E186 ‘Building a Safer Digital World for Children’ with Chirp’s Rena Maycock

Today’s guest is Rena Maycock, Founder at Chirp. Rena sat down with host Mark Kelly on the show after Chirp won the 2024 AI Award for Best Use of Responsible AI and Ethics to share insights into the remarkable progress of her company, her dedication to child protection and the critical milestones on her path to success.

Rena’s adventure began almost seven years ago, a period marked by the arduous task of securing the necessary funding to bring her groundbreaking AI-driven product to market. The journey to secure the initial €2.8 million grant from the Disruptive Technology Innovation Fund and an additional private raise of €1.67 million was long and challenging. With a disruptive concept demanding a substantial financial commitment, the early days were a test of resolve.

Fast forward to today and Chirp has emerged as a leader in the field of AI applications, collecting prestigious awards that provide independent validation for its solutions. For Rena and her team, these accolades are more than just trophies; they represent recognition for years of hard work and the impact of their technology in protecting children online. The team’s ability to demonstrate their product’s capabilities at events like the AI Awards underscores the incredible advancements they’ve achieved.

Key to Chirp’s success has been its focus on building custom AI models to address specific domains of concern: cyberbullying, grooming, and suicide and self-harm prevention. Unlike generic language models, Chirp’s approach involves collecting real-world examples of harmful content to continuously refine their AI systems. Although Rena describes the process of acquiring high-quality data as “agonisingly hard,” the result is a valuable proprietary dataset that distinguishes Chirp in the competitive AI landscape.

Rena candidly discusses the hurdles faced along the way, including timing challenges, regulatory shifts and the impact of global events like COVID-19. However, these obstacles have only strengthened the company’s resolve. Strategic partnerships with organisations such as the GAA and the IRFU have facilitated the collection of critical data, while collaborations with major telcos are helping position Chirp for rapid scaling.

Looking to the future, Rena is poised to take Chirp to new heights. The company’s licensing model, partnering with tier-one telcos, promises a path to rapid expansion without the traditional marketing costs associated with direct-to-consumer sales strategies. With an eye on emerging markets and a scalable business model, Chirp is equipped to adapt to varying economic landscapes and continue advancing their mission of child safety online.

At the core of Chirp’s operations is an unwavering commitment to ethics and child protection. Rena emphasises the importance of working closely with academic and ethical institutions to ensure the company’s processes meet the highest standards. This ethical foundation not only enhances trust among stakeholders but also reinforces the value of Chirp’s technology in safeguarding children from online dangers.

Rena’s story is one of determination, resilience and visionary leadership. As Chirp continues to make strides in AI innovation, Rena and her team demonstrate that true success is the result of steady growth, strategic foresight and a deep commitment to creating positive change in the world.