Irish duo's Solidroad start-up lands $6.5m in funding as its AI takes over contact centre staff training
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Irish Times
6 hours ago
- Irish Times
PayPal to add 100 high-tech jobs in Dublin with AI fraud and data science centre
PayPal is to create 100 high-tech jobs in Ireland as the payments company establishes a new artificial intelligence (AI) fraud and data science centre here. The payments company is hiring across AI engineering, data science, software development, risk modelling and cybersecurity. PayPal, which already employs about 1,500 people here, said the new jobs would be located at the company's headquarters in Dublin and would support key areas such as loss prevention and enhancing customer experiences. 'As we shape the next generation of digital payments, the talent and innovation coming from Ireland will play a critical role,' said Aaron J Webster, global chief risk officer at PayPal. READ MORE 'This expansion reflects both our confidence in the local ecosystem and our ambition to build an AI-driven, data-powered future that embeds trust and safety in every transaction. We are proud to deepen our commitment to Ireland and to invest in highly skilled roles that will help shape the future of PayPal globally.' The expansion is being supported by IDA Ireland. Minister for Employment Peter Burke said the move was a strong vote of confidence in the State as a location for high-value tech investment. How will the updated National Development Plan shape Ireland in years to come? Listen | 35:59 PayPal said the expansion was a 'new chapter' for the Irish operation, which was originally set up as a customer service hub. It is now being developed as a centre for innovation and the Irish team is expected to play a key role in the global network, working closely with the company's other innovation hubs. However, last year, the company laid off almost 300 staff over two separate rounds of job cuts as the global operation slimmed down amid fierce competition in the payments markets. At the time, the company said it would continue to hire for strategic roles. Those job losses followed cutbacks in 2023, when the firm said it would reduce its global workforce by 7 per cent, including a number of jobs in Dublin and Co Louth, with its office in Dundalk also closed as part of the cost-cutting plan. The new roles will erase some of those losses, although it still leaves it below pre-2023 levels.
Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Impact of AI explained to EU Ambassadors by Wicklow-Wexford TD
As chair of the Oireachtas Committee on Artificial Intelligence, Deputy Malcom Byrne highlighted the growing impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on all aspects of society as well as EU moves to ensure citizen safety in its rollout and use. The event took place at the Embassy of Slovakia in Dublin. Artificial intelligence will be a theme of Ireland's presidency of the European Union during the second half of 2026. During the event Deputy Byrne pointed out how artificial intelligence is having a impact on a range of areas including agriculture, transport and healthcare. 'It is critical that as legislators and policymakers that we are really engaged in the topic and that while we want to support innovation and enterprise.' Deputy Byrne said efforts must be made to make sure there are proper safety guardrails in place. 'The European Union is taking a global lead on this through the Artificial Intelligence Act, looking to regulate where and when AI can and cannot be used. It is of huge interest to every European Union country.' Deputy Byrne highlighted the individuals, organisations and businesses across Counties Wicklow and Wexford who are now using AI to make some of what they do more efficient. 'People are really beginning to engage in the possibilities of this new technology.' he added.
Irish Times
5 days ago
- Irish Times
Is it time for a new kind of CEO at Apple?
Apple 's continuing artificial intelligence (AI) problems mean a few brave analysts are saying the quiet part out loud: it might be time for Tim Cook to go. 'Apple now needs a product-focused CEO, not one centred on logistics,' New York-based LightShed Partners said in a recent note. The note made waves, but Cook's position is thought to be secure. Apple's board is loyal and while shares have lagged behind over the past year few investors are reaching for the panic button. Under Cook, Apple's market value has ballooned from $340 billion (€293 billion) to $3.1 trillion, a return that tends to silence complaints. Still, that Cook's position is even being discussed says something. READ MORE No one disputes Cook's achievements – even LightShed admits he has done 'a great job' since 2011 – but some wonder if the traits that suited Apple's past may not fit its future. A master of optimisation, Cook perfects rather than pioneers. That made him the ideal steward of Apple's golden decade. Under his tenure, margins stayed fat, supply chains got leaner and stock buy-backs flowed. He kept the iPhone at the heart of a sleek ecosystem and steered Apple through Covid and geopolitical headwinds. However, much of this success came from refining and scaling ideas inherited from the Steve Jobs era. Whether he's the one to lead Apple's next act is less clear, with some suggesting AI demands a different skill set, one rooted in bold product vision rather than operational mastery. For now, Cook remains firmly in charge, but the AI era is forcing even Apple to confront uncomfortable questions about what comes next.
