. AI in Healthcare: Maria emphasises that AI must be driven by clinicians to support healthcare effectively. She shares her involvement with Spunout, a charity using AI to support young people's mental health. She also tell us about…

People in this episode

Host: Maeve Kneafsey

Guest: Maria

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: HSE, EY, Microsoft, Spunout

Products: Fastrack to IT apprenticeship program

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