Ciarán O’Connor from Athlone pictured at the ‘Alice Asks’ roundtable discussion on artificial intelligence (AI) at the Marker Hotel, Dublin.
Athlone man Ciarán O’Connor shared his thoughts on artificial intelligence (AI) at a panel discussion at the Marker Hotel in Dublin last week.
Ciaran is a senior analyst at the Institute of Strategic Dialogue, a nonprofit organization working to reverse the trend of polarization, extremism and disinformation around the world.
Last week’s event, “Alice Asks… Is AI a Force for Evil or Good?” brought together a panel of experts to explore the importance of ethical considerations in relation to AI, the creative opportunities it presents, and the regulatory frameworks needed to guide its development and implementation nationally and globally.
Hosted by Alice Public Relations, one of Ireland’s leading PR agencies, the event was moderated by seasoned presenter Eileen Dunne.
Other speakers included Barry Scannell, member of the Irish AI Advisory Council and partner in William Fry’s technology practice, specialising in AI; Adele Keane, COO and Creative Director at augmented reality start-up Imvizar; and Martina Quinn, founder and CEO of Alice and current chair of the Public Relations Consultants Association of Ireland.
Commenting on the event, Alice CEO Martina Quinn said: “I believe society is currently at a critical juncture in terms of deciding how AI is deployed and used.
“On the one hand, this technology has breathtaking potential to address major global challenges like the climate crisis, health inequalities and the challenges we face as our populations age.
“However, a very small number of tech titans currently control how AI evolves, and their primary motivation is profit, not societal gain.
“While AI holds enormous potential for the common good, it also poses a terrifying threat to humanity. The technology can be used – and is already being used – to further dehumanize war and exacerbate violent conflict. It has profound implications for how we consume information, for public trust in state institutions, and for democracy around the world.
“And on a day-to-day basis, it obviously has implications for how we work and live, and how our families manage their lives,” she said.
