In January 2026, Google was granted a patent that lets it read your website, break it into components, and serve searchers an AI-generated page assembled from your content. Visitors may never see your actual site. Joe Toscano — former Google designer, one of the voices in The Social Dilemma, and founder of Service Stories — saw this coming.

Joe left Silicon Valley in 2017, before Cambridge Analytica broke, because of what he was being asked to build. He now runs Service Stories, which helps small and mid-size service businesses get found by AI search engines by converting their existing work orders and job data into content — automatically. Early results from their pilots show direct web traffic growth of 228% within 90 days, and over 400% across longer periods.

The shift that makes this possible: search is moving from "plumber near me" to "why is my HVAC system creating complications in my house?" Topical authority — specific, question-answering content — is now the edge, and AI makes it viable to produce at scale for the first time.

He also just returned from two months in China — and his account of robots delivering room service in three minutes, seamless phone-based identity and payments, and a level of operational fluency the West hasn't reached yet is genuinely uncomfortable for anyone who assumes Europe's regulatory caution is the only sensible posture.

A sharp, grounded episode on where search is going, what China is building, and what AGI actually looks like when it arrives.

Find Joe and a step-by-step guide to doing this yourself at servicestories.com.

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Simon Hodgkins has spent a career running global marketing — Sage, CMO Club president, and now Chief Marketing Officer at Vistatec, the Dublin firm helping iconic brands scale content and AI worldwide. He joins Maryrose to argue that the real AI bottleneck isn't the models. It's whether a company is ready to use them.

Simon makes the case for gap analysis before tooling: before you buy, pilot or deploy, you need to know how you actually work today — what content exists, which workflows are documented, how the Frankfurt office differs from New York, and what ISO 42001 would expect you to prove. He explains why bolting AI onto broken processes wastes money, why regulated industries still need human experts in the loop, and what an "intelligent workflow" actually looks like.

On the hype cycle, Simon is blunt: stop headline-reading. Figure out what you're doing first. Or as Rory Sutherland puts it — no robots are buying new cars.

A conversation for any leader whose pilots keep going nowhere.

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The CSO stopped tracking the price of a pint of Guinness in Ireland in 2011. The last official figure was €3.93. Nobody picked it up again until Matt Cortland and John Fleming decided to call every pub in the country and ask.

Using Google Maps for contact data, 11 Labs to clone a Northern Irish voice, Claude Code to orchestrate the whole system, and Twilio to actually make the calls, they built the Guinndex: a real-time index of pint prices across Ireland and Northern Ireland. Over 700 pubs called. Total cost: approximately €200.

They didn't stop there. With fuel prices dominating headlines on both sides of the Atlantic, they applied the same methodology to US gas stations, creating the Gas Index, complete with AI agents named after King of the Hill characters and a feature that tells you whether the cheaper station is actually worth the drive.

This episode is a masterclass in what's possible when you connect off-the-shelf AI tools with a problem worth solving. And a cautionary tale about the Irish goodbye.

Find Matt and John at guindex.ai.

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Sean Blanchfield, Co-Founder Jentic, joins Maryrose Lyons of the AI Institute for the second part of their conversation, this time diving deep into agentic AI, what it actually means for businesses, and how Jentic's infrastructure can help enterprise get there. From the risks of locking into a single AI model to a practical three-layer roadmap for AI transformation, Sean offers a grounded, builder's perspective on where enterprise AI is really headed. An essential listen for anyone in construction, professional services, or other sectors navigating fragmented systems and wondering where to start.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Welcome Back

00:30 Model Neutrality — Why You Shouldn't Lock Into One AI

01:30 Microsoft Copilot: The Hype and the Reality

02:20 Self-Hosting and On-Prem AI for Sensitive Data

03:00 Where Jentic Fits In — Mapping Your Software Ecosystem

04:00 Building a Digital Twin of Your Business Infrastructure 05:00 Agents in the Sandbox — Testing Before Going Live

05:45 Validating and Publishing Automations Incrementally

06:30 Voice Agents and Real-Time Field Queries 07:30 Layer Three: Governance and Running an AI-Powered Company

08:30 Humans in the Loop — Cross-Workflow Thinking

09:15 Resistance to AI Adoption (Spoiler: Less Than You'd Think)

10:00 The Future Company — Humans as Governors of Machines

11:00 Wrap-Up and Where to Find Jentic

Connect with Sean Blanchfield : https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanblanchfield/

Check out Jentic https://jentic.com/

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Serial entrepreneur and Co-Founder of Jentic, Sean Blanchfield joins our host Maryrose Lyons for a conversation about Ireland's AI opportunity, and the risks of getting it wrong. From energy infrastructure and nuclear power to the future of the professional class, Sean lays out a bold, pragmatic roadmap for positioning Ireland to win in the AI generation. A must-listen for founders, policymakers, and anyone thinking seriously about the future of the Irish economy.

Key Topics

Ireland's AI strategy and infrastructure

Energy and regulation for AI development

Future economy and AI's impact on jobs and wealth

Data centers and inference centers in Ireland

Regulatory environment and green energy initiatives

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Sean Blanchfield and AI in Ireland

01:07 Ireland's Position in the AI Landscape

01:43 The Future of Work and AI's Impact

04:47 Regulatory Challenges and Data Centers

07:40 Energy Needs for AI Infrastructure

09:24 The Importance of Creativity in the AI Era

Connect with Sean Blanchfield : https://www.linkedin.com/in/seanblanchfield/

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In this episode of Chatting GPT, Maryrose Lyons speaks with DC Cahalane, a venture partner at SureValley Ventures, about the evolving landscape of AI investment and its implications for startups and small businesses. They discuss the importance of rethinking traditional business processes, the role of government in AI development, and the need for new economic measures in a rapidly changing technological environment. DC emphasizes the significance of understanding investor expectations and the potential of AI to transform business operations, particularly for small enterprises.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI and Ecosystem Building

03:07 Investing in AI: Trends and Innovations

05:52 Government Responses to AI: A Comparative Analysis

08:32 The Role of AI in Small Business Success

11:26 Rethinking Economic Measures in the Age of AI

14:00 The Future of Entrepreneurship and AI

15:50 Conclusion and Insights on Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

16:47 Understanding Pitch Decks and Investor Expectations

17:26 The Importance of Problem-Solving in Business

19:06 The Misunderstanding of AI Terminology

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In this episode of Chatting GPT, host Maryrose Lyons of the AI Institute speaks with Dr. Lollie Mancey about the intersection of AI and anthropology, exploring how technology influences human relationships and societal structures. They discuss the importance of ethical AI, the need for agency in a technology-driven world, and the implications of AI on work and purpose. The conversation also touches on global perspectives on AI regulation, the challenges of abundance versus scarcity, and the necessity of fostering human connections in an increasingly digital landscape.

Guest: Dr Lollie Mancey

Title: Digital Anthropologist, Co-presenter of RTÉ's Futureville

Takeaways

Peer-reviewed research in AI is often outdated by publication.

The convergence of disciplines is crucial for understanding AI's impact.

Humans attribute emotions to AI systems, complicating our relationship with technology.

Consequential thinking is essential in AI development and ethics.

Agency in technology use is divided between passive consumers and active learners.

Leadership must embrace complexity and uncertainty in AI governance.

Global perspectives on AI regulation vary, with different cultural implications.

Abundance in resources does not guarantee fairness or meaning.

Ethical AI requires a shift in mindset towards social responsibility.

Human connections are vital in countering the loneliness exacerbated by AI.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI and Anthropology

03:06 The Intersection of AI and Human Relationships

05:56 Consequential Thinking in AI Development

09:02 Agency and the Bifurcation of Human Experience

11:43 The Role of Leadership in AI Ethics

14:50 Global Perspectives on AI Regulation

17:43 The Future of Work and Purpose in an AI World

20:43 Abundance vs. Scarcity in Economic Models

23:48 The Need for Ethical AI and Social Responsibility

26:52 Human Connection in the Age of AI

30:01 Conclusion and Future Considerations

Resources:

• Futureville - RTÉ programme imagining Ireland in 2050
• Connect with Lollie: drlollie.ie | LinkedIn: Dr Lollie (L-O-L-L-I-E)

Chatting GPT is produced by AI Institute. For AI adoption in built environment firms, visit https://weareaiinstitute.com/

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Show Notes

Summary: In this episode of Chatting GPT, Maryrose Lyons speaks with Jo Joyce, a partner at Taylor Wessing, about the intersection of AI, law, and regulation. They discuss the EU AI Act, its implications for innovation, and how it compares to AI regulations in China. Jo explains the categories of high-risk AI systems and the challenges businesses face in navigating regulatory uncertainty. The conversation also touches on Jo's role as a trustee at the Vagina Museum, highlighting the importance of gynaecological health education. They conclude with insights on the future of law in the age of AI and practical advice for businesses.

Takeaways:

• The EU AI Act aims to balance innovation and regulation.
• There is a generational shift in how technology impacts work.
• China's AI regulation is more streamlined compared to the EU.
• High-risk AI systems include those used in safety-critical applications.
• Regulatory uncertainty can overwhelm businesses, but clarity is key.
• The Vagina Museum educates on gynaecological health and challenges.
• Legal frameworks need to adapt to the evolving landscape of AI.
• Transparency and user trust are essential in AI regulation.
• Businesses should focus on understanding public perception of their AI use.
• Proactive engagement with legal advice can mitigate risks.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to AI Regulation and Cybersecurity

02:58 The EU AI Act: Innovation vs Regulation

05:53 Comparative Analysis: EU vs China AI Regulation

08:58 Understanding High-Risk AI Systems

11:58 Navigating Regulatory Bodies and Compliance

14:47 Future of AI Regulation: Expectations and Changes

18:16 Shifting Responsibilities in AI Literacy

20:53 The Getty vs. Stability AI Case: Implications for Copyright

25:12 The Need for Legal Reform in the Age of AI

27:33 The Vagina Museum: A Unique Educational Initiative

30:43 Practical Advice for Ethical AI Use

Connect with Jo: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jkjoyce/

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