Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence to discuss the impact of AI on older people

The Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Deputy Malcolm Byrne, will discuss the impact of AI on older people on Tuesday, the 30th of September, at 11.00 am in Committee Room 4.

The Committee will hear from witnesses and representatives from Age Action, ALONE and Irish Senior Citizens Parliament including:

Mr. Niall Carroll - Volunteer with Age Action
Ms. Camille Loftus - Head of Advocacy & Public Affairs with Age Action
Mr. Sean Moynihan - CEO with ALONE
Mr. Pat Mellon - National Co - Ordinator with Irish Senior Citizens Parliament
Ms. Sharon Casey - Membership Development Officer with Irish Senior Citizens Parliament

Speaking before the meeting, the Cathaoirleach Deputy Malcolm Byrne said:

"Last week the Committee met with representatives from children and young people's organisations. The meeting gave us the opportunity to hear the positives and anxieties of the role of AI for young people and it was incredibly productive and insightful. This week we will focus on how older people will be impacted by artificial intelligence. Older people are sometimes at a disadvantage when it comes to the fast path growth of technology.

We must envision an AI pathway that incorporates ethical responsibilities and education that ensures the voices of the older generation are heard. While our health systems would benefit enormously from AI enhancement and improve early diagnosis for a host of ailments for older people, we must ensure an entire generation is not left behind and AI should not replace human contact.

The Committee looks forward to hearing from our witnesses, exploring how artificial intelligence can support older generations, and listening to their concerns about its impact."

The Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The Committee meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.