Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Gabhaim buíochas leis an gCathaoirleach Gníomhach and I thank the Minister of State for coming into the Chamber to speak on this issue in which I know he has a deep personal interest and passion. As we know, artificial intelligence and machine learning are transformative technologies and are about solving very complex issues. We are already seeing it happening in everything from legal contracts being checked to identifying pieces of music or of birdsong, and it is being used in drone and machine delivery of food. Even yesterday, the most recent announcement about the Dublin MetroLink referred to it being an automated train system with trains driven by artificial intelligence, AI, machine learning.

I have no doubt we will see robots using AI machine learning and 3-D printers to deliver homes. It is interesting that while some of this new world fills us with fear, the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs reported two weeks ago that the deployment of AI will not result in any job losses but that we need to adapt and change as a society to avail of the opportunities it presents.

I was very happy to see the publication in July last year of the strategy, AI - Here for Good: A National Artificial Intelligence Strategy for Ireland. The concern when a strategy is published is that it will be left on a shelf and no progress will be made. I am aware, however, that the Minister of State has appointed a national AI ambassador and set up the enterprise digital advisory forum. In addition, in a very welcome step, he set up the digital transition fund which will support business in adapting and using AI. I know that there also are plans to engage with young people.

Key in terms of Government strategy, and this was signalled in the AI strategy, has to be the building of trust among people. We have seen in recent years fears, unfounded in many cases, being built up by small groups around science and technology. I am speaking here about anti-vaxxers and anti-5G groups. It is essential, therefore, that the Government take an active role in ensuring that people understand the potential of AI and the opportunities it presents. That is not just a challenge for Government. Business, higher education and others also have a responsibility to inform the public debate on this.

I note the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs recommended two weeks ago that we should have a new AI apprenticeship. I would certainly like to see that. The expert group also recommended that a free AI course be made available for all citizens so that they can learn how to more effectively use and deploy AI and also simply understand how it operates.

The Government approach in the AI strategy, which I welcome, is very much based on human rights and ethics. This has to be a whole-of-government approach. We can deploy AI in a clever way, for instance, in meeting some of our climate change targets in agriculture. If we use AI effectively, we could ensure the effective use of agricultural resources and monitor soil and animals.

I am concerned about moves to introduce facial recognition technology, even in these Houses. Facial recognition technology can be used for good. For instance, in India up to 10,000 children who were missing were identified using facial recognition technology. In contrast, however, we have China, which has effectively become a surveillance society through the use of facial recognition technology. It is important that if we deploy this technology, it is done with full public consultation and informed by human rights and ethics.

I am a little concerned that the Department of Justice intends to roll out its own AI strategy. The use of AI or facial recognition technology could be welcome in fighting crime but it is essential that it adhere to the terms of the Government strategy, with a particular emphasis, obviously, on ethics and the protection of human rights.