At our Age-Friendly AI discussions throughout 2025, one question came up more than any other: What actually is AI?
But how does AI work?
AI works by processing huge amounts of digital information and finding patterns in it. This digital information is called data.
Put simply, data is information. It can be:
- Words and Numbers
- Photos and Videos
- Sounds (like an audio clip of a birdsong)
- Places
Computers store and use this information (=data) and it becomes the building blocks that AI systems work with.
AI is when computers are taught to do things that usually require a human brain – like recognising a face or a flower in a photo, understanding human language or being able to tell a bird’s name from its song.
But how does AI work?
AI works by processing huge amounts of digital information and finding patterns in it. This digital information is called data.
Put simply, data is information. It can be:
- Words and Numbers
- Photos and Videos
- Sounds (like an audio clip of a birdsong)
- Places
Computers store and use this information (=data) and it becomes the building blocks that AI systems work with.
Example: The Birdwatcher
Jane is in a local birdwatching group. In her notebook, she records every bird she sees. Each bird name, colour, place and time she notes down is a piece of data.
When thousands of people like Jane share their notes online, it creates a huge “library” of information called a dataset.
How this helps us
If Bill spots a bird he doesn’t recognise, he can use a birdwatching app on his phone to find out what it is. The app probably uses AI to search through a huge “library” of birds to find a match.
AI can get its data from a variety of places – for example, websites, social media, scientific research, sensors, cameras and people’s everyday interactions on their devices like computers and smartphones.
Humans are still important
You might hear the phrase “Human in the Loop”. This means that real people are responsible for checking the information AI is using, correcting its mistakes and making sure it stays fair and accurate. Imagine Bill takes a photo of a blackbird to upload to the app. But, the way the sun is shining in the photo, it’s not clear which bird it is and the AI classifies it as a crow.
Before that mistake is saved into the “library” (the dataset), Susie, an expert birdwatcher with many years of experience, checks the picture. Susie sees the photo and says, “Actually, that’s a Blackbird, not a Crow.” She corrects the mistake in the “library”.
By having people like Susie (the “Human in the Loop”) checking the work, it makes sure the AI is more accurate and reliable.
Anyone Can Get Involved: What is Citizen Science?
You don’t need to be a scientist or have specialist training to help develop AI. Citizen science is when members of the public help with research by sharing what they experience in their everyday lives.
These are some examples of Citizen Science projects:
Hedgehog numbers are falling, and researchers need to know why.
- How you can get involved: If you see a hedgehog in your garden or out on a stroll, you record it online.
- The AI connection: Every hedgehog sighting is another piece of the puzzle. Over time, these pieces teach AI tools to spot patterns that can help protect these animals.
- Get involved: biodiversityireland.ie
Ever heard a bird sound and wondered what the name of the bird is? This app can help identify the name of the bird.
- How it works: Birdwatchers worldwide have recorded billions of photos and recordings of birds. When you use the app, the AI matches the bird sound to sounds already in its “library” and gives you a prediction of what bird it is likely to be.
- Find out more: allaboutbirds.org
Snap a photo of a wildflower or a leaf on a tree, and this app will suggest a match by comparing with others in its “library” of flowers.
- How it works: You take a photo of a blue flower. The AI says, “I’m 90% sure this is a Bluebell”.
- Humans confirm: If you post the photo, other app users leave a comment to agree with or correct the AI.
- Explore at: inaturalist.org
Your Data and Your Privacy
At Age-Friendly AI discussion events, one of the biggest concerns people have mentioned is around the privacy of their personal information online.
It’s worth being aware that most of these apps collect some information about you alongside your nature observations – usually your location. The apps mentioned here use the data for scientific research and not for profit. But it’s always a good habit, with any app, to take a moment to check:
- Who runs the app – is it a university, a charity or a commercial company?
- What data does it collect and how is it used?
- Is your data being shared with or sold to third parties?
A good rule of thumb: if an app is free and asks for your personal information (=data), it’s worth questioning what it gets in return for offering you that free service.
Why This Matters
AI is only as good as the information it already has. If that information is wrong or missing, the AI will be unreliable. For example, if there are no previous bird examples from Leitrim in the “library” (= the dataset), the app might not recognise a bird from a garden in Leitrim.
By taking part in activities like these, you help towards a future where AI is more accurate, fairer and more useful for everyone.
