Inishbofin is a tiny island off the west coast of Ireland with a population of around 170 people. Its main industries are agriculture, fishing and tourism, but the island is also experiencing a quiet technological revolution.
Once thought of as the sole preserve of big cities and tech hubs, artificial intelligence (AI) is now seeping into rural Ireland, empowering local people with cutting-edge tools to boost their businesses and protect traditional crafts.
This is all part of Microsoft's ambitious “Skill Up Ireland” initiative, which aims to give everyone in Ireland the opportunity to learn AI skills. The program partners with the Irish Government and various organizations to provide AI training and resources to communities across the country, ensuring that no one is left behind in an era of rapid technological advancement.
One of the program's most recent beneficiaries is Andrew Murray, general manager of the 22-room Doonmore Hotel on Inishbofin. An island native, Murray comes from a family that has lived on Inishbofin for generations, with his parents establishing the hotel in 1969. Despite the remote location, Murray is keen to embrace AI as a tool to streamline operations and save time.
“What interests me most is the power of AI to save people like me time,” Murray says, “because time is the most precious thing we have, and it's finite. There are only 24 hours in a day.”
Through his Introduction to AI class, Murray discovered the potential of tools like Microsoft Copilot, an AI-powered assistant that can help with everything from scheduling to data analysis to content creation. Murray plans to use these tools to manage tasks that typically take hours, or even days, to do entirely manually, like staff scheduling, inventory management, invoicing and pricing.
But Murray isn't the only AI enthusiast on Inishbofin. Inspired by the island's natural colors and textures, weaver Catherine O'Connor has also embraced the technology. Though initially cautious about training AI, O'Connor soon became enamored when she realized its potential to help market her handmade scarves, table runners, and wall hangings.
“Every piece has a story behind it,” O'Connor explains. “You can buy a scarf at the dollar store, but a handmade scarf takes hours to make. It's on a whole different level, so you have to find the right words to use.”
Now, with the help of Copilot, O’Connor can write compelling descriptions of her work and promote her work on the right e-commerce platforms, helping people better understand and visualize her work.
Another Copilot user, Inishbofin-based florist Patricia Concannon, also plans to use Copilot to make her website and Instagram captions more appealing, which should help her gain new customers and attract a wider audience to her floral displays.
The AI training in Inishbofin is just one part of Microsoft's wider 'Skill Up Ireland' programme to upskill and reskill in Ireland, which also includes Dream Space, an immersive learning experience to introduce STEM and AI skills to all of Ireland's one million students and teachers.
Kevin Marshall, head of learning and skills at Microsoft Ireland, said the rapid adoption of AI over the past few years has created the need for upskilling and reskilling programmes. He added: “At the same time, we've seen an explosion of generative AI in the last 18 months so there's a real need to educate people on what it is and show them it's not black magic.”
The challenge, though, is that AI technology is constantly evolving. “The education is non-intrusive and collaborative,” Marshall explains. “The program teaches the basic foundations and core principles of AI. We teach what it can do, the risks and ethical issues, the opportunities, and where to play with AI.”
Programmes like Skill Up Ireland are an opportunity to ensure rural communities like Inishbofin aren't left behind by the digital divide as AI has a major impact on industry and the way we live and work. Audrey Murray, felt artist and teaching assistant on the island sums up: “AI should be another step in bringing us closer to the world and bringing the world here.”
And with Microsoft promising to equip everyone in Ireland with AI skills, the Emerald Isle's remote region is on the brink of leaping into a future where modern technology blends with ancient crafts and ways of life. For the residents of Inishbofin, however, the opportunities are still yet to be seen.
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