Ireland's first AI Ambassador is announced

The Government has appointed Ireland's first Artificial Intelligence Ambassador. Businesswoman Dr Patricia Scanlon is taking up the role and will be tasked with communicating with businesses, schools and institutions about the benefits and risks of AI. She is the founder and Executive Chairperson of SoapBox Labs, which uses artificial intelligence in the development of voice and speech recognition applications designed for children's voices. From robots and facial recognition software, to social media apps and streaming platforms - AI is playing an increasingly significant role in people's lives. There are ethical concerns about the technology when it comes to privacy, surveillance, bias and discrimination.