Impact & Opinions | Tionchar & Tuairimí

AI

Cois Coiribe Winter Edition 2021/22 focuses on a variety of critical questions on AI, Innovation and Creativity. Read the diverse and varied opinions and views from our academics, students and alums about Artificial Intelligence.

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University of Galway offers 2 Masters programmes in Artificial Intelligence

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University of Galway have 20-years of experience researching and teaching machine learning and AI

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University of Galway have more than 200 students studying artificial intelligence and machine learning annually.
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Resilient Innovation
06 July 2023
20  MINS

Teaching Students to Think Critically about Digital Storytelling

Deborah Miranda Roldán

The advent of Artificial Intelligence has transformed the landscape of media, presenting society with enormous challenges as well as opportunities. In this era of rapid technological advancements, the cultivation of accountability and critical thinking skills within these disciplines is of paramount importance. The challenge for universities will be how best to prepare graduates to navigate the complexities of the digital age. 

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AI & Human Creativity
13 January 2022
16  MINS

The Need for Shared Digital Infrastructure

Edward Curry

Put simply, ‘big data’ refers to datasets that are so large, varied, and fast, they are difficult or impossible to process using traditional methods. With access to such complex information, organisations can learn more about their customers and operations, and in turn, develop AI solutions that give them a competitive edge. Who has the scale and expertise to manage big data systems, and who gets left behind? Established Professor of Data Science, Edward Curry considers a more sustainable data ecosystem, in which the benefits of AI are evenly distributed.

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AI & Human Creativity
05 January 2022
16  MINS

To “Black Box” or not to “Black Box”?

Dr Anastasia Griva

Anastasia Griva poses a troubling question: Is inherently non-explainable ‘Black Box’ AI morally acceptable?

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AI & Human Creativity
05 January 2022
25  MINS

Midnight Mass

Mike McCormack

The work of novelist, short story writer and NUI Galway lecturer, Mike McCormack casts a unique light on technology. In 2016, McCormack’s Solar Bones – “a hymn to engineers” – won the Goldsmiths Prize, and the Irish Book Award Novel of the Year and Book of the Year. In ‘Midnight Mass’, the novelist responds to the Cois Coiribe winter theme of ‘AI and Human Creativity’ with a glimpse into the future – pretty or otherwise.

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AI & Human Creativity
23 December 2021
13  MINS

A Data Love Story

Margaux Smith, Meadhbh McNutt

What does your data shadow look like? How does it intersect with your relationships and everyday life? These are the questions raised by artists Margaux Smith and Meadhbh McNutt in A Data Love Story. Through visualisation and narration, Margaux and Meadhbh tell the story of a romantic relationship through the lens of linguistic data, based on texts shared between Meadhbh and her boyfriend, Eimhin across two fortnight periods.

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AI & Human Creativity
21 December 2021
17  MINS

The Unintended Consequences of People Analytics

Eoin Whelan

In recent years, we have seen various industries turn to data-driven ‘people analytics’ to gain a competitive edge in management and recruitment. Eoin Whelan encourages us to take note of the unintended consequences of these emerging technologies – reminding us that the metrics we form, form us in turn.

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21 December 2021
27  MINS

AI & Higher Education

Tom Felle

Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, NUI Galway talks to Tom Felle, Associate Professor and Head, Discipline of Journalism and Communication, about the future of higher education and how new technologies and artificial intelligence will influence the direction of learning in the next 20 years.

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17 December 2021
14  MINS

Cybercrime: The ‘High Seas’ of the 21st Century?

Sean Morris

University of Galway graduate, Sean Morris, looks to the history of piracy on the high seas for pointers to the future of cybercrime.

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AI & Human Creativity
17 December 2021
27  MINS

Will AI Help or Hinder Human Empowerment?

Murray Scott|Bill Schmarzo

Murray Scott is joined by Bill Schmarzo – Data Management Innovation Customer Advocate, Dell Technologies, recognised industry thought leader in Business Intelligence and Honorary Professor in the J.E. Cairnes School of Business & Economics at NUI Galway – in a discussion on the ethical issues surrounding AI and the importance of human creativity. Together, they identify what role NUI Galway can play in this Fourth Industrial Revolution. The following is an abridged version of the Cois Coiribe podcast episode.

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AI & Human Creativity
17 December 2021
14  MINS

Adapting to a Changing Job Market

Anastasiya Sytnyk

With COVID-19 disrupting hospitality and retail industries where many young people find employment, students like Anastasiya Sytnyk have had to reconsider their employment options. After a year of working remotely in an IT sales role, Anastasiya shares her insights on adapting to a changing job market.

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17 December 2021
8  MINS

Editor’s Note

A note from the editorial team of the Cois Coiribe winter edition, ‘AI and Human Creativity’.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
7  MINS

The Creative Spark – How Will Innovation be Affected by the Absence of a Watercooler?

Prof Esther Tippmann

Esther Tipmann reminds us of the critical role of human skills and competences; while technology platforms to support innovative work in an online or hybrid setting have improved, they are not yet able to replace the casual cognitive synergies and frictions that occur when being present in the same place.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
15  MINS

Consumers and AI

Prof Geraint Howells

Geraint Howells shines a light on the complexity of old consumer protection paradigms in the new world of software, AI and data.  Encouragingly, he sees solutions, and points to the healthy approach to the regulation of AI by the EU.  

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
11  MINS

Digital Doctors: How AI Will Improve Your Health

Prof Derek O'Keeffe

The impact of Artificial Intelligence on health systems will be far reaching. Dr Derek O’Keeffe discusses the AI that is already making a difference at University College Hospital Galway (UCHG).

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
14  MINS

Meaisínaistriúchán Néarach – Deis agus Dúshlán i gComhthéacs Ollscoile

Eoin Ó Droighneáin

Tá úsáid teangacha sa réimse digiteach thar a bheith tábhachtach – teangacha nach mbeidh lánpháirteach sa réimse sin, tá an baol ann go rachaidh siad ar gcúl. The use of languages ​​in the digital realm is extremely important – languages not embracing the digital revolution are in danger of decline.

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16 December 2021
10  MINS

NUI Galway Leading the Way in Designing the Future of Education

In the months preceding COVID-19’s classification as a global pandemic, the Irish Government funded a number of large-scale, transformative projects in the higher education and university sector. The focus of these initiatives was to develop and deploy innovative educational approaches and technologies to change fundamentally how students experience their university education.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
16  MINS

A Different View: Data Visualisation and Engaging Research

David Kelly

David Kelly explains how data visualisation techniques allow researchers to communicate complex data and ideas to researchers, policy makers and the wider public.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
25  MINS

Anonn ’an Oileáin Úir … 

Prof Breandán Mac Suibhne, Historian of Modern Ireland and Director of Acadamh na hOllscolaíochta

Tá bunachar ar líne á fhorbairt in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe le cuidiú le scoláirí agus lucht ginealachais taighde a dhéanamh ar imirce ó Éirinn go Méiriceá. Irish migration to North America will be illuminated by an online database currently under development at University of Galway.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
13  MINS

Artificial Intelligence and the Learning Commons

Mr John Cox, University Librarian, Library, NUI Galway

John Cox explains the radically different library of the future, driven by AI and Robotics and supporting new forms of learning and engagement. He points out that ethical concerns surrounding AI will require that the human dimension be paramount, with Library staff playing a central role.

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16 December 2021
18  MINS

In Conversation with Digital Artist, Dr. EL Putnam

Dr. EL Putnam, lecturer in Digital Media, NUI Galway

Dr. EL Putnam is an internationally recognised digital artist and a lecturer in Digital Media at NUI Galway. EL’s practice discovers new ways of thinking about the relationship between the body and data; her artworks and performances have travelled to the United States, Europe and beyond. Recent experiments have seen the artist create generative animations using biometric data, such as heart rate and oxygen levels. In this interview, EL shares her thoughts on creativity, education and the materiality of technology.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
15  MINS

Are We There Yet? Reflections on Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Cars

Prof Edward Jones

Nothing raises questions around the mingling of human and technology quite like autonomous cars. With multiple levels of AI involved, at what point does human judgment intervene? Prof Edward Jones explores the challenges of this rapidly developing technology.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
15  MINS

Automating Away What is Dangerous, Dirty, Dull and Difficult

Dr James McDermott, Lecturer, School of Computer Science, NUI Galway

Automation has rescued millions of people from jobs that are dangerous, dirty, or just plain drudge – and we’re just at the beginning of the AI revolution. Dr James McDermott ponders the critical issue of what we will do when machines do lots more of our work. 

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
9  MINS

AI Giving New Insights to Microbiologists

Kevin McDonnell

Kevin McDonnell’s Master’s thesis led to a collaboration between Computer Science and Microbiology with immense potential for re-evaluating previous studies and extending the techniques into new areas such as cancer detection.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
15  MINS

Is it Time for the Leaving Certificate to Leave School? – Designing a Secondary Education System for Creativity and Innovation 

Dr Tony Hall

Dr Tony Hall argues that it is time to say ‘Slán’ to the Leaving Cert, and instead design an educational future that foregrounds and promotes creativity and innovation.

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AI & Human Creativity
16 December 2021
11  MINS

The Competitive Edge – How Analytics are Driving Success in Sport

Yvonne Comer

It comes down to one word: competition. For as long as sports have been played, teams and athletes are looking for a competitive edge. And it just so happens that today, and well into the future, data and analytics are going to be a source of a competitive edge for teams. – Ben Shields (The Sports Strategist)

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AI & Human Creativity
10 December 2021
16  MINS

The Future of Law: Automation or Augmentation?

Rónán Kennedy

What will the future of law look like in the Fourth Industrial Revolution? Rónán Kennedy delves into the likely changes we’ll see on the automation front, and calls for the addition of digital literacy to the current menu of legal skills.

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AI & Human Creativity
10 December 2021
10  MINS

The Responsibility of the Data Scientist in Natural Language Processing

Dr Paul Buitelaar

Natural Language Processing is no longer only about ever faster and more efficient data processing, but increasingly about selecting the right data and using it in a transparent and responsible way, says Paul Buitelaar.

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AI & Human Creativity
10 December 2021
13  MINS

Care with a Human(oid) Face – Working Ethically with Social Robots

Heike Felzmann

A shortage of care workers is driving reliance on AI in human care.  When a patient is vulnerable and empathy is called for – can a robot be the answer?

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AI & Human Creativity
10 December 2021
13  MINS

Trust and Technology Terrorism in Medicine – Psychology’s Influence on the Future of Digital Health

Dr Jane Walsh

The global medical robotics market is expected to reach $12.7 billion by 2025 from an estimated $5.9 billion in 2020. As the demand for health care services outweigh the availability of staff, social robots are filling the gap. How do we navigate healthcare in this new technology-driven world?  Dr Jane Walsh investigates – and argues that safe and effective digital transformation of healthcare requires a multidisciplinary approach with the patient at the centre of design.

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AI & Human Creativity
10 December 2021
9  MINS

Design Your Life

At a time when we are all dazzled (and perhaps blinded) by the promises of technology, a new programme at NUI Galway focuses on the one thing that really matters – a fulfilled, purposeful life.

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10 December 2021
14  MINS

Artificial Intelligence Demystified – What is it All About?

Prof. Michael Madden

Artificial Intelligence (AI) might appear to be a very new idea, as it has loomed large in public discourse in recent years. The history of AI is, however, almost as long as that of computer science generally – and it’s very far from over, says Prof. Michael Madden.

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