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You might be wary of using digital currencies, but you probably already do. Salaries, benefits and pensions are now paid direct to banks, and when you buy a coffee, you may well use a contactless card to pay, without a flutter of a 5 pound note in sight. So what are online cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, and why won't some people touch those with a barge pole? And when you hear about them, another word always pops up - Blockchain. What does it do? And how could both become important when we start to use the next version of the Internet, called web 3.0? Technology has already completely altered our lives, and Artificial Intelligence may transform our world to an even greater degree. This series is your chance to get back to basics and really understand key technology terms. What's an algorithm? where is "the Cloud" and what are VR and AR? What's the difference between machine and deep learning in artificial intelligence, and is it just our jobs under threat, or is it much worse than that? And before we get to the destruction of humanity, should we all be using Bitcoin? Our experts will explain in the very simplest terms everything you need to know about the tech that underpins your day. We'll explore the rich history of how all these systems developed, and where they may be going next.Presenter: Spencer Kelly Producers: Ravi Naik and Nick Holland Editor: Clare Fordham Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Big data is vast, unwieldy information that is so huge that normal software traditionally used to analyse it just can't cope. It's not new. Ever since humans organised ourselves, we've been keeping records, and gathering information, from scrolls, to bank ledgers and now your internet browsing history. But his information is now flowing into organisations at a faster rate and in greater volume than ever before. Taking a good look at it could provide meaningful insights. But how can you spot patterns in the chaos, without the job taking forever? And what insights could this mega data analysis provide? Technology has already completely altered our lives, and Artificial Intelligence may transform our world to an even greater degree. This series is your chance to get back to basics and really understand key technology terms. What's an algorithm? where is "the Cloud" and what exactly is Blockchain? What's the difference between machine and deep learning in artificial intelligence, and is it just our jobs under threat, or is it much worse than that? And before we get to the destruction of humanity, should we all be using Bitcoin? Our experts will explain in the very simplest terms everything you need to know about the tech that underpins your day. We'll explore the rich history of how all these systems developed, and where they may be going next.Presenter: Spencer Kelly Producers: Ravi Naik and Nick Holland Editor: Clare Fordham Production Coordinator: Janet Staples

Do you know your Blockchain from your Bitcoin, or your Virtual reality from your Augmented Reality? Are you clueless about AI but are worried it might take your job?If so, you’ve come to the right place.Welcome to Understand: Tech and AI.The pace of change in technology is daunting - and new developments are happening all the time. Artificial Intelligence has exploded into the public consciousness. So it’s ever-more important for us to understand where these technological enhancements are coming from and how we can best use them.In each episode we'll demystify all the technology that’s become part of all our daily lives, and take the sting out of those buzzwords that tech companies are so fond of.On Understand Tech and AI we’ll take one concept per episode, explain what it is and what it does - without any technical jargon - so that you can get a better grasp of the technology that’s in your hand, on your desk or in your living room.Welcome to Understand: Tech and AI from BBC Radio 4. Subscribe now on BBC Sounds.Presenter: Spencer Kelly Producers: Ravi Naik and Nick Holland Editor: Clare Fordham