The Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys, and Minister of State for Trade, Employment, Business, EU Digital Single Market and Data Protection, Pat Breen TD, have announced the launch of a public consultation on the development of an national strategy on artificial intelligence (AI).

Future Jobs Ireland 2019, published in March last, includes the commitment to develop a national AI strategy for Ireland.

The Department of Business, Enterprise and Innovation is leading the development of this cross-government srategy, which will provide a high-level direction to the design, development and adoption of AI in Ireland and is anticipated to be finalised by year-end with a launch in early 2020.

Better understand views of the public

The purpose of this consultation is to better understand the views of the public in Ireland on the opportunities, enablers and challenges for AI in Ireland.

Minister Humphreys said: “Future Jobs Ireland is ambitious and its delivery is built on engagement. This consultation offers an opportunity for the public and all interested parties to air their views on AI and will help inform the development of policy in this very important area.”

The public consultation commenced today and will run for a period of three weeks, concluding on November 7, 2019. It is available here: Public Consultation on the Development of a National Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and submissions are being invited from all interested parties.

The consultation is also being brought directly to the attention of a range of stakeholders with a particular interest in artificial intelligence.

Minister Breen said: “The development of a national AI strategy is an important milestone contained within Future Jobs Ireland 2019.

"AI is bringing, and will continue to bring, huge benefits to individuals, businesses and communities throughout Ireland, but there are also a number of challenges that we face in adopting AI technologies.

Consulted widely

"In developing the strategy my officials have already consulted widely including with government organisations, industry representatives, researchers and educators and non-governmental organisations and civil society.

"We would now like to hear the views of members of the public, so if you have an interest in this area I would encourage you to make your views known.

"This is an opportunity for the department to take into account the issues that matter to you in supporting all of those in Irish society to take full advantage of the opportunities and meet the challenges posed by AI, now and in to the future.”