UCD Centre for Digital Policy Unveil AI Video Series

The UCD Centre for Digital Policy, with the support of Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary TD and Microsoft, today announced the release of a newly created AI video series to help build AI policy understanding and capabilities among policymakers, developers and others.

Bringing expert academic, legal, industry, political and policy expertise and insights together, the five short videos provide a solid base for anyone interested in deepening their knowledge and understanding of this dynamic technology and social policy space. Contributors include Minister Dara Calleary, AI Ambassador Patricia Scanlon, and Drs. Elizabeth Farries and Susan Leavy from UCD; AI Advisory Council member Barry Scannell; and TrialView’s Stephen Dowling.

The video series builds on a collaboration between UCD and Microsoft, which saw the introduction of the Microsoft-UCD Digital Policy Programme at UCD in 2020 with the goal of building digital policy capability amongst the public and private sector in Ireland and across the wider EU.

The announcement was made at the Digital Ireland Conference organised by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment today in Dublin Castle. The event sought to underline Ireland’s position as a digital leader at the heart of European and global digital developments and demonstrate Government’s commitment to drive greater clarity, coherence and cooperation in digital in Ireland.

Welcoming the release of the AI video series, Minister Dara Calleary TD said: “Ireland can lead in responsible AI and innovative AI and be at the core of AI innovation in Europe. As we look ahead, skilling up in AI will give people the skills and confidence to deal with and manage AI. Skills are also crucial to understanding ethical AI and person-centred AI, which are two key principles of Ireland’s national AI strategy.”

Dr Elizabeth Farries from the UCD Centre for Digital Policy said: “Communication and comprehension need to occur along every point of the AI supply and development chain. We need communication and understanding of ethics from researchers and developers to Governments embracing these technologies. That is why we recommend capacity building for policymakers and developers alike through education, including the programmes offered at UCD Centre for Digital Policy.”

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Lead and Vice President of Microsoft Global Operations Service Center, said: “AI is a transformative technology that has huge potential to empower workers, businesses and communities across Ireland. As the use of AI tools and technologies accelerates, it is important that both the policy opportunities and challenges created by the technology are well understood.

By providing insights from a wide-ranging set of experts across academia, policy and industry, the new AI video series produced in collaboration with the UCD Centre for Digital Policy can help to deepen understanding in these key areas and ensure responsible AI principles are put into practice.”

The AI Video Series, along with a similar series on Cyber Security produced last year, are available to view at www.digitalpolicy.ie.