Dublin Leads the Way: Trinity College and City Council Unveil Ireland’s First Generative AI Lab for Local Government

Trinity College Dublin and Dublin City Council have jointly launched Ireland’s inaugural Generative AI Lab, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at exploring and implementing AI technologies within local government services. This collaboration positions Dublin at the forefront of digital governance, focusing on the safe and ethical adoption of GenAI.

• First of its Kind: This is Ireland’s first Generative AI Lab specifically dedicated to local government.
• Enhanced Services: The lab will explore how GenAI can improve public services, streamline administrative tasks, and enhance customer support.
• Ethical Focus: A core objective is the responsible and ethical deployment of AI, addressing governance, transparency, and human-centric design.
• Research Hub: It will serve as a centre for cutting-edge research, testing, and the development of AI applications, including Large Language Models (LLMs).
• Collaboration: The initiative fosters a strong partnership between academia (ADAPT Research Ireland Centre, Trinity Business School) and local government (Dublin City Council).
• Future-Proofing: The project aims to future-proof council operations and attract new industry collaborations.
• Upskilling: The lab will support staff training and upskilling to effectively leverage AI technologies.
• Best Practice: The initiative seeks to establish national and international best practices for AI governance.

The newly established Gen-AI Lab, spearheaded by the ADAPT Research Ireland Centre at Trinity College Dublin in partnership with Dublin City Council and Trinity Business School, marks a significant step towards integrating advanced artificial intelligence into the public sector. The lab will investigate the potential of GenAI, which can create new content like text and images, to revolutionise how local government operates and interacts with citizens.

Professor John D Kelleher, Director of ADAPT, emphasised the lab’s role in responsibly applying AI in the public sector, stating, "This partnership with Dublin City Council allows us to connect academic innovation with real-world challenges, co-creating AI systems that deliver meaningful value and truly serve the public interest." The initiative will delve into critical areas such as AI governance, ethics, and transparency, aiming to position Dublin as a global leader in the responsible adoption of AI.

Dr Ashish Jha from Trinity Business School highlighted the importance of societal impact, noting, "Through this partnership with Dublin City Council, we aim to bring innovation in the field of generative AI to broader societal stakeholders." This aligns with the business school’s mission to "Transforming Business for Good."

Over the next twelve months, the Gen-AI Lab will host a variety of activities, including workshops, prototype development, and knowledge-sharing sessions. It will collaborate closely with Dublin City Council departments to identify specific areas where AI can enhance efficiency, improve customer service, and support councillors. The ultimate goal is to embed AI into the council’s long-term digital strategy, ensuring staff are equipped with the necessary skills to embrace these new technologies. The project also aims to set benchmarks for AI governance and ethical adoption, influencing policy frameworks both locally and internationally.

• Trinity and Dublin City Council launch Ireland’s first local government Generative AI Lab, Trinity College Dublin.