164. Deputy Aindrias Moynihan asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the way the newly launched AIReady.ie platform will specifically support workers who are at immediate risk of job losses due to AI; the plans that are being considered in expanding the platform’s content beyond introductory AI literacy to keeping pace with AI advancements; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34869/26]

Sentiment score: 0.09

I welcome the launch of the aiready.ie website and its aims to upskill over 1 million people through free, short, accessible courses. As an introductory platform, it is very helpful and is a positive in that direction. My concern is whether aiready.ie in its current form is equipped to support workers who are facing immediate displacement and whether it connects clearly into deeper retraining pathways.

Sentiment score: 0.72

Demystifying AI and familiarising people are an important first step. It cannot stop there, however, and the current AI Ready platform is focused very much on the first steps of introduction to AI. AI, as the Minister said, is rapidly evolving, and I am concerned that AI Ready may be focusing on yesterday's AI already. Can it bring people towards deeper retraining pathways? Can it act as a gateway? I look, for example, at MTU in Cork, with a wide range of micro credentials assisting people mid-career with courses in cybersecurity and AI skills and then doing those courses over a number of weeks and getting recognised qualifications on them and skills. Will the website, AIready.ie, be able to evolve into a gateway or a portal so as to bring people towards those courses and put them in a stronger position to work their job for their future roles?

Sentiment score: 0.25

AI Ready is an important first step and it needs to evolve quickly from the basic introduction into a more meaningful enabler and a gateway for other courses. I am glad that the Minister has been engaging with the various colleges, SOLAS and others about the courses they are offering and developing. Will they be available through the AIready.ie portal? Will it act as a gateway or a portal? Because some sectors will be more affected by AI than others, will there be sector-specific courses and pathways set out and signposted for people? It is very much a different situation in financial services and the skills that would be needed there with AI, for example, skills that might be needed in graphic design for AI. Will the Minister outline how it is intended that the platform will be developed so as to support people whose jobs are at risk from AI?

Sentiment score: 0.19