The Next Five

Latest Episodes:

Navigating the Future of Business Travel Mar 04, 2024

Show notes

After slumping during the pandemic, business travel is picking up pace: it’s expected to hit pre-pandemic levels this year with spending on it slated to reach $1.4tn in 2024. But post-Covid, the landscape of corporate travel is changing, reflecting the evolving global economy, a diverse workforce and the growing importance attached to sustainability.

The cost of travel is rising and businesses seeking to balance budgets need to find flexible tools for managing business travel and the variables and unexpected events, such as flight delays, that come with it. New innovations are becoming even more influential in the decision-making processes, such as what form of meeting or collaboration justifies the need to travel in the post-pandemic era.

The whole sector is ripe for innovation and new technologies such as AI present a timely opportunity for companies to rethink their approach to business travel. Tim Lebel, Vice President and Head of Product for SAP Concur Spend Solutions joins me to discuss how AI is helping to streamline outdated travel processes and how important trust is when building AI platforms. Shelley Fletcher- Bryant, Vice President of travel consultancy firm, Advito, advocates for more sustainable travel practices in the travel sector and how AI can play it’s part in giving organisations more transparency when booking business travel. Theodora Lau, Author, Public Speaker, and founder of Unconventional Ventures offers her insight into trust of key travel data in the new AI world and the sustainability of AI systems themselves.

Sources: FT Resources, PWC, Fortune, BBC, Forbes, McKinsey & Co, Business Travel News Europe, Global Business Travel Association, BCD Travel, Accenture.

This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times’ Commercial Department

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The Future of AI in Cybersecurity Jan 28, 2024

Show notes

Cybersecurity has never been more important; Everything is now connected to a network, and rapid technological advancements are being met with new and novel cyber threats, however cutting-edge advancements in AI within cybersecurity are rising to meet them, empowering individuals, businesses, and governments to build a safer, more secure online future. In this podcast, we examine the importance of collaboration between public and private players to safeguard society, critical infrastructure and valuable assets against increasingly sophisticated cyber threats.

In the fourth episode of this five-part miniseries, we look at AI's role within cybersecurity. By making cybersecurity accessible to more people, can AI increase the protections for European organisations and businesses of all sizes or will the ability to process large amounts of data enable attacks on businesses?

In this episode we speak with Philippe Humeau, CEO of CrowdSec, a French threat intelligence company that offers participative behavioural protection from malicious IP addresses. Isabel Praça, Professor at the Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto and AI Expert at European Union Agency for Cybersecurity. Vicente Diaz, Author of VirusTotal’s research on AI-driven threat mitigation and detection and security engineer at Google.

Our sources: IBM, Cobalt, Digital Skills Job Europe, Morgan Stanley

This content is paid for by Google and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of AI and Productivity Jan 04, 2024

Show notes

The EU must prioritise digital skills development, bridge the existing skills gap, and foster an innovation-driven environment. By embracing AI and equipping its citizens with the necessary skills, the EU can navigate current challenges and secure its position as a global leader in the digital era. In the third episode of this five-part miniseries, we look at AI's role in workplace and productivity.

In this episode we speak with Andrea Renda, Head of Global Governance, Regulation, Innovation and the Digital Economy at The Centre for European Policy Studies (CEPS), a think tank based in Brussels that undertakes research “leading to solutions to the challenges facing Europe today". Anna Anderson, CEO and Co-Founder of RigaTech Girls, an NGO which is the only organisation in Latvia specifically dedicated to the cause of advancing women in technology. Inger Paus, Public Affairs Director at Google Europe further discusses the impact of AI on the economy and productivity within the workforce over the next five years.

Our Sources for the show: ERT, European Commission, Public First, CEPR, IBM, EY.

This content is paid for by Google and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of AI in Sustainability Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

We are in the sixth mass extinction phase and it’s primarily driven by human activity. Globally, 1.2 million species are at risk of extinction and around 70% of the planet's ice-free land has already been altered, primarily for agricultural use. In the second episode of this five-part miniseries, we look at AI's role in sustainability and how it can help us better understand the natural world.

In Europe, unsustainable farming and forestry, urban sprawl and pollution are predominantly to blame for a drastic decline in biodiversity. This latest era of extinction in the natural world also comes at a time when we are making giant leaps in an artificial realm and while AI is no silver bullet it could help us better understand how to sustainably reinvent our agriculture, farming and food systems. Protecting species is also of the utmost importance. Insects, for example, are an important piece in the biodiversity puzzle and are under threat. But AI can help us understand our insect friends and the environment they serve. In this episode we speak with Faustine Bas-Defossez, Director for Nature, Health and Environment at the European Environmental Bureau, which is the largest federation of environmental NGOs in Europe, where she discusses how AI can help understand the problems that exist within the agricultural industry and the importance of transforming our food systems to a more sustainable, circular model. Katharina Schmidt, CEO of APIC.AI, an AI startup from Germany that monitors bee populations, tells us how AI models are helping to analyse individual bee behaviours in a hive of 50,000, and what this tells us about the health of our environment. Adam Elman, Head of Sustainability, EMEA, at Google further extols the value that AI can bring to mapping key environmental change and the value of data sharing on a global scale.

Our Sources for the show: FT Resources, WWF, LSE, European Parliament, Royal Society, United Nations.

This content is paid for by Google and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Future of AI in Healthcare Oct 28, 2023

Show notes

The advent and speed of advancement in AI has far reaching consequences for multiple industries. This five-part miniseries will spotlight various industry sectors where AI has a significant and growing impact, with this particular episode centering on AI's role in healthcare.

AI in healthcare offers life changing benefits as well as raising far reaching concerns. In the medical arena, various AI programmes like Large Language Models and Foundation Models are being used in many specialities, both in research and clinically. AI’s ability to rapidly process vast amounts of data and identify subtle patterns affords unrivalled potential within medicine. It can also help save money by streamlining processes. But there are risks. As the technology advances so do concerns over inaccurate diagnoses that could exacerbate health inequalities that already exist in the system. Another area of particular focus is the transparency and trust of the AI models being built. This is where the importance of regulation comes in. We speak with Dr Alan Karthikesalingam, Senior Staff Clinician Scientist and Research Lead at Google who offers his insight into the research and clinical applications of AI in healthcare. Greg Sorensen, Lead at Aidence, shows how AI is being used in the clinical screening of lung cancer, a key prevention tool that is already saving lives. Inma Martinez, chair of the multi expert group at the global partnership on AI addresses the importance of regulation and governance of AI in healthcare and beyond.

Our Sources for the show: FT Resources, CEPR, European Parliament research, CSET, BMJ, KCL.

This content is paid for by Google and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times’ Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oceans: Preserving and Powering our Blue Economy Oct 14, 2023

Show notes

Oceans cover 71% of the planet’s surface and are a life support system making up 97% of the world’s water and 95% of all space made available for life. Oceans are a key climate regulator, sequestering a third of all carbon emitted by human activity a year, controlling the weather and mediating temperature. With this alone, their importance to our existence is paramount.

But oceans also support an entire economy, a ‘blue economy’. Alas, rising sea levels and temperatures due to climate change, overfishing, man made pollution and other mismanagement is affecting the blue economy and those that rely on it.

Furthermore, oceans can provide us with a revolution in power generation. They offer a natural and low carbon alternative to fossil fuels and are the world’s largest untapped source of renewable energy. In this episode of the Next Five we explore the oceans as a blue economy, a climate regulator, and a power generator all while reflecting on the importance of ocean preservation. Céline Cousteau, a documentary filmmaker, public speaker, author and socio-environmental advocate highlights the importance of the oceans to all life on earth and how we need more marine protected areas and laws to preserve our seas as well as sharing examples of successful marine preservation projects.Karine Measson, Head of Water Management at the European Investment Bank, who is responsible for ocean activities at the EIB talks about the importance of a sustainable blue economy,and how to overcome the challenges including access to fundable projects and international cooperation. Miguel Stilwell d'Andrade, CEO, EDP and EDP Renewables discusses the growth in demand for ocean based renewable energy and that both the capital and technology is there to help meet climate goals if short term challenges can be overcome. Our Sources for the show: FT Resources, United Nations, WWF, World Meteorological Organisation, OECD, European Commission. This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times’ Commercial Department

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It’s About Time: The Future of Watches Sep 28, 2023

Show notes

Ever since the emergence of sundials and water clocks in Egypt around 1500 BC, humans have been fascinated by timepieces. Over the centuries, portable clocks, pocket watches and wristwatches gave people the chance to carry time around with them. Many of these became status symbols – the luxury of portable time afforded to only the few. And now, with the advent of wearable tech over the past decade, what is on our wrist has come to tell us much more than simply the time. Whether it's Swiss watches or wearable tech, the status of watches is evolving. In our productivity-obsessed world, our lives are driven by accurate timekeeping – and now we have multiple devices, reminders and calendars to keep us on track. So how is our relationship with time evolving now that it is commoditised, and what role will watches play in a digitally dominated future? In this episode of The Next Five podcast we explore the future of watches, timekeeping in a digital world, and the psychology behind our fascination with time. François-Henry Bennahmias, CEO of Audemars Piguet, talks about the current watch market, the strength of luxury Swiss watchmaking vs wearable tech, and how mechanical timepieces maintain their status in a digital world. Andreas Zimmer, Head of Product for Huawei Europe, offers insights into the wearable watch world and the role that the tech-led wristwatch play in modern life. Dr Ruth Ogden, Associate Professor of Experimental Psychology at Liverpool John Moores University, discusses how we, as humans, have developed a relationship with time, and how the products we use affect what we do with it.

Our Sources for the show: FT Resources, Forbes, EY, Bloomberg, Insider Intelligence, Morgan Stanley, pyments.com, appleinsder.com. This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times’ Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Electric Future: The Road To EV Supremacy Sep 14, 2023

Show notes

EVs are already displacing 1.5million barrels of oil usage per day or 3% of total road fuel demand, however emissions from vehicles are still responsible for between 12-16% of global emissions. But now imagine a world where there are no ICE (Internal Combustion Engine) cars on the road. That’s the future that is needed if we are to hit net zero targets. To realise this by mid century annual EV sales must hit 138 million units by 2040.

In this episode of The Next Five podcast we take a deep-dive into the current landscape, tackle the future for EVs from industry leaders in the legacy and pure EV space, and highlight the opportunities and challenges along the way. Adrian Chai, Managing Director, Institutional Banking Group at DBS Bank discusses the gaps in finance in the EV value chain and where capital needs to flow to support the industry growth, as well as the future of the fast evolving battery market. Pras Ganesh, Executive Vice President & Corporate Information Security Officer at Toyota talks about the challenges and opportunities that legacy automakers have in the space, how capital investment is front loaded in new technologies and calls for a just transition. Mike Whittington, Head of Global Sales and Network at Polestar offers insight from a pure EV business model, extolling the need for supportive policy and greater investment into infrastructure globally to meet climate targets. Our Sources for the show: FT Resources, IEA, Mckinsey, BNEF, WEF, Reuters, Forbes. This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times’ Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paying the way: the future of payments in a digital world Aug 14, 2023

Show notes

The payments industry is undergoing big changes that have a big impact on the global economy. Growth in digital payments over cash has been spurred on by the pandemic, a strong e-commerce market, government support and investor sentiment. In this episode of The Next Five, we explore the future of online retail and payments in a digital world, how consumers are paying for products and services and how businesses are navigating the payments space to build resilience, retain and gain customers. Marc Pettican, Head of Barclaycard Payments joins us to talk about combating fraud, dealing with cart abandonment and a future where biometric linked payments take centre stage. Avritti Khandurie Mittal, VP and General Manager of Payments at eBay, shares how seamless payment practices and data can help build business resilience and that embedded payments is turning every business into a fintech. Alla Gancz, Partner and UK Payments Leader at EY, offers her expertise on key forces shaping the future of payments including the accelerated adoption of real-time payments, regulation, and the role of payments as a key enabler of business growth for merchants. Our sources for the show: FT Resources, ECB, EY, Forbes, Shopify. This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Financing the transition to Net Zero Jul 28, 2023

Show notes

Allowing capital flows consistent with a net zero and resilient global economy will require a transformation of the financial system. Since 2016, investments in decarbonisation have been growing at a rate of 5% per annum. At this rate, the 2050 net zero targets will be missed by 20 years. In this episode of The Next Five, we’re talking about financing the transition to net zero, how capital can be moved towards clean energy, and how industry and government need to collaborate for the world to hit climate goals. Tim Gould, Chief Energy Economist at the International Energy Agency explains where capital is flowing into the global energy market and how much needs to be going into clean energy transition investments to hit climate goals. Eirik Waerness, Senior Vice President, Chief Economist and Head of Global External Analysis at Equinor talks about the need for collaboration between industries and governments and offers a global solution to the carbon pricing debate. Nick Stansbury, Head of Climate Solutions at LGIM, also extols the importance of putting an effective price on carbon as well as calling for a smarter way of managing transition investing. Our sources for the show: FT Resources, Swiss Re, OBR, OECD, UK Government resources, European Council, US Treasury Department. This content is paid for by advertisers and is produced in partnership with the Financial Times' Commercial Department.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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