TLDR: Ireland has reaffirmed its commitment to ethical and human-centered artificial intelligence with the refresh of its national AI strategy, ‘AI – Here for Good’. This updated roadmap, building on the 2021 foundation, emphasizes trustworthy AI development and deployment, aiming to position Ireland as a global leader in responsible AI innovation while addressing rapid technological advancements and regulatory changes like the EU AI Act.
Ireland is forging ahead in the global artificial intelligence landscape by placing ethics at the very heart of its national strategy. The country’s ‘AI – Here for Good’ initiative, originally launched in July 2021, has undergone a significant refresh in late 2024/early 2025 to adapt to the rapid evolution of AI technologies, such as the emergence of ChatGPT, and the implementation of new regulatory frameworks like the EU AI Act.
This refreshed strategy, spearheaded by the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, underscores Ireland’s ambition to be an international leader in people-centered and ethical AI development, adoption, and use. Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment Peter Burke, and Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary, highlighted the ‘huge opportunity for Ireland to harness AI for our greater good’ during the launch of the refresh. The strategy serves as a comprehensive roadmap to ensure AI benefits both the economy and society, fostering a greener, more productive, and technologically responsive nation.
The updated strategy is structured around seven strategic strands, outlining a holistic governmental approach to establishing key enablers for AI adoption across enterprise and public services. A strong focus on ethical and trustworthy AI is evident across these strands, particularly in ‘AI and Society,’ which stresses building public trust through engagement campaigns, AI literacy initiatives, and the appointment of AI Ambassadors. The ‘AI Serving the Public’ strand specifically calls for the ethical deployment of AI in public services, with a strong emphasis on fairness, accountability, and human oversight. All AI tools used in public services are committed to complying with the seven key principles for ethical and trustworthy AI, originally developed by the European Commission’s High Level Expert Group on AI, covering human oversight, technical safety, privacy, transparency, diversity and fairness, societal well-being, and accountability.
In a tangible step towards this ethical framework, the Irish government rolled out new guidelines in May 2025 for the ethical and responsible use of AI by public servants. These guidelines prioritize human involvement and are designed to enhance public trust. Notably, they advise against the use of free generative AI models, such as ChatGPT and DeepSeek, for public sector applications. As stated in the guidelines, ‘Free GenAI tools are very accessible but because they lack suitable management and oversight pose significant risks for use in the Irish Public Sector.’
Ireland’s commitment to AI is yielding significant results. According to new research from Trinity Business School, AI adoption in Ireland has surged to an impressive 91%, nearly doubling the 49% reported in 2024. AI is projected to contribute at least €250 billion to the Irish economy by 2035. Furthermore, a 2024 report by Stanford University’s Institute for Human-Centred Artificial Intelligence ranks Ireland sixth globally in terms of AI vibrancy per capita, underscoring its growing expertise. The country’s thriving tech ecosystem continues to attract investment, with Microsoft recently announcing 550 new Irish-based engineering and R&D roles specifically for pioneering new AI technologies.
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New measures introduced in the refreshed strategy include establishing an AI regulatory sandbox to foster innovation, creating a National AI Research Nexus with a unified identity, and developing a safe space for civil and public servants to experiment with AI tools. The strategy also mandates a landmark study on the potential impacts of AI on key sectors of the Irish economy, updates to the 2022 study on AI skills, and an expansion of digital upskilling and reskilling initiatives. By embedding AI ethics into policy, governance, and public services, Ireland is not only preparing for the future but actively shaping it, ensuring that innovation serves the common good with ongoing vigilance, transparency, and public engagement.
