Age-Friendly AI project lead Paula Kelly was invited by Minister James Lawless to take part in the National AI Skills Roundtable, representing the Age-Friendly AI initiative and presenting the views of older adults on Artificial Intelligence (AI) that we have heard throughout our interactive workshops so far. The forum brought together stakeholders from different sectors, including industry, government and education, to explore the opportunities and challenges of building AI skills in line with national ambitions.

Broadening the AI skills conversation

Speaking at the roundtable, Paula noted that discussions of the AI skills gap tend to focus on the workplace and industry, often overlooking a growing societal need: equitable access to AI and AI literacy initiatives for everyone, including older adults. From our Age-Friendly AI public engagement events, we hear that AI literacy is about how AI technology affects everyday life. Older adults consistently report that they are not opposed to AI and recognise its benefits in areas such as healthcare provision, online public services, and technology for independent living. From the high attendance numbers at our events, the same conclusion can be drawn: the interest to learn about AI technological developments and being involved in the development is very much present among the participants. However, there is a clear call for the technology to be safe, transparent and equitable, and they want their voices heard in any national conversation on AI.

Building public trust through community

At Age-Friendly AI events, the importance of building public trust in AI systems is a recurring theme. Following the significant public concern in early 2026 over technology platforms using personal data without permission and not for public benefit, trust in this technology remains fragile. Genuine engagement and learning happen when led by trusted, independent community voices such as libraries, age-focused organisations, advocacy groups and universities, adopting a bottom-up approach in direct conversation with the communities rather than imposed from outside.

Co-creating a national AI literacy programme

Throughout 2025 and 2026, the Age-Friendly AI initiative has been working to co-create and develop national AI literacy training for older adults, achieving the following:

• Engaging over 9,000 older adults directly in national public dialogues on AI
• Co-creating a comprehensive AI literacy programme with older adults, not just for them
• Building a network of more than 20 strategic community, academic, and industry partnerships, including Libraries Ireland, Age Friendly Ireland, the National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA), The Irish Senior Citizens’ Parliament, and others.

Recognition and impact

This work forms part of the Research Ireland ADAPT Centre’s #DiscussAI National Conversation on AI, which has been shortlisted for the 2026 European Digital Skills Awards in the ‘Inclusion in the Digital World’ category. Age-Friendly AI was also recognised in the first report of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on AI as an example of “excellent work being done to build AI information, awareness and capacity among people in Ireland,” with the Committee recommending that “this kind of work needs to be expanded to include the public at large.”

A call for inclusive digital transformation

Age-Friendly AI’s ask at the Roundtable – and to Government – was clear: ensure digital transformation is inclusive by design, and include older adults’ voices in Ireland’s national AI skills strategy.