Irish government eyes leadership role in AI innovation after US visit
Ireland’s Tánaiste Simon Harris says artificial intelligence is now ‘here to stay’ and a core driver of economic competitiveness, pledging that Ireland will host an AI summit focused on ensuring AI benefits all citizens.
Irish Tánaiste Simon Harris said that AI is no longer a distant concept but is already integrated into everyday life and economic systems, following a visit to California where he discussed technology and innovation with business and political leaders.
He described the current period as an ‘AI moment’ and stressed that Ireland has an opportunity to lead in the next wave of technological development.
Harris announced that Ireland will host a dedicated AI summit to explore how the opportunities presented by AI can benefit all sections of society, highlighting the need for trust, responsibility and confidence in how the technology is adopted.
He cautioned that harms can arise without proper governance, pointing to recent controversies over deepfakes and the misuse of AI tools as examples of risks policymakers must address.
His comments come amid broader efforts to strengthen Ireland’s economic and innovation ties with the United States, including meetings with California officials and global tech companies during his official visit.
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