#DiscussAI

#DiscussAI is a national initiative building artificial intelligence (AI) literacy across Ireland, helping people critically engage with AI and digital technologies. Through inclusive co-created education programmes and public dialogue, it builds skills, confidence, and brings diverse voices into AI research and policy.

AI presents both opportunities and challenges. As AI technologies increasingly shape society, AI literacy is essential, yet public understanding often lags behind technological development. Ireland’s national AI strategy, AI – Here for Good, emphasises citizen involvement, but many communities, especially those traditionally underserved by science and technology engagement, remain excluded.

To address this gap, the ADAPT Centre launched #DiscussAI in September 2021, creating a national 
conversation on AI that builds literacy, gives people across Ireland the knowledge and skills to critically engage with AI-driven systems and empowers informed choices. Participants contribute to the social, ethical and policy dialogue around AI.

About this initiative 

#DiscussAI engages diverse audiences through co-created programmes and public forums to: 

• Help people develop AI and digital literacy skills
• Enable meaningful public contribution to national dialogue on AI’s social and ethical impacts
• Ensure diverse voices shape the future of AI research and policy
• Build shared understanding among citizens, researchers, educators, and policymakers

Programmes foster inclusive engagement with AI and its societal implications. Key initiatives include:

• Age-Friendly AI: National AI literacy programme for older adults
• AI Literacy in the Classroom: Professional training for post-primary educators
• AI in My Life: Workshops for teens on AI, ethics, and privacy
• Citizens' Think-Ins: Community deliberative forums on AI and society
• Art or AI?: Pop-up museum exploring AI-generated creativity
• The Bigger Picture: Art-science project challenging AI stereotypes
• AI Art Assembly: Public forums on AI in arts and culture
• Beta Festival: Art-and-technology festival fostering dialogue and reflection

Why is this a good practice?

Evaluation shows participants gain a deeper understanding of AI, greater confidence in discussions, stronger agency, and recognition that their perspectives are valued. Researchers report public insights are “relevant,” “inspiring,” and “useful,” influencing ADAPT research projects and proposals and creating new societal collaborations.

Key achievements include:

• 85,000+ participants engaged through co-created dialogue and literacy programmes
• 170+ researchers from eight Irish universities connected with the public
• Strengthened a culture of engaged research, ensuring public perspectives influence AI innovation
• Recognised as EU best practice in science engagement by the European Commission (May 2025)
• Awarded Best General Media Literacy Initiative at Media Literacy Ireland Awards 2025, supported by Coimisiún na Meán

Through its inclusive programmes, #DiscussAI empowers citizens, bridges knowledge gaps, and ensures socially responsible, ethical, and publicly informed AI development, fostering a culture in which AI research and policy are shaped by all communities, particularly those historically underrepresented in science and technology dialogue.