The Challenge
Artificial Intelligence (AI) presents both profound opportunities and complex challenges. While AI’s integration into society is accelerating, public dialogue about its development and use lags behind. Ireland’s national AI strategy, AI – Here for Good, identifies the critical need to involve citizens in shaping AI development. However, most people remain excluded from AI policy and research discourse.
The Solution
To address this gap, ADAPT’s award-winning Education and Public Engagement team launched #DiscussAI, a national conversation on AI in Ireland, in summer 2021. Since then, over 85,000 people from communities nationwide have engaged with 170 researchers through dialogue-driven events and learning activities.
#DiscussAI serves as a large-scale, nationwide collaboration network that aims to ensure AI in Ireland is fair, inclusive, and always puts people first. All elements of the programme have been co-created with and for diverse communities around Ireland to deliver inclusive learning and conversations.
Aims
#DiscussAI aims to enable people in Ireland to:
* Learn about AI and develop core AI literacy skills * Contribute to a national dialogue on AI * Have a voice on this vital area of research and policy
It also aims to strengthen citizens’, scientists’ and policy makers’ familiarity with diverse points of view related to AI.
By fostering AI awareness, literacy, and trust, #DiscussAI is helping to ensure that public voices actively shape the future of AI innovation and policy in Ireland.
Results Delivered
Evaluation of the #DiscussAI programme shows clear benefits for participants, who reported:
* Deeper understanding of AI and its societal impact * Greater confidence in engaging with public discussions about emerging technologies * A stronger sense of agency and feeling that their perspectives on AI were acknowledged * Improved overall AI literacy
All participating researchers agreed or strongly agreed that the insights from public participants were “relevant”, “inspiring”, “valuable”, and “useful” for their research funding proposals, leading to new areas of research and societal collaboration on AI.
Impact
#DiscussAI is helping ensure that diverse public perspectives shape AI research and innovation in Ireland:
* Informed the Government’s Creating Our Future report (2022), elevating ‘Safeguarding Public Interest and Trust in the Digital World’ as a national research priority * Cited in Ireland’s national AI strategy progress report (2023) and strategy refresh (2024) as a flagship contributor to Ireland’s ‘AI and Society’ goals * Awarded ‘Best General Media Literacy Initiative’ at the Media Literacy Ireland Awards, supported by Coimisiún na Meán (October 2025) * Recognised by the European Commission as an international science engagement best practice (May 2025)
#DiscussAI is an international best practice example of engaged research in action. It highlights how, with public engagement expertise, public dialogue can inform and support policy, enrich academic research, and foster more inclusive digital futures for all.
Coordinating Team:
Dr Emma Clarke, Engaged Research Lead, ADAPT Dr Cara Greene, Education and Public Engagement Projects Lead, ADAPT Laura Grehan, Head of Education, Engagement and Societal Impact, ADAPT Dr Jelena Radaković, AI Literacy in the Classroom Lead, ADAPT
See more at www.adaptcentre.ie/discussai
