Futurise

Hosted by by Rob Price, Futuria

TechnologyInterviews guests

Website RSS feed LinkedIn Instagram

Episodes

Latest episode

May 2026

Language

About the show

Welcome to the Future of AI and Generative AI. Futurise is a podcast hosted by Rob Price, named in the UK Computing 2026 AI Leadership Index Top 25. Futurise is a series of 20-30 minute #minisodes talking about the start-up and scale-up world of AI and Generative AI in the UK, Europe and US. Season 1 - CEOs and Founders. Season 2 - Agentic AI, Founders and Funders. Season 3 - Use Cases https://Futuria.ai is an low code multi-agent systems platform for high assurance environments. If you would like to discuss partnering, appearances or promoting Futurise, get in touch.

Listen to episodes

46 recent

May 27, 2026Episode 534 min

S3E5 - Steve Yemm MP - Can AI Regenerate the Regions?

In this episode, I sit down with Steve Yemm MP to explore what AI — and particularly the rise of more agentic systems — could mean for regions like the East Midlands in the UK.Coming from shared roots in the same Nottinghamshire town and school system, this becomes a conversation not just about technology, but about opportunity, ambition, skills, and the future of communities outside the traditional centres of power and investment.We discuss:Whether AI risks creating a new regional divideHow places like Mansfield and the East Midlands can genuinely benefit from the AI economyThe challenge governments face in buying and regulating technology they barely understandWhy adoption and trust matter as much as innovation itselfThe impact AI could have on jobs, businesses, and public servicesAnd how AI may become essential in supporting an ageing population and stretched services. This is a conversation about more than technology. It’s about who benefits, who gets left behind, and what responsible AI leadership should look like in the real world.A thoughtful discussion on regional regeneration, digital responsibility, and the future of AI in society.Find out more at https://steveyemm.comPlease subscribe to Futurise to hear first about future episodes.

May 6, 2026Episode 432 min

S3E4 - Martin Neale ,CEO ICS.AI, "Cashing It All In on AI"

Most organisations say they’re “doing AI.” Very few are actually seeing results.In this episode, I sit down with Martin Neale, founder and CEO of ICS.AI, to unpack why so many AI initiatives stall — and what it really takes to deliver impact at scale.Both recognised in the Computing 2026 AI Leadership Index, we explore the shift from experimentation to real-world impact — and what separates organisations that are delivering from those still stuck in pilot mode.Martin’s story is one of conviction. At 55, he cashed in his pension to build a company focused not on pilots, but on outcomes. Today, ICS.AI powers AI engagement across a significant proportion of UK councils, transforming how public services operate.We cover:Why most AI programmes get stuck in “pilot mode”What an AI operating model actually looks like in practiceThe shift from tools to more agentic AI systems in live servicesLessons from transforming Derby City Council into one of the UK’s first AI-native councilsThe real barriers to adoption — and how to overcome themWhy trust, governance, and design are critical to scaling AI responsiblyThis is a conversation about moving beyond hype — and building AI that actually works in the real world.https://www.linkedin.com/company/ics-ai-ltdhttps://www.ics.ai/customers/derby-city-council-case-study

April 1, 2026Episode 333 min

S3E3 - Mark Boost - "Sovereign AI around the World"

As AI adoption accelerates, a new question is emerging at the heart of global technology strategy: who controls the intelligence?In this episode of Futurise, Rob Price is joined by Mark Boost, CEO of Civo, to explore the rise of sovereign AI — and why governments and organisations are rethinking where their data lives, how it’s processed, and who ultimately has access to it.With a focus on UK-operated data centres, and perspectives spanning the US, Germany, and India, they unpack what sovereignty really means in an AI-driven world. Is this about regulation, resilience, or competitive advantage? And can organisations balance global innovation with local control?They also dig into the practical realities:What does “sovereign AI” actually look like in practice?How are data centre strategies evolving to support it?Where do cloud providers fit — or clash — with sovereignty ambitions?What are the trade-offs between control, cost, and capability?And how should leaders think about risk, compliance, and long-term AI strategy?This isn’t just a policy discussion — it’s a strategic inflection point for AI adoption.For founders, investors, and enterprise leaders, the question is no longer whether to adopt AI — but how to do it on your own terms.

March 11, 2026Episode 232 min

S3E2 - Claudine Adeyemi-Adams - Case Management with Voice AI: How AI Startups Are Transforming Frontline Services

In this episode, Rob Price speaks with Claudine Adeyemi-Adams, founder and CEO of Earlybird AI, about how voice AI and machine learning are transforming the way organisations handle cases, support clients, and gather real insight from conversations.Claudine’s journey from award-winning lawyer to AI startup founder highlights how new technology is reshaping traditional industries. Earlybird AI is building voice-driven tools that help employment support organisations, charities, and service providers understand the people they serve, automate case handling workflows, and improve outcomes using real-time insights.Rob and Claudine explore the rise of voice AI, the challenges of building responsible AI systems that interact directly with people, and what founders learn when turning a mission-driven idea into a scalable AI business.The conversation also touches on the realities of the life as an innovative SME, product-market fit in AI startups, and how voice-based intelligence could change the way organisations listen to and support their communities.Topics covered in this episode:Voice AI and the future of case managementBuilding an AI startup from a legal backgroundAI for employment support and social impact organisationsResponsible AI and human-centred designSelling and scaling an AI businessWhy voice data could become one of the most valuable sources of insightLinksEarlybird website: https://www.getearlybird.aiFuturia website: https://futuria.ai

February 18, 2026Episode 130 min

S3E1 - Over the Garden Fence: What Gardening Teaches Us About AI, Expertise and Knowledge Transfer – with Steve Bustin

In this episode of Futurise, Rob Price is joined by Steve Bustin, Chair of the Board of Trustees for the Hardy Plant Society, for a conversation that begins in the garden — and ends in the boardroom.“Over the garden fence” is how knowledge used to be shared: informally, experientially, and across generations. Gardening expertise — like much business expertise — is rarely written as technical documentation. It is contextual, tacit, and learned through experience.As organisations adopt AI and agentic systems, a similar challenge emerges: how do we translate deep domain knowledge into language that AI systems can understand — without losing meaning in the process?This episode explores:How expert knowledge is traditionally passed down between generationsWhy tacit expertise is difficult to encode into AI systemsThe language gap between business specialists and AI technologistsWhat agentic AI might mean for capturing and applying domain expertiseWhy successful AI adoption depends as much on terminology as technologyBy deliberately using language that would resonate with gardeners rather than AI engineers, this conversation highlights a wider leadership lesson: AI systems only become valuable when they can engage meaningfully with real-world expertise.If you’re a founder, investor, or executive navigating AI adoption, this episode offers a fresh perspective on knowledge transfer, AI leadership, and the future of artificial intelligence in practice.Comments are open — where do you see gaps between business expertise and AI terminology in your organisation?Subscribe to Futurise to hear first about conversations on Agentic AI, AI leadership, responsible AI development, AI governance, and the future of artificial intelligence.This episode is dedicated to Jeune Price (1941-2023), passionate gardener and long time member of the Hardy Plant Society.

January 14, 2026Episode 2131 min

S2E21 - Building Safer Agentic AI: AI Safety, Alignment & Governance with Nell Watson

Agentic AI is evolving rapidly — moving from copilots and automation tools to autonomous systems that can plan, decide, and act over time. As agentic systems become more capable, questions around AI safety, alignment, and governance become critical for founders, investors, and enterprise leaders.In this special episode of Season 2, Rob Price speaks with Nell Watson — AI ethics researcher, author, and Chair of the Safer Agentic AI Safety Experts Focus Group at IEEE — about what building safer agentic AI means in practice.The discussion explores:How agentic AI systems are being developed and deployed todayWhere organisations underestimate AI safety and alignment risksWhat responsible AI governance looks like for agentic systemsHow principles such as alignment, epistemic hygiene, and bounded goals translate into real productsWhy leaders should engage with AI safety before regulation forces the issueAs the future of AI shifts toward increasingly autonomous and agentic architectures, what does “safe enough” really mean — and who decides?If you’re building, funding, or adopting agentic AI, this conversation will help you think more clearly about responsible AI development and long-term trust.Subscribe to Futurise for conversations on agentic AI, AI leadership, responsible AI, and the future of artificial intelligence.Futurise explores Agentic AI, AI leadership, Responsible AI development, AI governance, and the future of artificial intelligence for founders, investors, and enterprise leaders.

December 16, 2025Episode 2032 min

S2E20 - AI Leadership in a Fast-Moving Market: Acting Safely Without Waiting for Certainty – with Michael Wade

In this episode of Futurise, Rob Price speaks with Professor Michael Wade about how leaders can take meaningful, responsible action on AI without waiting for certainty — and without exposing their organisations to unnecessary risk.As AI technology evolves rapidly — from generative AI to agentic systems — many organisations struggle with how to develop an effective AI strategy while markets are still shifting. The conversation explores what responsible AI leadership looks like in a fast-moving environment, and why deliberate action is often safer than paralysis.In this episode, we discuss:Why traditional AI strategy frameworks break down in rapidly evolving marketsHow leaders can act on AI without locking themselves into the wrong decisionsThe difference between safe progress and reckless accelerationWhat “beyond agentic AI” might mean for enterprise organisationsHow to assess AI market risk as conditions changeProfessor Wade advises senior leaders on digital transformation and AI as Professor of Strategy and Digital at IMD Business School, helping organisations balance speed, responsibility, and long-term value creation.If you’re a founder, investor, or executive navigating AI adoption, this episode offers a practical lens on AI governance, AI risk management, and leadership in the future of artificial intelligence.Subscribe to Futurise for conversations on Agentic AI, AI leadership, responsible AI development, and the future of AI.Futurise explores Agentic AI, AI leadership, Responsible AI development, AI governance, and the future of artificial intelligence for founders, investors, and enterprise leaders.

December 10, 2025Episode 1930 min

S2E19 - Sovereign AI and Digital Sovereignty in the UK: Michael Herron, CEO of Atos UK&I

In Episode 19 of Season 2, Rob Price speaks with Michael Herron, CEO of Atos UK & Ireland, about sovereign AI, digital sovereignty, and what these shifts mean for the UK’s AI infrastructure and enterprise strategy.As governments and large organisations rethink control over data, compute, and AI systems, sovereign AI is becoming a strategic priority. Michael discusses Atos’ recent investments in a Sovereign Orchestration Hub, a Digital Agentic Centre, and a Sovereign Digital Enablement Centre — initiatives aligned with UK Government commitments around AI Growth Zones and national AI capability.The conversation explores:What sovereign AI means in practice for enterprises and public sector organisationsWhy digital sovereignty is rising on the executive agendaHow agentic AI systems fit into sovereign AI infrastructureThe strategic implications of AI Growth Zones in the UKHow capability development and future careers must evolve in an agentic AI economyAs AI adoption moves from experimentation to infrastructure-level deployment, questions of resilience, governance, and sovereignty are becoming as important as speed and innovation.If you’re a leader navigating enterprise AI adoption, AI governance, or national AI strategy, this episode offers insight into how sovereign AI may reshape the future of artificial intelligence in the UK and beyond.Relevant links:https://atos.net/en-gb/united-kingdomhttps://atos.net/en-gb/lp/uki-digital-sovereigntyhttps://atos.net/en-gb/2025/press-releases-en-gb_2025_10_20/atos-to-launch-new-sovereign-and-sovereign-ai-centres-across-the-ukComments are open — how is your organisation approaching sovereign AI and digital sovereignty?Subscribe to Futurise to hear first about conversations on Agentic AI, AI leadership, responsible AI development, AI governance, and the future of artificial intelligence.

November 26, 2025Episode 1834 min

Do Teams Still Work the Same in an Agentic AI World?

#AgenticAI isn’t just changing tools — it’s changing how work gets done.In this episode of Futurise, Rob Price explores whether existing team design models still hold in an agentic world, and what leaders need to change as AI agents become part of everyday delivery.Featuring Matthew Skelton, co-author of Team Topologies and CEO/CTO of Conflux.Do Team Topologies principles still apply with AI agents in the workflow?What breaks first when teams stay “human-only” in designHow to think about accountability, flow, and boundaries in agentic teamsWhat organisations should start changing now, not later.Matthew Skelton is co-author of the award-winning Team Topologies, founder and CEO/CTO of Conflux, and a leading voice in modern organisational design.Matthew Skelton: matthewskelton.comConflux: confluxhq.com/outcomesTeam Topologies: teamtopologies.com/scaleComments are open — how do you think teams should evolve in an agentic world?If AI agents are doing more of the work, what should teams actually be responsible for? Interested to hear how others are thinking about this.

November 12, 2025Episode 1724 min

AI Is Silencing Languages — Here’s How That Changes Everything

AI systems are being built for a narrow slice of humanity.In this episode of Futurise, Rob Price explores why endangered language models matter—not just for inclusion, but for the future of agentic AI itself.Featuring Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo, founder and Chief Futures Officer of NightOwl AI.In this conversation, we discuss:Why most AI models exclude entire cultures and languagesWhat endangered language models really areThe implications for accessibility, bias, and agentic systemsLessons for organisations building bespoke and domain-specific AI models.Anna Mae Yu Lamentillo is the founder of NightOwl AI, a mission-driven company using AI to preserve endangered languages and combat digital exclusion. Her work focuses on ensuring AI reflects the full spectrum of human culture—not just the dominant few.Anna Mae Lamentillo: https://www.annamaeyulamentillo.comNightOwl AI: https://www.thenightowl.aiComments are open — should AI systems be required to support minority and endangered languages?If AI agents can’t understand large parts of the world’s population, are they really fit for purpose? Curious how others are thinking about inclusion in agentic systems.Please subscribe to Futurise to hear first about future episodes.