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Small Islands Big PictureThe podcast that puts Small Island Developing States in focus Author: ODI Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)
Directors of ODI's Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative, Emily Wilkinson and Matt Bishop, cut to the heart of the political, economic, social and environmental challenges facing SIDS, and how their incredible people are responding to them. Every episode includes expert guests from the Caribbean, Pacific and elsewhere. To get in touch, visit https://odi.org/en/about/our-work/resilient-islands/ or send us an email to info@odi.org with "small islands" in the subject line. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Language: en Genres: Earth Sciences, Nature, Science Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Is AI a threat or an opportunity for small islands?
Episode 20
Monday, 1 December, 2025
The seemingly unstoppable rise of “big data” and Artificial Intelligence is reshaping and destabilising the global economy. But where do small islands fit into this? Could digital technologies like AI level the playing field, or do they represent a new form of technocolonialism? Can Small Island Developing States (SIDS) embed them quickly enough to benefit from new economic opportunities, or are they likely to be left further behind? In this episode, Emily and Matt speak to a number of experts grappling with these kinds of questions. In our "Island Voices" segment Kunal Singh from Fiji talks about the impact of AI on climate finance. We then break down the issue with Preeya Mohan from Trinidad and Courtney Lindsay from Jamaica in our “Explainer”. Next, in the “Big Picture” we speak to Külli Sarapuu, from Estonia, and Donald Baldeosingh from Trinidad, two people who are grappling with the public policy implications of digitalisation. Finally, in “No Stupid Questions”, Emily and Matt ask whether the risks of AI are overstated by critics. Featuring:Emily Wilkinson (host) | RESI Director and Principal Research Fellow at ODI GlobalMatthew Bishop (host) | RESI Director and Senior Lecturer at the University of SheffieldKunal Singh | Climate Finance Access Network (CFAN) Advisor, Pacific Community (SPC)Preeya Mohan | Senior Fellow, Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Studies, University of the West IndiesCourtney Lindsay | RESI Director and Senior Research Officer, ODI GlobalKülli Sarapuu | Associate Professor, Tallinn University of TechnologyDonald Baldeosingh | Founder, Carbon Zero Institute of Trinidad and TobagoResources:Programme page | Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI)Kunal’s LinkedIn page| Kunal SinghPreeya and Courtney’s report | Engines of Growth: Building Knowledge Economies in SIDSAnother blog they wrote with Emily | Why SIDS need to act quickly on AIPreeya’s university webpage | Dr Preeya MohanDonald’s CZITT webpage | Carbon Zero Institute of T&TKülli’s university webpage | Dr Külli SarapuuAn important UN report | Small Island Digital States Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
