The Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) at Ulster University, in partnership with AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI), brought together members of the public, AI experts, and industry leaders to examine the impact of artificial intelligence on society

Around 130 people from across Northern Ireland gathered at the Guildhall in Derry~Londonderry last night for a major public discussion exploring the growing impact of artificial intelligence on society.

Hosted by the Artificial Intelligence Collaboration Centre (AICC) in partnership with AI for Collective Intelligence (AI4CI), the AI and Our Society forum brought together AI experts, industry leaders, policymakers and members of the public for an open conversation on the opportunities, challenges and wider societal implications of artificial intelligence.

Delivered as part of the AICC’s commitment to promoting responsible AI innovation and public engagement, the event examined how AI is already shaping healthcare, education, public services, business and everyday life, while encouraging participants to consider the ethical, economic and social questions that accompany rapid technological change.

Attendees took part in a series of live Slido polls throughout the evening, providing a snapshot of public attitudes towards AI. Audience members also had the opportunity to put their own questions directly to the panel during an interactive question-and-answer session, with discussion emerging about the impact on employment, how to prepare young people for a changing labour market; whether regulation can keep pace with the speed of technological development; who should be accountable when AI systems make mistakes; and who ultimately controls the personal and organisational data used by AI.

Live polling throughout the evening offered a snapshot of just how varied people’s current experiences and attitudes towards AI are. Key responses include:

  • 26% said they deliberately use AI several times a day, while the same proportion said they never deliberately use it. A further 21% reported using AI daily. 
  • 75% of respondents said they felt fairly or very confident explaining, in simple terms, what AI can and cannot do. 
  • Asked about their main concerns, the impact on children, learning and creativity emerged as the most frequently selected issue, followed by false or misleading information. 
  • Concerns were also raised around the concentration of power, security and harmful uses, privacy and personal data, environmental impact, bias and discrimination, and the potential impact on jobs and livelihoods. 

Another focus of the public questions was the environmental impact of AI and associated energy demands, alongside questions about how artificial intelligence itself could help tackle climate change and make a positive difference in areas including healthcare and medicine.

The discussion was chaired by Lorraine Acheson, Independent Strategy & Policy Adviser, with panelists:

  • Professor Michaela Black, Professor of Artificial Intelligence, Ulster University and AICC Principal Investigator 
  • Tadhg Hickey, Head of AI and Digital Ethics Policy, AICC 
  • Kathryn Harkin, Head of AI Northern Ireland, NTT DATA 
  • Mark Lee, Acting Deputy Secretary for Economic Policy Group, Department for the Economy NI  
  • Patricia O’Hagan MBE, Chair of Matrix NI  

David Crozier CBE, AICC Director, said:

“AI raises important questions about the kind of society we want to build and the values that should guide us. While the AICC has been working directly with businesses right across the region, we recognise that the technology stretches across all aspects of life. We were pleased to bring together members of the public in Derry~Londonderry last night to discuss and examine where we are now, what the technology can do, and what must be done in partnership across business, government and academia to ensure the technology reflects public needs. There was a central theme of the evening, that people see significant potential in AI but also want the opportunity to understand it, question it and have a meaningful voice in how it develops.”

Professor Seth Bullock, AI4CI Hub Director said:

“The chances that AI will be used responsibly and in ways that benefit our society are surely increased whenever the public are engaged in conversations about what AI is and what it can do.”

The conversation will continue beyond the event, with attendees invited to contribute to a follow-up survey exploring what they believe Northern Ireland should prioritise as AI develops, the safeguards they expect, and the support people need to become more informed and confident.

The AI and Our Society forum forms part of AICC’s wider mission to promote AI awareness and adoption among businesses in Northern Ireland, with a strong emphasis on ethical and responsible innovation. A partnership between Ulster University and Queen’s University Belfast, funded by Invest Northern Ireland and the Department for the Economy, the AICC has supported more than 117 SME collaborations, launched the AI Learning Lab, trained more than 570 professionals in AI skills and established a pipeline of future AI talent through 260 fully funded postgraduate places to date.