Sentiments and discourses: how Ireland perceives artificial intelligence

Artificial Intelligence (AI) has grown to be a focal point of technological evolution, implicating various sectors including healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Amidst its promise lies a complex web of emotional, ethical, and societal intricacies, making public sentiment a critical factor in shaping AI policy and strategies. This research explores the duality of hope and fear within the public discourse on AI, specifically in the Republic of Ireland—a European hub for tech innovation. To bridge the existing gap in understanding the emotional aspects of public sentiment toward AI in Ireland, the study utilizes a mixed-methods approach. It employs surveys administered to a random sample of 90 residents from Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, focusing on their optimism and fears toward AI. These cities were chosen for their socio-cultural and economic relevance to the national discourse on AI. The survey data are analysed using descriptive statistics and chi-squared tests to identify correlations with demographic variables such as age, gender, education, and employment type. The study aims to identify prevalent themes of hope and fear toward AI in public discourse, scrutinize how localized narratives influence public perception, and examine how demographic variables affect these narratives. Furthermore, it seeks to investigate the potential impacts of these narratives on future AI policies and development strategies in Ireland. Preliminary results indicate a moderate level of optimism (Mean=3.4) and fear (Mean=2.93) about AI among the public. Age, education, and employment appear to be weakly correlated with optimism and fear, while gender shows no significant influence. These findings aim to serve as a blueprint for policymakers and industry stakeholders for aligning AI development strategies with public sentiment. However, the study is not without limitations, including its small sample size and the lack of qualitative insights and social media analysis, necessitating further research for a more comprehensive understanding. By disentangling the intricate emotional layers of public discourse, the research aspires not only to enrich academic dialogue but also to provide pragmatic insights that can guide ethical and effective AI implementation.