TechIreland National AI Meet 2024
The West of Ireland played host to this year’s TechIreland National AI Meet, a dynamic gathering that brought together thought leaders, innovators, and AI enthusiasts to discuss the ever-evolving role of artificial intelligence in Ireland and beyond. This event showcased Ireland’s growing status as a powerhouse in AI development.
The day started with opening remarks from Brian Caulfield, Chair of Scale Ireland who highlighted that “AI is a technological revolution on the same scale of the internet itself” and set the tone for the discussions.
Patricia Scanlon, Chair of Ireland’s AI Council, highlighted the profound impact AI is set to have on our world. “AI is the Fourth Industrial Revolution,” Scanlon remarked, emphasizing how staying within ethical and regulatory boundaries will allow us to achieve incredible feats. Her words resonated deeply as attendees considered AI’s potential to reshape industries and improve lives.
Barry Downes from Sure Valley Ventures followed, sharing exciting insights into the exponential growth AI is set to experience. Citing research collaborations between Getvisibility, OpenAI, and Forcepoint, Downes added the market is set to balloon to $2.57 trillion by 2032. He teased an upcoming white paper from Sure Valley Ventures, focusing on key trends such as chip manufacturing, energy requirements, and agentic frameworks- trends that will shape the AI landscape in the coming years. Downes urged Galway companies to seize the opportunity and get in touch for potential investment.
Elise Landman from Google captivated the audience with real-world examples of AI’s transformative power. Landman explained that 73% of AI use cases are in customer service, with chatbots leading the way, while 65% are in software development, underscoring AI’s growing role in shaping our daily interactions. Her four key takeaways were powerful: choosing the right platform, differentiating through unique data, future-proofing AI investments, and ensuring AI is enterprise-ready for real-world applications.
Ireland’s AI readiness was a focal point for Peter O’Connell from Code Institute. He proudly stated that Ireland ranks 12th in Europe for AI readiness, a promising statistic for the nation’s tech ecosystem. Peter discussed how countries like Germany lead in AI by sharing computational resources, engaging in active consultations with their workforce, and setting up clear AI policies. He called on Ireland to harmonize its AI strategies across sectors and industries, while stressing the importance of low-code and no-code approaches to democratize AI development.
Minister of State for Trade Promotion and Digital Transformation Dara Cellary took the stage to emphasise the need for Ireland to remain a leader in the global AI race. With eight of the top ten global information companies already in Ireland, he highlighted the job opportunities AI will continue to create. Minister Cellary addressed common fears around AI, encouraging the country to embrace the challenges and capitalise on the benefits this technology promises. “The AI train has left the station, and we are on it,” he stated, calling for continued investment and education to keep Ireland competitive.
The day also saw demonstrations from Jonathan Eustace of Microsoft, showcasing how Microsoft Copilot is unlocking new opportunities by integrating AI into everyday workflows, and Joe Dunleavy from Endava, who spoke about agentic AI, which are autonomous AI systems capable of executing complex tasks with minimal human intervention. Dunleavy described how AI agents can collaborate within a business, solving critical problems while seamlessly interacting with existing systems.
Paul Walsh from Boston Scientific highlighted AI’s role in medtech, focusing on how AI-powered microscopes and predictive algorithms are helping improve patient outcomes. This technology is setting a new standard for precision and care in the healthcare industry.
Jonah Craig from AWS took a deep dive into generative AI, using examples like Ryanair’s 3,300 daily flights to illustrate how predictive algorithms are improving operations. He noted that 96% of AI/ML unicorns, including companies like Stripe and Airbnb, are AWS customers – solidifying Amazon’s pivotal role in the AI ecosystem.
There was also a nod to homegrown talent with Aundrilla Das from GClinics, a startup that participated in PorterShed’s Founder Weekend last year. GClinics is revolutionizing healthcare through AI-powered genomics, enabling precision medicine that can significantly improve human healthspan.
Deirdre Veldon, Managing Director from The Irish Times discussed the seismic impact of AI on media, content generation and what that may look like in the future. Emma Redmond and Colin Jarvis from OpenAI shared insights into their Dublin HQ’s use of the Irish language for their meeting rooms – all cleverly named with the letters ‘ai’ integrated into them including ‘draíocht (magic)’ and ‘fáilte (welcome)’. As well as showcasing OpenAi’s BeMyEyes product which aids visually impaired customers.
John Durcan from the IDA wrapped up the day with a compelling overview of why Ireland is positioned to lead in AI, with 13 of the world’s top 20 technology companies having a base here. From Insight SFI Centre’s world-leading data analytics work to the collaborative research happening in institutes like ADAPT and LERO, the future of AI in Ireland is brighter than ever.
As the day drew to a close, a sense of optimism could be felt around the room. With AI becoming a critical driver of innovation, the TechIreland National AI Meet was a powerful reminder of the role Ireland will play in this transformative journey. Shoutout to TechIreland, Enterprise Ireland, IDA Ireland, Data2Sustain, iTag, Code Institute, BearingPoint, and Skillnet for supporting this inspiring event and ensuring AI continues to thrive across the island of Ireland.
Article by Nigel Moran, PorterShed
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