Artificial intelligence (AI)

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#Artificial intelligence (AI)

A COMPREHENSIVE SERIES OF ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC

<p>The Lord Mayor of Cork, Fergal Dennehy, told Emer Walsh of this parish that he is using artificial intelligence (AI) apps such as Chat GPT to write his speeches. Picture: Jim Coughlan</p>

S columnists

Michael Moynihan: Cork’s Lord Mayor embracing AI raises serious questions about leadership

The Lord Mayor’s embrace of ChatGPT highlights ethical, environmental and democratic risks when artificial intelligence replaces human judgement

<p>The Ombudsman for Children’s Office will tell the Oireachtas Children’s Committee: 'Children do not want to be excluded from the digital world, but children need systemic safeguards — including safer platform design, meaningful age assurance that respects privacy, protection from algorithms, child-friendly complaints mechanisms, and clear accountability for companies.' File photo</p>

news

Social media firms have 'too much discretion' over children's online safety with rules 'playing catch-up'

<p>Lord Mayor of Cork Fergal Dennehy also claimed other members in Cork City Council are also using apps like ChatGPT for their council business. Picture: Darragh Kane</p>

munster

Cork Lord Mayor admits using AI and ChatGPT to help write speeches

Harris backs Labour's call for Coco's Law to be amended to include sharing of AI-generated images

politics

Harris backs Labour's call for Coco's Law to be amended to include sharing of AI-generated images

Top view of medical documentation being filled by female doctor at doctor's office

news

Hiqa asks for feedback on 'responsible and safe' use of AI in healthcare

Woman Reading Bad News on Smartphone, Feeling Worried and Anxious

comment-analysis

Why people believe misinformation even when they are told the facts

Schoolgirl (11-13) in science class, smiling, portrait (focus on girl)

Girls are missing from crucial Stem areas such as AI, and it shows

By the age of 12 many girls are already excluded from the subjects that will allow them to thrive in our Stem-driven FDI economy

Wed, 21 Jan, 2026

Dissemination of deepfakes 'will be the abuse scandal of the 21st century', Gráinne Seoige to tell media committee

Dissemination of deepfakes 'will be the abuse scandal of the 21st century', Gráinne Seoige to tell media committee

She will argue that “privacy and encryption cannot be allowed [to] trump criminal behaviour'

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

FRANCE-ELON-MUSK-LAUNCH-GROK-ARTIFICIAL-INTELLIGENCE-NEW-VERSION

S Fergus Finlay: We must block Grok, it’s that simple — so why aren’t we doing it?

Being told to turn to Hotline.ie in the face of non-consensual image abuse isn't good enough: We need political will to face down social media giants and internet service providers

Tue, 20 Jan, 2026

X's AI chatbot Grok

Grok scandal: Ireland to use EU presidency to address AI image abuse in European law

Taoiseach Micheál Martin and Tánaiste Simon Harris meet ministers to discuss laws relating to the generation and sharing of sexual abuse images

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Young girl relax with her smartphone on a sofa

Children's charities warn that a social media ban could be 'a potential gift to abusers'

ISPCC warns of 'unintended consequences' to prohibitions and that banning young people from social media could play into the hands of predators

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Close Up Photo of Business People Hands Using Laptop Computers in Open Plan Office

Just 17% of Irish CEOs have seen revenue rise after implementing AI

Confidence in Ireland’s future economic growth has also fallen among Irish chief executives

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Boy with smartphone indoors. Preteen boy using a phone checking social media. Concept of children using the smartphone

Grok app abuse is 'mild compared to AI girlfriend sites'

'AI girlfriend' websites ‘actively advertised to teens and pre-teens’

Mon, 19 Jan, 2026

Grok nudification scandal: X turns down request to appear before Oireachtas committee

Grok nudification scandal: X turns down request to appear before Oireachtas committee

AI minister Niamh Smyth says concerns persist over Grok’s use and regulation, despite X disabling its nudification feature

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

'It should be illegal,' says survivor of child sexual abuse about AI 'nudification' technology

'It should be illegal,' says survivor of child sexual abuse about AI 'nudification' technology

Child protection experts warn AI-generated sexual imagery causes lasting trauma and are urging urgent bans and EU-wide regulation

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Deepfake concerns

UCC researchers launch world-first tool to curb harmful AI deepfake abuse

Researchers say the free 10-minute intervention reduces belief in deepfake myths and discourages harmful, non-consensual AI image use

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Majority of AI firms working on unhelpful 'generic' tools

AI used to generate thousands more child abuse videos in 2025, campaigners warn

Paedophiles and other criminals used AI to generate thousands more child sexual abuse videos last year, contributing to record levels of the harrowing material found online, campaigners have warned.

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

Colm O'Regan: Time to recognise good tech and show dodgy AI the red card

Colm O'Regan: Time to recognise good tech and show dodgy AI the red card

The good podcasts are great. The shit ones you can just avoid. The algorithm hasn’t found a way of going into your ear yet...

Fri, 16 Jan, 2026

X's AI chatbot Grok

Nudification apps have no legitimate reason to exist, says online reporting platform

Mick Moran, chief executive of Hotline.ie, has also called again for it to be illegal for any AI app to produce child sexual abuse material

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Australia blocks over 4.7 million social media accounts after under-16 ban, PM says

Australia blocks over 4.7 million social media accounts after under-16 ban, PM says

Accounts removed or restricted on Twitch, Kick, YouTube, Threads, Facebook, Instagram, Snap, X, TikTok and Reddit in world-leading ban

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

New words added to Cambridge Dictionary

Elon Musk’s X restricts Grok photo editing amid concerns about sexualised images

The restriction will apply to all users, including paid subscribers, while image editing and creation will be limited to premium users

Thu, 15 Jan, 2026

Deepfake concerns

Gardaí investigating 200 reports of child sexual abuse images generated by Grok

Garda cyber crime chiefs warn AI-generated abuse imagery is rising rapidly and investigations often involve complex cross-border legal delays

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Deepfake concerns

AI Minister Niamh Smyth to meet X executives on Friday over Grok concerns

UK and EU authorities face mounting pressure to act after Grok was used to generate non-consensual sexual images

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

Deepfake concerns

Superintendent urges victims of online 'nudification' to contact gardaí

Elite garda unit boss says it is 'difficult to understand' why robust age verification is not yet a standard feature of all online sites where sexualised images can be accessed.

Wed, 14 Jan, 2026

pension - cube with letters, money sector terms - sign with wooden cubes

Raising taxes not the only solution to 'pensions timebomb', Oireachtas committee told

All of the experts at the budget oversight committee agreed that higher levels of migration will be necessary to sustain the population as time passes.

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Media minister in tense exchange over Grok controversy blame game

Media minister in tense exchange over Grok controversy blame game

During a tense back and forth between the Fine Gael TD and the media, Patrick O’Donovan denied that he was letting X off the hook but stated that Coimisiún na Meán is the regulator

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

Plan approval doesn't show Ireland 'rolling out the red carpet' for data centres, say ministers

The ministers said grid investment would be substantial in the years to come to make Ireland’s energy grid able to meet future demand

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Revolut launches feature to prevent scams as it warns of increased use of AI by fraudsters

Revolut launches feature to prevent scams as it warns of increased use of AI by fraudsters

A live in-app banner will appear when the Revolut app detects the customer is on a phone call, and can identify if the call is coming from another number and provide advice

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

Deepfake concerns

Grok's explicit image scandal highlights international legal flaws

Regulatory frameworks on anonymity, editorial responsibility, and explicit images must be reviewed

Tue, 13 Jan, 2026

GERMANY-US-INTERNET-TECH-X-TWITTER-MUSK

Advocacy group questions Department of Education's decision to post images on X

Digital Rights Ireland (DRI) has asked what precautions under GDPR have been taken in terms of the posting

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Generative AI Apps

Publishers fear chatbots and AI search summaries mean another drop in traffic to news sites

Media bosses expect web referrals to plunge and want journalists to emulate content creators, report finds

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Grok Deepfakes

Malaysia and Indonesia block Musk’s Grok over explicit AI images

Malaysia and Indonesia have become the first countries to block Grok, the chatbot developed by Elon Musk’s xAI, after authorities said it was being misused to generate sexually explicit and non-consensual images.

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Schools to receive updated social media guidance amid Grok scandal

Schools to receive updated social media guidance amid Grok scandal

Nude deepfakes 'creating fear and anxiety amongst children', stated Webwise, the Department of Education and Youth's online safety service

Mon, 12 Jan, 2026

Stressed caucasian woman is doom scrolling. Girl reading morning news on smartphone in her bedroom.

Google removes some AI summaries after users’ health put at risk

In one case that experts described as 'dangerous' and 'alarming', Google provided bogus information about crucial liver function tests that could leave people with serious liver disease wrongly thinking they were healthy

Sun, 11 Jan, 2026

Young Scientist: Kerry student wins top prize for 'extraordinary' brain cancer diagnostic tool

Young Scientist: Kerry student wins top prize for 'extraordinary' brain cancer diagnostic tool

Tralee 15-year-old Aoibheann Daly is hailed for her 'extraordinary achievement' which could help doctors improve the treatment of brain cancer

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Media minister deletes X account amid controversy over Grok and explicit AI content

Media minister deletes X account amid controversy over Grok and explicit AI content

Patrick O’Donovan says concerns over Grok’s use in generating explicit and abusive images prompted him to deactivate his X account

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

FRA-ILLUSTRATION-IA

Grok turns off image generator for most users after outcry over sexualised AI

The AI tool had seen users granted the ability to ask Grok to alter images of women and children to remove their clothes and put them in sexualised positions

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Donald Trump Holds Campaign Rally At Madison Square Garden In NYC

Grok AI scandal: Ireland could prosecute X under existing 'child porn' law

The horrific child sex abuse material produced every day by Grok is already banned under Irish law. The real test is if we are ready to enforce that law against large tech companies

Fri, 09 Jan, 2026

Fine Gael think-in

Minister claims users, not X, responsible for generating explicit images with Grok

Communications minister Patrick O’Donovan said technological advancements around AI are moving faster than laws can respond, and that some sharing of images is covered under Coco’s Law

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

X 'breaking the law' by facilitating the creation of explicit images by Grok, says minister

X 'breaking the law' by facilitating the creation of explicit images by Grok, says minister

Niamh Smyth said it is 'at a point' now where enforcement action is required against X and Grok

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

Elon Musk Debuts Grok AI Bot To Challenge ChatGPT

Calls grow to ban AI ‘nudify’ tools over child abuse and deepfake image fears

Groups warn existing laws fail to tackle AI tools enabling non-consensual sexual images, urging regulation of platforms as well as users

Thu, 08 Jan, 2026

GERMANY-US-INTERNET-X-TWITTER-MUSK

As concerns rise over Grok, only one political party has stopped using Elon Musk's X

X has faced sustained criticism because some people are using Grok to remove clothing from real people with a new tool called 'edit image'

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Elon Musk Debuts Grok AI Bot To Challenge ChatGPT

AI minister seeks urgent meeting with X over ‘disturbing’ Grok image feature

Niamh Smyth says Grok’s image-editing tool raises serious legal and child protection concerns under Irish and EU law

Wed, 07 Jan, 2026

Elon Musk Debuts Grok AI Bot To Challenge ChatGPT

Simon Harris: Laws can be changed to crack down on creation of fake sexual images

X users have been able to avail of a new tool called 'edit image' on Grok since late last month

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Children ‘bombarded’ by AI girlfriend porn apps

The Deirdre O'Shaughnessy Podcast: Children ‘bombarded’ by AI girlfriend porn apps

Irish charities warn children are being targeted by AI porn apps as experts urge urgent Government intervention

Listen | Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

Elon Musk Debuts Grok AI Bot To Challenge ChatGPT

Irish authorities urged to take action against X for 'nudification' tools on Grok AI

Advocate said the trend of altering real images of women 'took an even more sinister turn when the same requests were being applied to images of very young, and in some cases, prepubescent girls'

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

ChatGPT - artificial intelligence AI chatbot by OpenAI

AI expert delays timeline for its possible destruction of humanity

Former OpenAI employee Daniel Kokotajlo now says it will take longer than he predicted for it to reach superintelligence

Tue, 06 Jan, 2026

'Build your own AI slut': Boys being targeted online by surge in 'girlfriend' websites

'Build your own AI slut': Boys being targeted online by surge in 'girlfriend' websites

Security Correspondent Cormac O’Keeffe looks at the surge of 'AI girlfriend' sites and talks to experts about the impact it is having — and going to have — and the need for the State to compel the tech industry to act

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Children being 'bombarded' online by 'AI girlfriend' porn apps

Children being 'bombarded' online by 'AI girlfriend' porn apps

Children are being 'bombarded' online by so-called AI girlfriend porn apps

Mon, 05 Jan, 2026

Winning an online bet on a football game

‘In a cost-of-living crisis, some turn to gambling to make ends meet’

Experts warn rising gambling spend, online advertising and new technologies risk deepening harm as regulation struggles to keep pace

Thu, 01 Jan, 2026