Tag: education

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Microsoft Introduces AI Skills Initiatives for Rural Areas in Ireland

Microsoft has unveiled plans to introduce ‘AI Skill-Up-A-Thons’ in rural communities nationwide, alongside AI masterclasses tailored for businesses in the Kerry region.

The rural upskilling initiatives aim to furnish individuals with fundamental knowledge, skills, and proficiencies in Artificial Intelligence.

Participants completing the complimentary four-hour course will receive an industry-recognized Career Essentials Certificate in Generative AI and will be granted access to LinkedIn Premium, aiding those seeking to forge a career in AI.

Scheduled courses will be held in various counties such as Cavan, Galway, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Tipperary in the upcoming weeks, with additional locations set to be disclosed in the months ahead

The inaugural ‘AI Skill-Up-A-Thon’ took place at the Connected Hub in Knockmore, Co Mayo, and was attended by Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary.

“AI tools and technology hold significant potential for reshaping how we operate and conduct business,” he said.

“To fully leverage their advantages and realize the objectives of our National AI Strategy, individuals and businesses need to cultivate sought-after AI skills and capabilities.“

The AI courses are delivered in collaboration with Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) and enjoy the backing of local authorities, education and training boards, and the extensive network of Connected Hubs nationwide.

“We aspire to empower individuals of all demographics and backgrounds with the skills and insights needed to thrive in an AI-driven economy through these novel AI learning pathways,” said James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Vice President Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre.

“Furthermore, our forthcoming AI masterclasses, developed in partnership with the RDI Hub in Kerry, will aid businesses in acquiring the tools and expertise required to swiftly embrace AI and foster future growth.“

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

Accessible for purchase on Amazon, AI Ireland’s latest book “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” is your must read. For executives, policy architects or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Book an AI Presentation with AI Ireland today

Discover tailored presentations designed to meet the unique needs of your industry. Gain invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies, ensuring your organisation stays ahead of the curve. Equip your team and stakeholders with the knowledge they need to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the chance to enlighten your team and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry. Secure your presentation now!

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Navigating the Future: Insights from AI Ireland’s Mark Kelly on Newstalk Radio

In a thought-provoking conversation on Newstalk Radio, Mark Kelly, Founder of AI Ireland, sat down with renowned presenter Pat Kenny to explore the intricate landscape of Artificial Intelligence and its impact on the future of work, the pivotal role of education, and the careful consideration of AI’s unintended consequences. 

This wide-ranging interview offered profound insights into the evolving relationship between technology and humanity, highlighting the potential benefits and challenges we face as we step into a future increasingly shaped by AI.

The Future of Work: Embracing Change with Optimism

Pat Kenny opened the discussion by delving into the future of work, a topic of immense importance as AI continues to redefine the boundaries of what’s possible. 

Mark shared his optimistic vision, emphasising how AI can enhance productivity, foster innovation, and create new opportunities within various industries. He highlighted the pros of AI integration, such as increased efficiency and the potential to free humans from repetitive tasks, allowing for a focus on creative and strategic endeavours that require a human touch.

However, this transformation isn’t without its challenges. Mark candidly discussed the potential cons, including the displacement of jobs and the necessity for workers to adapt to a rapidly changing employment landscape. This shift underscores the importance of upskilling and reskilling, ensuring that the workforce is prepared to navigate the new dynamics introduced by AI advancements.

The Importance of Education: Preparing for a New Era

A significant portion of the conversation was dedicated to the role of education in preparing for the AI-driven future. Mark stressed the need for education systems to evolve, incorporating AI literacy and digital skills training from an early age. He argued that fostering a culture of lifelong learning is essential to enable individuals to stay relevant and competitive in an ever-changing job market.

According to Mark, education should not only focus on technical skills but also on developing critical thinking, creativity and emotional intelligence. These human-centric skills will become increasingly valuable as AI takes on more cognitive tasks, highlighting the need for a balanced approach to education that prepares individuals for all aspects of the future workforce.

Navigating Unintended Consequences: A Call for Responsible AI

Perhaps one of the most compelling parts of the interview was the discussion on the unintended consequences of AI. Pat raised concerns about the ethical implications and potential risks associated with widespread AI adoption. 

In response, Mark provided examples of how these issues might manifest, such as biases in AI algorithms that could lead to unfair decision-making processes or the misuse of AI technology.

Conclusion

Mark’s conversation with Pat Kenny on Newstalk Radio served as a compelling reminder of the transformative power of AI and the importance of thoughtful engagement with technology. 

As we look to the future, it’s clear that education, ethical considerations and a commitment to inclusivity will be key to unlocking the full potential of AI for the betterment of society.

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

Accessible for purchase on Amazon, AI Ireland’s latest book “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” is your must read for 2024. For executives, policy architects or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Book an AI Presentation with AI Ireland today

Discover tailored presentations designed to meet the unique needs of your industry. Gain invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies, ensuring your organisation stays ahead of the curve. Equip your team and stakeholders with the knowledge they need to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the chance to enlighten your team and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry. Secure your presentation now!

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Recap of the Creative Technology for Educators Event 2023

The Creative Technology for Educators Event, held on Tuesday, 14th November 2023, at The Foundry in Google’s Dublin Office was a resounding success. 

Organised by Kinia, this event aimed to empower educators with future-focused skills and learning opportunities. The event, free of charge but limited in capacity, attracted a diverse group of educators, industry professionals and youth representatives.

Highlight: Mark Kelly’s Participation

Mark Kelly, CEO of AI Ireland, participated in the panel discussions and a subsequent workshop on podcasting. 

With his extensive experience interviewing over 500 leaders in AI, Mark brought invaluable insights to the discussions.

Panel Discussion Recap:

The event featured several engaging panel discussions on topics including:

  1. “Addressing the Skills Gap”
  2. “AI: The Future and Impact on Education”
  3. “Building Inclusive Careers and Learning Pathways”

These discussions provided deep dives into current educational challenges and the role of AI in shaping future learning.

Educator TechTalks:

Educators shared their experiences and projects that resonated with young people. 

These sessions allowed for a practical exchange of ideas and strategies that have been successful in engaging students.

Networking Sessions:

Dedicated networking time provided a platform for attendees to connect, share interests and discuss collaborative opportunities, fostering a sense of community and shared purpose.

Podcasting Workshop with Mark Kelly:

Mark Kelly was part of a workshop on podcasting, sharing his journey of completing over 500 podcasts with AI leaders across Europe and North America. 

His practical advice and insights were particularly beneficial for educators looking to explore podcasting as a tool for engagement and learning.

Testimonial from Marianne Checkley, CEO of Kinia:

Marianne Checkley, CEO of Kinia, praised Mark Kelly’s contribution: 

“Mark’s fireside chat to our senior leadership and community of educators was a resounding success, sparking a lively dialogue that energised STEM and inclusion-based discussions throughout the entire day. His insights from industry and engaging presentation style inspired a dynamic exchange of ideas, setting a vibrant tone for our event. His input made a valuable contribution to a tone of curiosity and inquiry at our event“.

Conclusion

The Creative Technology for Educators Event 2023 was a significant step in bringing together educators and industry leaders to discuss and shape the future of education. The insights and discussions from this event are expected to have a lasting impact on the participating educators and their approach to teaching and learning.

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

AI Ireland are excited to unveil our new book, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” which is now accessible for purchase on Amazon. For executives, policy architects, or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Now available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Book an AI Presentation today

AI Ireland offers tailored presentations catering to your industry’s needs, providing invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies. Stay ahead of the curve and equip your organisation with the knowledge it needs to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enlighten your team and stakeholders. Book a presentation today and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry.

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Education

E130 John Clancy, Founder and CEO at Galvia

Welcome to episode E130 of the AI Ireland podcast, the show that explores the applications and research of Data Science, Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence on the island of Ireland.

Our mission is to increase the use of AI for the benefit of our society, our competitiveness and everyone living in Ireland.

Today’s guest is John Clancy, Founder and CEO at Galvia. Based in Galway, Galvia’s mission is to make AI accessible to all organisations, regardless of size. They believe teams should be able to access the benefits of an AI platform and empowered to focus on what matters most, whether that’s value creation or more engaged customers.

Galvia were a finalist in the Best Application of AI in a Startup at last month’s AI Awards for addressing the University of Galway’s pandemic-induced challenges with an AI-driven student engagement platform named Cara. It helped reduce staff workload by 40%, saving 1500+ hours and instantly resolved 84% of student queries.

Topics include:

  • Creating an AI-driven platform to aid student engagement
  • Applying AI to simplify student support processes
  • Training university data to prioritise top student queries intuitively
  • Deploying securely in private cloud while prioritising data governance
  • An AI-driven content system to aid mental health support pathways for students
  • Data provisioning challenges in diverse tech stacks for machine learning
Subscribe to the AI Ireland Podcast

AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution

AI Ireland are excited to unveil our new book, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution,” which is now accessible for purchase on Amazon. For executives, policy architects, or technology aficionados seeking to make sense of the intricate world of AI, “AI Unleashed: Navigating the AI Revolution” is your essential handbook. Now available on Amazon Kindle or hard copy, this book furnishes you with the expertise and instruments required to employ AI both effectively and ethically.

Book an AI Presentation today

AI Ireland offers tailored presentations catering to your industry’s needs, providing invaluable insights into the transformative power of AI technologies. Stay ahead of the curve and equip your organisation with the knowledge it needs to confidently embrace the future.

Don’t miss the opportunity to enlighten your team and stakeholders. Book a presentation today and explore how innovation is positively impacting your industry.

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50 AI-Prompts to Ignite Critical Thinking in Secondary Schools

Artificial Intelligence is no longer a subject of science fiction; it’s a reality that is transforming our world in unprecedented ways. As AI continues to evolve, it’s crucial that the next generation are not just consumers, but that they also understand the intricacies of these technologies. This article aims to provide secondary school teachers with 50 AI-related prompts that can be used to ignite critical thinking and discussion among students.

 

Section 1: The Basics of AI

Artificial Intelligence is a broad field that aims to create machines capable of intelligent behaviour. Understanding the basics is the first step in demystifying AI.

  • What is Artificial Intelligence? Explain in your own words.
  • Compare and contrast AI, Machine Learning and Deep Learning.
  • Discuss the ethical considerations surrounding AI.
  • How does AI differ from human intelligence?
  • Explain the Turing Test and its significance in AI.
Section 2: AI in Everyday Life

From personalised recommendations to voice-activated assistants, AI is becoming an integral part of our daily lives.

  • List five ways in which AI impacts your daily life.
  • How is AI used in healthcare?
  • Discuss the role of AI in autonomous vehicles.
  • How does AI contribute to climate change solutions?
  • Explain how AI is used in content recommendations, like Netflix or YouTube.
Section 3: AI Across Industries

AI is not limited to just technology companies; it is transforming a range of industries from healthcare to agriculture.

  • How is AI transforming the retail industry?
  • Discuss the role of AI in financial markets.
  • How is AI used in agriculture?
  • Explain the impact of AI in journalism.
  • Describe how AI is revolutionizing manufacturing.
Section 4: Key AI Technologies

Understanding the technologies that power AI can provide deeper insights into its capabilities and limitations.

  • What is Natural Language Processing?
  • Explain the concept of neural networks.
  • What is computer vision and how is it used?
  • Discuss the importance of data in AI.
  • What are chatbots and how do they work?
Section 5: Ethical and Societal Implications

AI has the power to both benefit and harm society. It’s crucial to consider the ethical implications.

  • Discuss the concept of bias in AI.
  • What are the ethical implications of facial recognition technology?
  • How could AI impact employment?
  • Discuss the concept of AI governance.
  • What are the potential risks of AI?
Section 6: AI in Education

AI has the potential to personalise education and make learning more engaging.

  • How can AI be used to personalize education?
  • Discuss the role of AI in grading and assessments.
  • How can AI assist students with special needs?
  • What are the limitations of using AI in education?
  • How can AI help in career guidance for students?
Section 7: The Future of AI

The future of AI holds endless possibilities, from solving complex problems to potentially posing new challenges.

  • What are the emerging trends in AI?
  • Discuss the concept of Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
  • How could AI be used in space exploration?
  • What are the potential breakthroughs we could see in AI over the next decade?
  • How can AI be used for disaster management and relief?
Section 8: Hands-On and Creative Activities

Learning by doing can be an effective way to understand complex subjects like AI.

  • Design a simple chatbot using any available platform.
  • Use a machine learning tool to analyse a dataset and present your findings.
  • Create a project that uses computer vision to solve a problem.
  • Develop a simple recommendation engine.
  • Use NLP tools to analyse the sentiment of social media posts.
Section 9: Group Activities

Collaborative learning can foster teamwork and help students understand different perspectives on AI.

  • Conduct a group discussion on AI ethics.
  • Collaborate on a project that uses AI to solve a community issue.
  • Role-play a scenario where AI plays a critical role in decision-making.
  • Create a quiz game that tests your knowledge on AI concepts.
  • Work in teams to develop a proposal for implementing AI in your school.

The prompts provided in this article are designed to foster critical thinking and engage students in meaningful discussions about AI. Teachers are encouraged to adapt these prompts to fit their specific educational objectives.

If you are interested to find out how AI is being applied to secondary and third level education, please Book an AI Presentation today by AI Ireland where we will share the transformative impact that AI is having within the education industry.

Early Bird Tickets Now on Sale for the 2023 AI Awards.

The fifth annual AI Awards takes place on Tuesday November 21st at the Gibson Hotel. This is an exciting opportunity to connect and network with over 200 AI and Data professionals across the island of Ireland and hear from some of the most exciting AI applications across industry and academia spanning 12 award categories.

Don’t miss the opportunity to get your discounted Early Bird tickets now! Head over to aiawards.ie/tickets or Eventbrite and enter the discount code EarlyBird_AIA to get your ticket for just €100. Limited tickets available; Original Price €239. 

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Embracing AI in Education: Harvard’s New Approach

As we continue to navigate the ever-evolving landscape of digital technology, Artificial Intelligence has been making significant strides in various fields, including education. We are seeing significant shifts in higher education and we are witnessing the dawn of this new era.

AI: The New Catalyst in Education

Harvard University has recently announced its plans to leverage AI in its popular coding class. The intention is to enhance the educational experience, making it more immersive, intuitive, and interactive.

The university has introduced the “CS50 bot,” an AI tool bearing similarities to OpenAI’s ChatGPT. This sophisticated tool is designed to provide support to both professors and students, capable of answering common questions and offering feedback on code design and errors.

Striving for a 1:1 Teacher-Student Ratio

The ultimate objective behind this AI-powered initiative is intriguing. As Professor David J. Malan explains, Harvard University’s ambition is to use AI to approximate a 1:1 teacher-student ratio. This goal represents a radical shift from the conventional classroom model and leans heavily into a more personalized learning experience.

By providing round-the-clock software-based tools, students can receive academic support in a manner and at a pace that best suits their individual learning styles. This personalized approach to learning is expected to greatly enhance student understanding and engagement.

AI’s Role: Guide, Not Solve

While the CS50 bot will guide students towards answers, its function is not to simply provide solutions. The AI tool is designed to prioritize the cultivation of problem-solving skills and critical thinking capabilities, crucial competencies in today’s digital age.

The Future Jobs Report April 2023 by the World Economic Forum underscores this. The report indicates that as workplace tasks are increasingly automated, creative thinking and analytical thinking have become more important than ever before.

Conclusion: Is this Progress?

This move by Harvard University certainly represents a shift towards a more tech-forward and individualized approach to education. The introduction of AI in the classroom not only paves the way for personalized education but also nurtures essential skills in students, preparing them for the rapidly digitalizing workplace.

However, the question remains – is this progress? While we can appreciate the potential benefits, it’s crucial to consider the implications on traditional teaching methods and the possible challenges that may arise.

The intersection of AI and education is a dynamic and evolving frontier. As we continue to explore its possibilities, the focus should remain on utilizing these tools to foster a holistic and conducive learning environment.