Artificial Intelligence (AI) has the potential to reshape jobs and pose threats to political stability in Ireland, according to a recent report by the National Risk Assessment. The aim of this report is to identify potential risks facing Ireland and inform decision-making processes.
The report highlights how disruptive technologies like AI can bring about both opportunities and risks. It states that automation driven by AI could displace or transform jobs and entire sectors, while also being vulnerable to malicious use. The emergence of generative AI systems, capable of rapidly producing content based on various sources, may lead to the dissemination of disinformation, misinformation, and conspiracy theories. These actions could distort markets, erode social cohesion, and even cause political instability.
The spread of mis/disinformation, particularly through digital platforms and social media, poses a significant risk to the functioning of the economy, social cohesion, and the integrity of elections. The report emphasizes that these threats could undermine the state itself.
Concerns are also raised about the state of Northern Ireland, highlighting that certain groups with limited support are intent on disrupting the progress made towards achieving peace. Furthermore, the report states that Ireland’s limited investment in military and defense capabilities within Europe compounds the risks posed by armed conflict, terrorism, and hybrid security threats.
The housing challenge in Ireland is another area of concern highlighted in the report. The housing shortage, high rent costs, and skilled labor shortages are unlikely to be resolved in the short term, leading to social exclusion and impaired labor mobility. Homelessness rates have reached record highs, exacerbating the situation for vulnerable individuals. Additionally, the growing number of asylum seekers further underscores the lack of appropriate housing and inflexibility within the housing sector.
The report identifies climate change as a pressing risk, emphasizing the need for urgent measures to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions across all sectors of the economy. Failure to meet emission targets and obligations set by the EU and national legislation poses a significant risk, threatening Ireland’s efforts in adaptation and mitigation. Extreme weather events, including flooding and extreme temperatures, have major impacts on the environment, population, and economy. Coastal erosion, which affects critical infrastructure and human settlements, will accelerate in the coming years. Consequently, significant investment will be necessary to build climate resilience into flood defenses and water management systems.
Global financial market vulnerabilities have also grown more pressing, according to the report, leading to elevated uncertainty. The challenges posed by Brexit, particularly in terms of trade, continue to present difficulties. While Ireland supports EU enlargement, this may also pose risks to cohesion within the bloc and necessitate changes in EU operations.
The assessment concludes that many extreme risks to Ireland are beyond exclusive national control and emphasizes the importance of international relations, particularly Ireland’s EU membership, in mitigating these risks.
The National Risk Assessment report plays a crucial role in informing decision-making processes by identifying potential risks facing Ireland. By highlighting the threats posed by disruptive technologies like AI, climate change, housing shortages, and geopolitical factors, the report offers essential insights to address these challenges. It calls for proactive measures to ensure the resilience of Ireland’s economy, society, and political stability.
