Ekco Launches All-in-One, Enterprise-Grade Cybersecurity Offering to Protect Irish SMBs

Ekco, one of Europe’s leading security-first managed service providers (MSP), has today launched Cyber Defence Complete in Ireland – an all-in-one cybersecurity service that gives small and mid-sized businesses (SMBs) enterprise-grade cybersecurity protection without complexity.

The number of attempted and successful cyberattacks is ever increasing and SMBs are attractive targets for attackers as, unlike larger organisations, they often lack the resources to recruit specialist in-house 24-7 cybersecurity teams. Cyber Defence Complete from Ekco integrates essential security coverage from leading vendors including Microsoft, CrowdStrike, and Recorded Future into a unified, streamlined solution.

Built on CREST-accredited methodologies, it equips SMBs with comprehensive defensive capabilities – from visibility and detection to active defence – without requiring significant infrastructure changes. By simplifying cybersecurity complexity and uncertainty, Cyber Defence Complete provides businesses with a proactive advantage against threats, along with seamless access to world-class technologies and expert guidance in one cohesive service.

Ekco’s Cyber Defence Complete package includes 24×7×365 Managed Extended Detection and Response (MXDR) monitoring, incident response, threat intelligence, and Security Information and Event Management (SIEM), ensuring SMBs are protected around the clock and offering peace of mind. It will be offered through flexible, tiered models designed to scale with businesses as they grow and mature.

Lee Driver, Director of Cybersecurity at Ekco, said: “Small and medium-sized businesses face diverse cybersecurity challenges, and in today’s threat landscape, fast, decisive action is critical. This is why we’ve launched Cyber Defence Complete – a comprehensive solution that removes uncertainty and complexity from cybersecurity for SMBs. Right from the outset, our package establishes a robust defensive foundation, encompassing threat detection, active monitoring, rapid incident response, and mitigation capabilities.

“Our flexible, tiered approach ensures businesses receive exactly the level of protection they need, scaling seamlessly as they expand and mature. With Cyber Defence Complete, we’re committed to levelling the cybersecurity playing field, empowering SMBs with enterprise-grade defence underpinned by expert support, so they can confidently focus on growing their businesses without the fear of cyber threats.”

Cyber Defence Complete is available in two tailored packages to meet diverse business needs:

  • Standard: Offers a comprehensive suite of defensive capabilities, enabling businesses to adopt a proactive stance against cyber threats.
  • Premium: Includes all features of the Standard package, with additional enhancements aimed at achieving robust cyber resilience.

This tiered approach ensures that SMBs can access enterprise-grade security solutions that align with their growth stage and budget, providing cost-effective access to world-class security expertise without the need for significant in-house investment.

To learn more about Ekco’s new Cyber Defence Complete, please visit here.

Chargebee moves to WeWork Dublin to facilitate rapid growth

WeWork, a leading global flexible space provider, today announced that Chargebee, the global billing and monetisation company, has moved offices to recently refurbished WeWork 5 Harcourt Road in Dublin to host its growing workforce. This move not only accommodates Chargebee’s rapid growth but demonstrates the company’s continued investment in workplace experience by providing a dynamic work environment for its growing employee base to support its next phase of innovation and success.

Chargebee, a leading billing and monetisation platform, has experienced impressive growth since its founding in Chennai, India, expanding to Amsterdam, Sydney, Bangalore, Utah, Bethesda MD, and Dublin. The company’s new office at WeWork 5 Harcourt Road is thoughtfully designed to blend first-class design, functionality, and dynamic breakout areas to inspire innovation, foster collaboration, and strengthen company culture.

Over the next three years, Chargebee plans to grow its Dublin workforce to a team of 50, and continue to scale its business at rate. The inherent flexibility of WeWork’s model is a key enabler of Chargebee’s expansion strategy, allowing the company to scale its footprint up or down as needed. It also supports Chargebee’s flex-first hybrid work model, giving employees the freedom to choose their in-office days. This ensures that Chargebee’s real estate decisions remain closely aligned with both its business growth and the evolving needs of its workforce.

Guy Marion, Chief Marketing Officer at Chargebee, says “As someone who has recently relocated to Dublin, I’ve been truly impressed by the vibrant tech ecosystem not only within the city but also in WeWork’s community. Dublin acts as a central hub to our operations, and our move to 5 Harcourt Road is a significant step in advancing our mission to innovate the revenue landscape and support businesses across Europe with their billing and monetisation strategies.

The scalability of our space enables us to expand operations without concern over outgrowing our office. Combined with the signature design and hospitality of WeWork, I am incredibly confident in our ability to attract top talent, as well as the exceptional office experience we are offering to our employees; something that remains a top-of-mind priority for us as we continue to pursue our ambitious goals.”

Luke Armstrong, Regional President, UKI, EMEA and APAC, WeWork says “As companies continue to formalise their work strategies, WeWork is seeing a growing trend in Dublin, where an increasing number of scaling companies are prioritising office experiences that engage and inspire employees, while also opting for flexible workspace solutions that support their growth ambitions. Chargebee’s move to WeWork 5 Harcourt Road is a prime example of this shift.

By choosing a well-designed, scalable space in the heart of Dublin – one of Europe’s most dynamic hubs for innovation and business growth – Chargebee is poised to expand their footprint, grow their team, and scale their business with confidence at WeWork. We’re excited to see firsthand what they’ll achieve at this location.”

Demonstrating its commitment to the Dublin market as well as its focus on delivering a top-tier experience for members, WeWork is investing in key locations across the capital, including Charlemont Exchange, 5 Harcourt Road, and 2 Dublin Landings. These investments will enhance both amenities and design, as well as reconfigure spaces from larger office layouts to more flexible, adaptable designs. This shift aims to meet the evolving needs of SMBs driving regional growth and ensuring that WeWork continues to offer dynamic solutions that align with the changing demands of the market.

imoo Z7 Smart Watch Phone Review

The imoo Z7 Smart Watch Phone is an ideal kit for your child or family member to keep track of even during school hours it is on the large side however it is robust and tough and you can get additional screen protection and watch protector for it making super tough for kids.

The watch is simple enough to set up which requires a sim card with a plan so keep this in mind before you purchase but this is how most work these days anyway.

The UI on the watch is also simple to navigate and we go through all that and the app seen below in the video review down below so be sure to check this out after reading as you will find it helpful

The watch also keeps track of your child’s health and fitness plus many other features built in and a constant track of your child’s location.

You can send messages including voice and picture messages from the watch and to your parents have full control of the device you can also add more family members to talk to for messaging which is great and of course calls both video and standard.

When you call your child you get their location and the camera is live on call so your child can show their surroundings if required this also works if your child calls you on their watch. You can choose between Google Maps or Apple Maps which is nice.

The watch also has multisport fitness options and is IP68 water proof which means it can be taken anywhere.

Call and video quality is quite good once you have a decent signal and the battery will last between 2-5 days depending on use the location history also lasts 14 days in a cycle.

Overall this is a must have for parents who want to keep and in contact with their child at home  and again even better on a holiday and nit too expensive either and it also looks nice and comes in several colours again you also need a sim with a plan for it to work.

 

The APP

 

Features

  • 2-way HD video and voice call – Stay connected to your kids at all times: the imoo kids smartwatch, with its flip-up dual cameras, lets you see not only your kids’ real-time status, but also the environment they are in during video calls. Wherever they are, they’re just a call away! Perfect for kids going back to school.
  • Real-time Locating & 14-Day History: With one tap, the imoo kids smartwatch gives you your kid’s exact real-time location using GPS, GLONASS, BeiDou, QZSS and Galileo satellite systems. With 14-day history, parents can see where their child has been in the last 14 days.
  • Multi-sport & Workout Data: imoo kids smartwatch with 4 built-in sports modes: swimming, running, jumping rope and insights into professional workout data such as calories burned, cadence, stride etc. and rewards to encourage kids to stay active.
  • IPX8 Swimming Water-resistant: imoo kids smartwatch allows kids to swim up to 20 metres underwater. Turn on the video function before entering the pool, and this kids’ smartwatch can record clear videos in the water.
  • Nano SIM Card Required: This kids smartwatch only accepts a standard nano-SIM card. Compatible operators include Vodafone, O2, Three and Giffgaff – please check for compatibility in your area. The watch’s default language is English, but it can be set to German, Spanish and Polish.

BUY

Other imoo reviews 

Video Review

Dell Technologies Unveils Infrastructure Innovations Built to Power Modern AI-Ready Data Centres

Dell Technologies has today introduced advancements across its industry-leading server, storage and data protection portfolios designed to help Irish organisations achieve data center modernisation.

Why It Matters:

Organisations are rethinking their IT strategies to respond to the rise of AI, the need to support both traditional and modern workloads and increased cyber threats. IT teams are moving toward disaggregated infrastructure that abstracts compute, storage, and networking into shared resource pools to deliver improved scalability, efficiency, and adaptability.

 Dell Technologies server, storage and data protection innovations are designed to help customers rethink their IT infrastructure approach to better meet the needs of traditional and modern workloads.

Dell PowerEdge servers deliver advanced performance, energy efficiency and scalability

Dell PowerEdge R470, R570, R670 and R770 servers with Intel Xeon 6 Processors with P-cores are single and double-socket servers in 1U and 2U form factors that easily handle demanding traditional and emerging workloads like HPC, virtualisation, analytics, and AI inferencing:

  • Improves Workload Consolidation: Consolidate legacy platforms, freeing up power and up to 80% of space per 42U rack with the Dell PowerEdge R770. These systems save up to half of the energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions and support up to 50% more cores per processors and 67% increased performance. This reduces data centre footprints to help achieve sustainability goals and lower overall total cost of ownership without sacrificing performance.
  • Delivers Extreme Power with Efficiency: The powerful and efficient Dell PowerEdge R570 achieves record-breaking Intel performance per watt, helping enterprises save on energy costs while maintaining high performance workloads.
  • Future-Ready Designs: Simplify and future-proof operations with the Data Centre – Modular Hardware System (DC-MHS) architecture, as part of the Open Compute Project (OCP). DC-MHS standardises server design, supporting easier integration into existing infrastructure, improving customer choice.
  • Streamlined management: PowerEdge servers deliver streamlined management and robust protection through Dell OpenManage enhancements and Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller (IDRAC 10) updates, including real-time monitoring. When paired with PERC13 PCIe Gen 5 HW Raid controller, customers can see up to a 33X reduction in write latency.

Dell PowerStore boosts performance and security while simplifying data management

Dell PowerStore’s intelligent software design delivers an automated, highly programmable platform with advanced data reduction and independently scalable storage services suited to the needs of modern disaggregated architectures. PowerStore’s latest software release delivers:

  • AI-Powered Analytics: Reduce cost and eliminate manual effort with Smart Support alerts and remediation, performance headroom analytics and carbon footprint forecasting using Dell AIOps (formerly CloudIQ) software.
  • Enhanced Zero-Trust Security: Control access and boost availability with DoD smart card authentication support, automated certificate renewal and enhanced Storage Direct Protection integrations that deliver up to 4X faster backup restores5 plus support for the latest Dell PowerProtect systems.
  • Advanced File System Support: Enhance system performance with advanced file management capabilities, robust data protection with secure file snapshots, capacity insights for smarter storage planning and streamlined migration from Dell Unity systems.


The next generation of Dell ObjectScale drives improved performance and scale

Dell introduces the next generation of Dell ObjectScale, the industry’s highest-performing object platform. Dell ObjectScale delivers massive scalability, performance and efficiency for AI workloads. Dell is modernising the enterprise-grade architecture of ObjectScale and introducing new all-flash and HDD appliance options to provide:

  • Fast Object for AI: Innovate faster with the industry-leading AI workload performance of ObjectScale XF960, delivering up to 2X greater throughput per node than the closest competitor and up to 8X greater density than previous-generation all-flash systems.
  • Accelerate Modern Workloads: HDD-based Dell ObjectScale X560 accelerates key workloads like media ingest, backups and AI model training with 83% faster read throughput.
  • Extreme Efficiency and Resiliency: Easily operate and secure AI data lakes with multi-site federation, copy-to-cloud, geo-replication, global namespace and data governance capabilities, backed by a new hybrid cloud solution powered by ObjectScale, developed in collaboration with Wasabi.

 

Dell PowerScale innovations unlock the power of AI data

Dell PowerScale’s scale-out architecture makes it ideal to use as the backbone for modern AI-driven operations. Advancements improve performance-per-terabyte, enhance data center floorspace utilisation and balance affordability with performance to optimise TCO.

  • High Density All-Flash Storage: 122TB SSDs maximise GPU utilisation with up to 6 PBs of high-speed data access in a single 2U node configuration and deliver leading performance density to meet massive AI throughput requirements.
  • Hybrid and Archive Nodes: PowerScale A & H series nodes (H710, H7100, A310, A3100) deliver reduced latency and improved performance with a refreshed compute module for HDD-based platforms. Customers can future proof their data centers and retain AI training data longer with a flexible, TCO-optimised portfolio mix to improve accuracy and efficiency.

 

Dell PowerProtect improves cyber resilience with greater performance and efficiency

Dell, the industry leader in purpose-built backup appliances, introduces data protection updates designed to help customers strengthen their cyber resilience while controlling costs with enhanced performance, security, and efficiency:

  • Scalable and Efficient Data Protection for All: Dell PowerProtect DD6410, with a capacity of 12 TB to 256 TB, is ideal for commercial, small business and remote site environments. It delivers up to 91% faster restores and scalability for traditional and modern workloads plus efficient operations with industry-leading up to 65X deduplication.
  • All-Flash Performance and Efficiency: Dell PowerProtect All-Flash Ready Node, the first step in Dell’s all-flash data protection journey, delivers more secure and efficient data protection with a 220 TB capacity system that offers over 61% faster restore speeds, uses up to 36% less power, and features a 5X smaller footprint.
  • Strengthened Enterprise Resiliency: PowerProtect Data Manager updates help customers quickly identify security risks with Anomaly Detection, manage Microsoft Hyper-V and Red Hat OpenShift Virtualisation virtual machine backups and easily archive data to Dell ObjectScale for long-term retention.

 

“Modern applications require a new breed of infrastructure that will help customers keep pace with everchanging data center demands,” said Arthur Lewis, president, Infrastructure Solutions Group, Dell Technologies. “From storage to servers to networking to data protection, only Dell Technologies provides an end-to-end disaggregated infrastructure portfolio that helps customers reduce complexity, increase IT agility and accelerate data center modernisation.”

“Organisations are refocusing their IT strategies to take a disaggregated approach to infrastructure that improves resource management and simplifies management complexity,” said Simon Robinson, principal analyst, Enterprise Strategy Group, now part of Omdia. “Dell Technologies is delivering updates across its infrastructure portfolio designed to help customers easily overcome these challenges so that they’re ready to manage any workload.”

Availability

  • Dell PowerEdge R470, R570, R670 and R770 servers featuring Intel Xeon 6 Processors with P-cores and E-cores are available now.
  • Dell PowerStore software updates are available now.
  • Dell ObjectScale is available now as a software update for current Dell ECS environments.
  • HDD-based ObjectScale X560 will be available in April 2025.
  • All-Flash ObjectScale appliances will be available beginning in Q3 CY2025.
  • Dell PowerScale HDD-based nodes will be available in June 2025.
  • Dell PowerScale with 122TB drives will be available in May 2025.
  • Dell PowerProtect DD6410 and All-Flash Ready Node will be available in April 2025.
  • Dell PowerProtect Data Manager updates are available now.

 

Chipolo launches new item tracker the Chipolo POP – Review

Introducing a new product line to its family of tracking tags, Chipolo — the award-winning Bluetooth item tracker company — brings a splash of playfulness into the market with the brand new: Chipolo POP. We have been testing this out over the last few days in a nice bright Green variant and it works well with lots of new features on board and do check the video below for a full tour of how to set it up and how it works.

Vibrant, colourful and now universal, the Chipolo POP works with Apple’s Find My network or Google’s Find My Device to help busy bees find their lost keys and misplaced bags no matter the device. As a cherry on top, Chipolo POP has extra features available – like being able to call one’s phone – in the free Chipolo companion app.

Chipolo, known for its trademark of bright colours, brings its signature hues back into the Chipolo family with Chipolo POP all while extending the product’s Bluetooth range, improving its water and dust resistance, and incorporating more recycled materials into its design.

“The Chipolo POP is the embodiment of our customers’ favourite Chipolo attributes. Countless users expressed their desire for vibrant colours while others missed having access to certain features within the Chipolo app. POP therefore merges the best of our past – bringing colours, compatibility and our most popular features into a product everyone can love.” said Domen Barovic, Co-founder and CDO at Chipolo.

Available worldwide on their webpage and via Amazon, the Chipolo POP is set at £30/$29/€35 with the below features:

  • A fresh look with colourful design options: Curated with its notorious keyhole for valuables, the new product brings a pop of colour into one’s life with the hues: blue, black, green, red, white and yellow.

  • Worldwide range and compatibility: The Chipolo POP works with either Apple’s Find My network or Google’s Find My Device  – which means you can find your missing item almost anywhere in the world. To use your Chipolo POP on an Android™ device, your device must be running Android 9 or later with Google Play Services installed. To use it on an Apple device, the latest version of iOS, iPadOS or macOS is recommended.

  • User safety built-in: Chipolo POP benefits from Apple’s Find My and Google’s Find My Device built-in safety and protection features, including unknown tracker alerts – notifications that let you know if an unfamiliar tracker is moving with you that work across both Android and iOS devices.

  • Loud sound: Easily locate your items with a loud ring that is 120db high.

  • Extra features available via the free companion Chipolo app:

    • Call Your Phone: Be able to ring your phone with your Chipolo POP – even if it’s on silent!

    • Out-of-range alerts (Android only): Get a friendly notification when you leave something behind.

    • Ringtone: Change your Chipolo POP’s ringtone with a different selection of tunes.

    • Selfie Remote: Use the Chipolo as a wireless shutter to take the perfect photo.

  • Eco-friendly product materials: All products are EU-made from approximately 50% recycled materials.

  • Paper packaging: A new look for packaging, designed with sustainability in mind the new packaging comes slimmer with a matte finish – and made from paper only

  • Bluetooth range: Now up to 300ft / 90m

  • Long, replaceable battery life: Lasts up to 1 year with the easy and sustainable option to replace the battery.

Chipolo POP App

“The tracking tag market has continued to grow over the years. In fact, the market has experienced a year-on-year growth of 7.76% in the last 4 years. It highlights the people’s demand for more convenience and peace of mind. The POP further answers this desire from the market – delivering a product that gives consumers what they want while reflecting Chipolo’s core values and mission to help people live their lives to the fullest.” said Primož Zelenšek, Co-founder and CEO at Chipolo.

The Chipolo POP will be available for purchase starting on April 14th on the official Chipolo website and on Amazon, and from May, it will be available in T-Mobile stores.

Amazon UK & US links:

BUY

See our Chipolo reviews

Video Review

Rethink Ireland and Vodafone Foundation Launch €540,000 Fund to Help Bridge the Digital Divide for Older Adults in Ireland

Nearly half (46%) of persons aged over 75 years had never used the internet according to CSO (2021). To help bridge this digital divide, Rethink Ireland and the Vodafone Foundation have launched the €540,000 “Hi Digital Fund”.

This two-year fund will support five innovative organisations that are providing services for older adults aged 65 and above to develop essential digital skills. Applications for the fund are open from today (14 April) and close on 26 May 2025. Applications can be made here Hi Digital Fund – Rethink Ireland

The fund will provide cash grants and business supports for social innovations that enhance digital literacy and inclusion for older adults in their community, bridging Ireland’s digital skills gap. It promotes innovative approaches to ensure no one is left behind, teaching essential skills like smartphone use, e-health and smart home tech.

The Hi Digital Fund has been created by Rethink Ireland – the funding body thinking differently to create a more just, equal and sustainable Ireland – and is supported by the Vodafone Foundation, private donors and Department of Rural and Community Development via the Dormant Accounts Fund.

“Digital exclusion is a silent crisis affecting thousands of older adults across Ireland.” said Deirdre Mortell, CEO of Rethink Ireland. “Through the Hi Digital Fund, we’re not just teaching tech skills—we’re reconnecting people to essential services, reducing isolation, and enabling independent aging. This fund represents a critical investment in ensuring no older person is left behind in our increasingly digital society.”

Head of Vodafone Foundation, Liz Roche stated: “At Vodafone Foundation, we believe that everyone, regardless of age or ability, should have access to the digital world. By funding Rethink Ireland,  we will grow to support five new organisations across Ireland so that they have the resources to help older adults improve digital literacy skills and online confidence. We’re dedicated to reaching even more isolated people and making technology accessible for all”.

Also supporting the launch, Roisin Mills, Programme and Training Commissioner from the Irish Girl Guides said: “At Irish Girl Guides, we believe in creating an equal and inclusive world for all. We are proud to partner with the Vodafone Foundation to deliver the Hi Digital programme, an initiative designed to empower older people with essential, real-world digital skills. Through this experience, not only our youth members are helping others to grow in confidence and ability, but they are also developing invaluable personal skills themselves, including communication, empathy, patience, and leadership”

This fund will support diverse community initiatives and sustainable digital literacy programmes that remove barriers for older people who are unfamiliar with the digital world. The Vodafone Foundation will donate €250,000 over two years, with an additional €20,000 from private donors, totalling €270,000. The Department of Rural and Community Development will match this amount via the Dormant Accounts Fund, resulting in a total fund of €540,000.

AI Expert Warns: 5 Things You Should Never Let Artificial Intelligence Do

Artificial intelligence has quickly become a huge part of our daily lives, making things easier across all kinds of industries. From helping us draft emails to suggesting the next thing we should buy, AI is showing up everywhere and transforming how we get things done. Joe Davies is a tech AI expert at fatjoe tells us more.
“AI can process data faster than we ever could, but when it comes to understanding the complexities of human emotion or making ethical decisions, there’s no replacement for the human brain. Technology enhances us, but it shouldn’t replace us.”
So, while AI is a great tool, it’s not a replacement for the human touch. Here are 5 tasks you should never let AI do:
1. Writing Your Resume or CV
Many turn to AI to help draft resumes or generate professional content. While these tools can suggest catchy phrases and templates, they miss the essential personal touch.
Why You Shouldn’t:
A resume isn’t just a list of jobs; it’s a reflection of your career journey, your growth, and what makes you stand out. AI struggles to incorporate the subtleties that differentiate you, such as a memorable story or a lesson learned on the job. A resume written by AI lacks the authenticity and personalization that makes you a unique candidate.
“AI can help structure your resume, but a true reflection of your journey, accomplishments, and personality can only be done through human personalization.”
2. Making Big Life Decisions (like moving or ending a relationship)
AI can give pros and cons or analyze options, but it can’t factor in your emotional state, intuition, or the things left unsaid.
Why You Shouldn’t: 
Life-changing choices aren’t just logical—they’re deeply emotional and nuanced. Only you can weigh what feels right based on your values, past experiences, and gut instinct.
“Some decisions require heart, not just data. That’s something AI will never truly understand.”
3. Making Critical Financial Decisions
AI tools can provide useful data analysis, but they can’t factor in the personal considerations that shape your financial situation.
Why You Shouldn’t: 
Whether it’s investing or saving, financial decisions are deeply personal. Your risk tolerance, long-term goals, and life circumstances should all influence the choices you make. While AI can process numbers efficiently, it lacks the ability to weigh these personal factors.
“AI may suggest investment strategies, but it can’t account for the personal side of financial decision-making. Only humans can truly align financial decisions with life goals.”
4. Medical Diagnoses
Although AI is increasingly used in healthcare to assist with diagnostics, it should never replace the judgment of a qualified medical professional.
Why You Shouldn’t:
Medical diagnoses require not only technical knowledge but also an understanding of patient history, symptoms, and personal circumstances. AI can provide support by analyzing medical data, but it cannot offer the holistic perspective a doctor or healthcare provider brings.
“AI can assist in diagnosing, but it should always be used as a complement, not a replacement, for medical professionals. Only a human can take into account the full picture of a patient’s health.”
5. Making Ethical and Moral Decisions
AI can help analyze data, but it falls short when it comes to making ethical choices.
Why You Shouldn’t:
Ethical and moral decisions often involve understanding societal impacts and complex human emotions. AI operates on logic, not on the ability to empathise or consider the broader human experience. While AI can offer data-driven insights, the final decision often requires human judgment and values.
“AI is a tool to assist in decision-making, but it shouldn’t be the sole decision-maker when it comes to ethics. Human judgment, empathy, and moral reasoning will always be necessary in these areas.”
AI is undeniably powerful and is reshaping industries at a rapid pace. However, the human element remains irreplaceable in many areas. By understanding where AI excels and where it falters, we can leverage its strengths while still preserving the critical role of human creativity, empathy, and decision-making.
“AI is a remarkable tool for efficiency, but it is crucial that we strike a balance and recognise where AI should assist, not replace, the human element.”

Ireland’s games industry stands at a crucial “inflection point”

In a challenging environment for the games industry, Ireland is creating “incredible incentives and structures” to support and “elevate” Irish game developers in “the way they deserve to be uplifted”.

This was the observation of Xalavier Nelson Jr., the BAFTA-nominated and Forbes 30 under 30 Studio Head of game developer and publisher Strange Scaffold, one of the key speakers at the FÍS Games Summit 2025, which took place last weekend in Galway, Ireland.

Mr Nelson was responding to the announcement at the Summit of the Digital Games Portfolio, a major new fund designed to further develop and strengthen the Irish games industry’s rapidly growing international reputation.

The Digital Games Portfolio is a €500,000 funding scheme, launched by Screen Ireland, and which will be managed by Ardán, the Galway based organisation supporting creatives in film, TV, games, and animation, and Imirt, the national organisation for game developers and creators in Ireland. 

The DGP will fund a variety of new initiatives, the first of which will be IndieDev 2025, a cross-border prototype fund in collaboration with NI Screen to help teams of creators turn their game ideas into prototypes.

The fund will also see Dublin and Galway become ‘incubators’ to support individuals at the early stage of their careers. There will also be a pilot development fund targeting established Irish game studios, to allow them develop IP within their work spaces.

The funding comes at what Ardán CEO, Alan Duggan, called a “pivotal” moment and “an inflection point” in the Irish games industry.

“There’s a tremendous enthusiasm and vigour in the Irish games industry,” he said. “We’re swelling into a wave and that’s really running contrary to a lot of what’s happening internationally.”

Colm Larkin, CEO of Imirt, said: “At a State level, Ireland is looking at games and games developers as a culturally relevant art form and is saying, ‘Yes, we need to support this.’ This is just going to be the first step towards really growing our sector.”

The Minister for Arts, Culture, Media, Communications and Sport Patrick O’Donovan TD said: “The international games industry represents a huge contestable market, one in which Ireland can excel based on our technical, design and storytelling competencies. This funding combined with the recently introduced tax credit for games are key steps along the government’s path to developing a national strategy for games.”

The future of the industry, AI, and creativity

In his address, Xalavier Nelson Jr., said the games industry “makes miraculous art” but is poor at delivering on time, within budget, and in certain instances, quality.

He noted how missing deadlines and exceeding budgets has become normalised within the industry, and said current industry models often prioritise long development cycles for single projects, leading to burnout and limiting opportunities for artists to experiment.

He called on game developers to recognise they are artists, but also encouraged them to develop a strong business sense, in order to “confront these realities”.

Industry legend Tom Hall (Commander Keen, Wolfenstein 3D, Doom), who now works in Ireland as Design Lead at the Galway based Romero Games, explored the creative process.

He encouraged game developers to embrace ‘Drift Time’, his concept of allowing the mind to wander freely in order to create. He encouraged Summit attendees to “play around with an idea” especially if it “may make you feel uncomfortable”.

Hall also advised developers to take a ‘bottom-up’ approach to game creation, in order to work out core gameplay issues and mechanics, instead of top-down design, where the story and universe are prioritised.

AI and its role in the Games Industry was addressed by Finlay MacAree, Technical Director at Xbox Game Studios. He said while AI can enhance the creative process by generating ideas, assets, or code, allowing developers to focus on higher-level design and storytelling, AI itself “will never replace art”.

“I want someone’s actual history, feelings, and emotions in the game,” he said, and warned that relying solely on AI will lead to generic outcomes. He said human creativity and input remained essential as it is informed by personal experiences and emotions, fostering innovation and originality.

As well as national and international guest speakers, the FÍS Games Summit 2025 had close to 300 people in attendance from Dublin, Belfast, Cork, and across Ireland. The Summit has doubled in size from 2024, with the addition of roundtables for developers of marginalised genders; writing and pitching; and a games room where attendees could try out new demos by Irish games companies.

Advise AI investment surpasses €8M as it launches GenAI agent for brands

Advise, the automated data, analytics and AI platform provider helping retail manufacturers and brand-owners to unlock revenues and margin growth, today launches a new GenAI-powered agent. The expert GenAI assistant has been trained by Advise engineers to enhance customer decision-making, giving them competitive advantage. It represents an €8M investment by the Dublin-based company in the development of its AI platform.

Advise’s GenAI agent is a major update to the company’s AI-powered SaaS platform and can help brands to reach actionable insights 10X faster than previous methods. The platform collates and harmonises sales, inventory and customer data from multiple sources into a single platform. The Advise analytics engine filters out data noise, identifies key patterns and presents the most critical information in real-time. The customised GenAI agent further enhances this process by translating complex analytics into clear, natural language explanations and recommendations, turning statistical outputs into human-digestible insights.

The latest release was created by Advise’s Dublin-based engineering team, using a customised and trained large language model (LLM). While more widely available LLMs are typically limited to chatbot-style interactions, Advise’s agent moves beyond this. The GenAI agent has been trained to augment the role of the category manager – the expert responsible for understanding product performance and optimising new product, pricing and promotion strategies. In doing so, the platform empowers consumer-packaged goods (CPG) brands such as Kerry, Dr. Oetker, Pilgrim Food Masters, Tayto and Britvic, to take decisive action that will result in revenue growth.

Advise has programmed the customised GenAI agent to work from a structured set of instructions and best practices. With the ability to personalise its output according to each customer, it can detect market shifts, anticipate trends and deliver guided and relevant insights tailored to business needs. The agent also ranks, through a News Feed on the Advise platform, its insights based on relevance and urgency, ensuring users receive tailored, high-value recommendations on their next steps.

Kevin McCarthy, CEO, Advise, said: “Many businesses are still focusing on data collection and analytics, but we have moved beyond that. We have automated data processing and evolved GenAI to augment and act as a valuable assistant to category managers; turning data into insights and decisive actions that drive margin growth and competitive advantage.

“At Advise, we believe that the future of category management isn’t just about gathering more data; it’s about making smarter decisions, faster. Our new GenAI agent doesn’t just analyse; it anticipates. It learns, adapts, and prioritises what matters most for each brand, providing tailored recommendations that translates directly into growth. It enables users to move beyond spreadsheets and dashboards to proactive decision-making.”

 LLMs are hugely powerful and are impacting every industry, but their output is non-deterministic and they suffer from creative hallucinations. This can make them unsuitable for numeric and statistical analysis unless carefully managed. What we have created is the next generation of CPG decision-making: where you don’t just gain trustworthy information, but a strategic advantage using GenAI. In a world where speed and precision define success, this is how the best brands will stay ahead.”