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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.

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News

OpenAI Collaborates with Dublin City Council to Enhance Tourist Experiences

OpenAI has initiated a partnership with Dublin City Council, launching an innovative project aimed at enhancing the tourism experience through artificial intelligence. 

This collaboration has resulted in the creation of a groundbreaking tool, powered by Generative AI, designed to offer personalised travel itineraries for tourists.

Anna Makanju, OpenAI’s Vice President of Global Affairs highlighted the potential impact of this initiative. Our AI technologies, including GPT-4, have great potential to enhance how people explore and experience destinations,” she said. “We look forward to working together to create innovative solutions that will benefit visitors and cities alike.”

In alignment with this partnership, a workshop is scheduled to take place in Dublin this September. This event will gather tourism leaders from across Europe to discuss the application of AI in enhancing the tourist experience.

Dublin’s recent accolade as the European Capital of Smart Tourism by the European Commission last December underscores the city’s commitment to innovation in tourism. This title recognises the integration of technological advancements to improve the tourist experience.

Daithí de Róiste, Lord Mayor of Dublin, expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration. “We are delighted to partner with OpenAI to support Dublin and European cities to realise the potential of AI to transform tourism experiences and offerings,” he said.

OpenAI stands at the forefront of generative AI technology, which can generate a wide range of content from simple prompts. The company has gained global recognition following the release of ChatGPT, which has attracted over 180 million users since its launch in November 2022.

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.

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Generative AI

Getting Generative AI Ready E05: ‘Explainable AI’ with GlobalLogic and AWS Ireland

Welcome to the final episode in our “Getting Generative AI Ready” series 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.

In the  fifth and final episode of this five-part podcast series, we’re joined by Dr. Maria Aretoulaki, Conversational and Generative AI Design Lead at GlobalLogic and Patrick Callaghan, Principal Data Strategy Technologist at AWS Ireland.

In this podcast, Maria emphasises the continued importance of design in the context of large language models (LLMs), despite the advances in technology. She discusses the challenges of the unpredictable and sometimes inaccurate outputs of LLMs, emphasising the need for design-led approaches to ensure control, explainability and transparency.

Patrick highlights the crucial role of due diligence in handling data and avoiding biases, emphasising the importance of correct data for successful generative AI outcomes. 

They both discuss the complexity of implementing generative AI technologies on an enterprise scale, emphasising the need for a team of trusted advisors and specialists. The discussion touches on data curation, language engineering, conversation design, and other aspects of the design process. 

Overall, they caution against underestimating the complexity of generative AI and advocate for careful consideration and control over data and outputs to maintain trust and consistency in customer experience.

In the final part of the discussion, previous guests Fawad Qureshi and Tim Marston join Patrick and Maria to offer advice to organisations venturing into Generative AI technologies. Emphasising the need to act promptly, they highlight the importance of carefully selecting use cases that align with organisational goals and future value. 

Stressing that no technology, including large language models, works perfectly off the shelf, they advocate for customisation with human involvement in design and data curation. The key challenge is finding a balance between the opportunities and risks associated with increased data access. 

They suggest organisations should not be paralysed by the fear of misuse but should be mindful and develop tools to address risks without hindering innovation. They caution against adopting technology without a clear business goal or a data culture, likening it to buying a treadmill without a fitness plan – likely to end up unused. 

Lastly, they highlight that a modern data strategy involves more than technology, encompassing a data-driven culture, mindset and organisational structure for efficient data sharing and collaboration. 

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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.

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News

Demystifying RAG: Enhancing AI Chatbots with Retrieval-Augmented Generation

The acronym “RAG” might not be as familiar as other buzzwords within Artificial Intelligence, but it holds significant importance in advancing the capabilities of AI chatbots. Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) is a methodology that enriches how machines comprehend and generate information, elevating the effectiveness of AI in various applications.

Understanding RAG

At its core, RAG improves the performance of AI by combining the strengths of Large Language Models (LLMs) with targeted retrieval of information. While LLMs excel at natural language processing and sentence formation based on existing knowledge, RAG extends these capabilities by incorporating specific data retrieval.

Imagine a magical mailbox that can respond to your letters, representing a typical LLM or AI chatbot with a wealth of general knowledge. Now, if you ask about a specific recipe, math problem or weather forecast, areas where the mailbox lacks direct information, RAG steps in.

The Retrieval part involves seeking out relevant information from external sources, represented by a metaphorical cake shop in our analogy. This cake shop, a specialised data source, provides the necessary details, such as the location of the recipe in its library. The Generation part involves the AI model summarizing and incorporating this retrieved information into a response, creating a more informed and contextually rich answer.

Not a Universal Necessity

It’s important to note that RAG isn’t universally required for all AI applications. In tasks like translation, summarization, or sentence completion, where general knowledge suffices, RAG might not be essential. It primarily comes into play when specific, detailed information is needed.

Why RAG Matters

RAG serves as a research assistant for AI, enabling it to furnish more accurate, detailed and reliable responses. In the context of chatbots, RAG ensures that responses are not solely reliant on pre-fed information but also incorporate the latest and most pertinent data retrieved from diverse sources.

Applications of RAG
  • In Customer Service: Chatbots equipped with RAG can offer more detailed and up-to-date information, enhancing customer support experiences.
  • In Research: RAG facilitates the rapid gathering and synthesis of information, aiding researchers in various fields.
  • In Everyday Life: Virtual assistants like Siri or Alexa become more helpful and informative by leveraging RAG to access a broader range of information.
Conclusion

Retrieval-Augmented Generation represents a significant stride in making AI more helpful, knowledgeable and reliable. It equips AI with the equivalent of a supercharged internet browser, enabling it to search and gather information efficiently, thus providing more nuanced and contextually relevant answers. As AI continues to evolve, RAG stands out as a crucial tool in enhancing its capabilities across various domains.

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

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Generative AI

Getting Generative AI Ready E04: ‘The challenges of technical debt in data platforms’ with Snowflake and GlobalLogic

Welcome to episode four in our “Getting Generative AI Ready” series 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.

In the fourth episode of this five-part podcast series, we’re joined by Fawad Qureshi, Global Industry Field CTO at Snowflake and and Keith Hinde, Principal Consultant at GlobalLogic.

In this episode, Fawad and Keith discuss the need for companies to focus more on defining impactful problems rather than just adopting new technologies. 

Drawing parallels with the hype around technologies like Hadoop and ChatGPT, they highlight that a strong data foundation is essential for benefiting from these capabilities. The analogy of a marathon runner’s shoes is used to stress the importance of foundational work in technology adoption.

To guide companies in prioritising their efforts, Fawad recommends creating an effort-value matrix, focusing on high-effort/high-value projects and low-effort/high-value quick wins. 

The discussion shifts towards upcoming challenges like ESG and sustainability, portraying them as high-effort, high-value projects with the potential to disrupt industries and the planet.

The conversation explores metrics for assessing effective problem-solving, emphasising the importance of time to insight and monitoring service request turnaround. 

The concept of data as a product is introduced, with Fawad and Keith urging organisations to build data as a service businesses and leverage marketplaces for innovation through crowdsourcing.

The importance of metadata governance is highlighted as a crucial element for understanding how data is used, contributing to an infinite feedback loop and fostering innovation. 

The role of effective communication in promoting governance within organisations is underlined, with the understanding that it goes beyond a checkbox exercise, involving active participation and collaboration for sustainable innovation.

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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.

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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.

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Generative AI

Getting Generative AI Ready E03: ‘Data Management and Risk Mitigation’ With GlobalLogic and Immuta

Welcome to episode three in our “Getting Generative AI Ready” series 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.

In the third episode of this five-part podcast series, we’re joined by Keith Hinde, Principal Consultant at GlobalLogic and Tim Marston, Director, EMEA & APJ Alliances at Immuta.

In this podcast, Tim and Keith discuss the importance of a cloud strategy for large organisations aiming to innovate with their data. The focus is on breaking down data silos and implementing effective access control to enable better decision-making. 

Tim desrcibes how Immuta is positioned as a solution to address challenges related to role-based access control models, offering a more efficient and automated approach to data access management. 

The conversation also emphasises the need for a holistic view when adopting a cloud strategy, considering factors like data mesh philosophy and the long-term sustainability of current practices. 

Tim and Keith further highlight the benefits of centralising functions for monitoring and auditing data access, promoting good practices in data security within organisations.

Subscribe to the AI Ireland Podcast

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!