Data privacy just got a shot in the arm. Ethyca, led by founder and CEO Cillian Kieran, is pushing the envelope with trusted data infrastructure. Their platform helps companies find sensitive data, manage consent, handle privacy requests, and enforce data use rules.
Built around Fides, an open-source governance language, Ethyca’s new project Astralis is an AI governance layer. It combines automated regulatory assessments with purpose-based access controls. The company claims Astralis slashes assessment time from 40 to 60 hours of manual effort down to just 20 to 40 minutes. That’s a serious cut in red tape.
Meanwhile, Akhil Verghese, CEO of Krazimo, isn’t impressed by all the AI fanfare. He says most AI investments fail to change how businesses actually run. The hard truth: flashy AI does not guarantee operational impact.
Over in media, Sashin Govender’s CredibilityX continues to shake things up. Founded in 2015, CredibilityX supports more than 2,500 media agencies and white-label partners. It offers access to over 1,700 publications and delivers campaigns across 90 countries. Govender calls it the “Uber or Airbnb of media” because agencies keep client relationships while leveraging CredibilityX’s infrastructure.
On the manufacturing front, Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR) launched in 2023 by Brian Klos and Darragh de Stonndún. AIR operates in pharmaceutical production, precision assembly, and complex systems integration. Robotics is edging into complex industries, proving automation’s reach keeps expanding.
Niluka Kavanagh, behavioural science expert and future-of-work advisor, is expanding her international speaking presence this August. With experience in over 14 countries, she founded KPMG’s Behavioural Science Unit and created the Gravitas programme for impactful speakers. Microsoft named her one of its Top 10 Speakers to Follow in 2025.
Kavanagh offers a blunt warning: “People often say that AI won’t replace you, but someone using AI will.” She adds, “In a world where AI can generate endless information, what people remember is how you made them think, feel and act.” A reminder that AI is only as powerful as the humans wielding it.
Based on
- Cillian Kieran, Founder and CEO of Ethyca – Interview Series — unite.ai
- Akhil Verghese on Why the Next AI Shift Is Leaning Toward AI-Native — usatoday.com
- Sashin Govender built CredibilityX into one of the world’s largest media distribution ecosystems | Business Insider Africa — africa.businessinsider.com
- How Brian Klos and Darragh de Stonndún Built Automated Industrial Robotics (AIR) Into an Engineering-Led Approach to American Manufacturing — usatoday.com
- Niluka Kavanagh Expands International Speaking Presence as Demand Grows for Human-Centred AI Leadership | Currency News | Financial and Business News | Markets Insider — markets.businessinsider.com
