Challenges and opportunities for the application of artificial intelligence in the Republic of Ireland

Abstract

Abstract. The Republic of Ireland is one of the leaders in the field of artificial intelligence due to the effective interaction between academia and industry. According to the data, the Irish state ranks 10th among 54 countries and 3rd in Europe in terms of AI development in such aspects as implementation, innovation, and investment. In the Republic of Ireland, there is a growing demand for AI technologies in various sectors of the economy, including business, industry, and the public sector. There are centers specializing in AI research in the country. For example, ADAPT is a center of excellence in digital content based at Trinity College Dublin. In addition, Insight is one of the largest data analytics centers in Europe and has offices in four leading universities in the Republic of Ireland [5]. An important contribution to AI research in the Republic of Ireland was made by an international team of researchers from the University of Limerick, the largest Irish university located in the city of Limerick in the western part of the country. In their research paper “Sentiments and Discourses: How Ireland Perceives Artificial Intelligence”, the authors examine the complex dialectic of fear and hope that manifests itself in the public perception of AI in the Republic of Ireland. Ultimately, the successful integration of AI into society requires a regionally sensitive approach underpinned by ethical considerations. As part of the latest research on the development of AI in the Republic of Ireland, the scientific work of Irish scientists M. Lynch and L. Davis entitled “Artificial Intelligence: Background and Overview of the Current Legal Framework in Ireland and the EU” is of interest. In this study, the authors attempt to provide a comprehensive overview of artificial intelligence and review the political and regulatory approaches to its application in the Republic of Ireland and the EU. The paper examines the background and development of the first international regulation governing artificial intelligence: the EU Artificial Intelligence Act 2024 [8]. Most recently, in 2024, the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) adopted a revised definition of an AI system. The current version of the OECD Artificial Intelligence Council Recommendation defines an AI system as follows: “An AI system is a machine system that, in order to achieve explicit or implicit goals, determines, based on input, how to generate output, including predictions, content, recommendations, or decisions that may affect a physical or virtual environment.” Different AI systems differ in the level of autonomy and adaptability after implementation. The OECD Artificial Intelligence Council Recommendation, also known as the OECD AI Principles, is an “intergovernmental standard on AI” and currently has 47 participants, including the Republic of Ireland and the EU. According to one AI expert, “the future of artificial intelligence is the future of work ”[7].