Month: March 2024

Danish Car Subscription Service Expands in Europe with New Franchisee

Dribe, one of Denmark’s leading car subscription services, has entered a franchise agreement with Greek car distributor Kosmocar. The partnership marks the first milestone in :Dribe’s international expansion, driven by an ambition to fulfill a global demand for a strong, digitally driven concept for simple and flexible car access.

As a first in Europe, the Greek car distributor Kosmocar enters a franchise partnership with :Dribe, a Danish tech innovator within car subscription services for private consumers and businesses. Kosmocar is now unveiling :Dribe’s concept and digital platform, enabling simple and intuitive management of car subscriptions, while short 30-day binding periods provide subscribers with great flexibility and freedom.

The partnership is the first step in :Dribe’s international expansion, where the company plans to enter franchise agreements in the UK, the Benelux, France, German, and more. Their international roll-out will cater to the dynamic, urban lifestyle through simple and flexible car access. Yiannis Emirzas, CEO of Kosmocar, is optimistic about the new partnership.

– With this franchise agreement, we are taking a confident step towards meeting the evolving needs for simple, flexible, and sustainable mobility solutions. :Dribe offers us valuable knowhow in addition to a robust, highly advanced IT-platform and a plug-and-play model that is easy to implement, says Yiannis Emirzas. He adds:

– By adding a well-tested, customer-driven subscription model to our existing business, we’re expanding our mobility services, and we are putting the power of mobility back into the hands of people. We’re excited to embark on this journey and shape the way people move in Greece.

According to a 2024 report from McKinsey Digital, digitalization can significantly increase profitability in the Greek retail sector. The report further notes that Greece’s digitalization is lacking behind that of its European peers. It’s no coincidence that :Dribe looked to Greece as the first destination in :Dribe’s European expansion. Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard, CEO of :Dribe, says:

– We see a substantial, unrecognized potential in Greece, where we have a competitive edge in having built a powerful digital platform that allows for efficient administration of an extensive fleet of vehicles. Our :Dribe-platform facilitates a subscription-based business model that requires minimal manual intervention and optimizes resource utility, says Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard. He adds:

– We immediately saw a perfect match in Kosmocar. Like us, they are digital natives who adapt to new technologies and are passionate about meeting market demand for simple and flexible car access.

An Important Milestone

:Dribe is owned by Semler Group, one of the biggest players in the Danish automotive business. Ulrik Drejsig, CEO of Semler Group, agrees that the new franchise agreement is an important milestone.

– During our century-long history, our company has experienced first-hand the constant change that occurs in the auto business. We have invested in :Dribe’s car subscription-model to embrace a relational business method. Now, five years into our journey, we are taking the first important step into the European market, and we are proud to have Kosmocar by our side, says Ulrik Drejsig.

The new franchise agreement between :Dribe and Kosmocar is founded on a common set of values.

– Innovation, trust, cooperation, and accountability are four values that we strive to demonstrate daily to our customers and business partners. We consider it as a major perk to have found a franchisee who shares our values, and we are very excited about our partnership, says Jesper Hill-Kjærsgaard.

eir unveils first major brand refresh in nearly a decade with new ‘eir for all’ identity

eir, Ireland’s leading telecommunications company, has unveiled ‘eir for all’ a new modern, inclusive and accessible brand identity.

The company has invested €2 million in this new ‘eir for all’ identity representing a major transformation for the business, following its €1.2 billion five-year investment in Ireland’s telecommunications infrastructure and the transformation of eir’s customer experience. This is eir’s first new identity since its rebrand from Eircom in 2015.

Bridging eir’s heritage with its pivotal role in contemporary Irish society, ‘eir for all’ underscores the company’s enduring commitment to enhancing connections across Ireland. Highlighting eir’s integral presence in communities and its mission to facilitate stronger, more meaningful connections for a better Ireland. Through ‘eir for all’ the company showcases its efforts in fostering inclusivity and accessibility, reinforcing its vision of a connected community where everyone can thrive.

The new brand identity was unveiled to more than 3,000 eir staff at events in eir’s Dublin HQ today, in four care hubs across Sligo, Cork, Limerick and Waterford, and with staff in retail stores and in the field. It will be phased in through the company’s operations starting from today and will also feature via TV and online advertising, out of home advertising, stores, websites, and digital platforms.

‘eir for all’, will also feature prominently in eir’s national sponsorships and community partnerships, including as one of the title sponsors of the GAA Hurling All-Ireland Senior Championship, GamerFest, and as long term supporters of Special Olympics Ireland.

The launch of ‘eir for all’ coincides with unique data showing how eir is delivering more meaningful connections across Ireland

  • In the past 12 months fixed broadband increased by 24.9%. This increase is equal to 127 billion hours gaming, 7.5 billion hours video chat, 1.3 billion hours film streaming or 390 billion songs streamed
  • Over the past 12 months, on average, each household used 8.1 hours of HD video per day and Sunday was the highest data usage day of the week.
  • Over the past 12 months 5G Data Traffic has increased some 110% and Data Traffic is up
  • Last month, St. Brigid’s Festival of Light in Dundalk saw a 3TB surge in local data traffic in Dundalk town centre celebrating the St. Brigid’s festivities Sunday was the highest data usage day of the week

The new ‘eir for all’ brand identity profiles individual people, families and communities across Ireland demonstrating how eir’s technology helps people connect for a better Ireland. They include a TikTok performer, a young hurler, a Special Olympics athlete, a family of gamers and a group of surfers among others.  Please click here for more detail: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=eir+for+all

The new ‘eir for all’ brand identity follows a year of significant achievements across all eir’s operations. eir has passed more than 1.2 million homes and businesses across Ireland with future-proofed fibre to the home broadband network. This makes it possible for more than 3 million people throughout Ireland to access the latest technology and fastest download speeds to enhance how they live and work. As part of its new brand identity, eir has also invested €4 million refurbishing 21 stores on high streets and in retail parks.

Addressing eir colleagues, Susan Brady, Managing Director, Consumer and Small Business, eir, said;“We are delighted to introduce ‘eir for all’ our new consumer-focused brand proposition that marks a significant milestone in our journey as Ireland’s leading telecommunications company. This initiative underscores our dedication to redefining connectivity across the nation, ensuring every individual has access to seamless, world-class technology and connectivity solutions. Our commitment extends beyond infrastructure to creating an inclusive, effortless experience for our over two million customers daily. ‘eir for all’ embodies our vision of a modern connected Ireland, reinforcing our pledge to enhance Ireland’s digital landscape and make superior connectivity accessible to all, regardless of background or circumstances. As we continue to expand Ireland’s largest high-speed fibre and leading 5G networks, we remain grateful for the unwavering support of our employees, partners, and customers who share in our mission for a better-connected Ireland.”

 

Oliver Loomes, CEO of eir commented on today’s announcement: “Over the past five years, eir has embarked on a transformative journey, investing over €1.2 billion in expanding and enhancing Ireland’s fibre and mobile network infrastructure. This significant investment underscores our commitment to providing the most reliable and extensive connectivity across the nation. Moreover, we’ve made a deliberate move to onshore and establish a new care function, ensuring our customers receive the highest quality of service. Today, hundreds of our directly employed staff in our Care Hubs in Sligo, Cork, Limerick, and Waterford are dedicated to caring for our customers. This strategic shift towards improving our infrastructure and customer care underlines our dedication to not just meeting, but exceeding, the evolving needs and expectations of our customers. It’s in this spirit of transformation and commitment to excellence that we chose to reposition and revitalise the eir brand, making a clear statement that we are here for all, committed to delivering unparalleled connectivity and service to every corner of Ireland.”

 

Tech Review – Creative Pebble X Plus

Previously reviewed on techbuzz the Creative Pebble X which for me are worth every cent their big brother the Creative Pebble Plus outdo those which i did not think would be possible however the Plus sign here unlike phone is worth the name on the end and these pack even more of a punch and notable if ran side by side but the configuration is different and the there is some difference between the Pebble X.

This time around we get a subwoofer which is super solid and has some decent weight to it meaning it will not wobble around even when maxed out on volume and they do get seriously loud too. The woofer has no lighting at all however the speakers retain the RGB lighting that is customizable to your own requirements

The design of the speakers is the same but lacks the radiators on the side, these have moved onto the box if you will giving you a centre stage sound but mighty, the controls and ports remain the same as the Pebble X and set up is the same again and fairly simple, there has been some updates to the app since my testing and you most likely will need to update when you pick them up, this will prompt you to remove the cable and when setting up again holding down the RGB button and plugging in the USB-C cable at the same time and things go back to normal..

Overall here if you have the extra few quid to spend I would spend it on these but if not the Pebble X is more than good enough, the sound on these is louder more punchy excellent bass and you do see me get a little excited in the full video review below. If you want great sound for more than a reasonable price for your Laptop/PC or Phone this is where it is at and easy to recommend. You can see a software demo here but we have a good look below in the video review.

Click to enlarge

 

Taking the audio game up a notch, the Creative Pebble X Plus sports a sleek subwoofer with dual passive radiators, designed to be compact enough to sit seamlessly on any desk setup. With added features like Dialog+ and BassFlex, these latest speakers can deliver powerful bass and crystal-clear spoken dialogues without compromising volume.

Despite their small footprint, these speakers can envelop users with an acoustic power output reaching up to 15W RMS and a peak of 30W when plugged into a PC port. When connected to a 30W (or higher) PD adaptor*, these speakers truly shine as it can deliver a peak power of up to 60W, unleashing their complete audio potential for an outstanding listening experience.

 

Creative App offers the following features for the Creative Pebble X series.

  • Ability to apply different Sound Modes, Equalizer and Acoustic Engine settings.
  • Configure the lighting effects on the speaker.
  • Configure the Microphone Equalizer.
  • Perform firmware or software upgrades.

    Creative Pebble X Plus is priced at US$129.99, UK£134.99, EU€139.99 and is available for pre-order at Creative.com

    For more information, visit creative.com/PebbleXPlus

Video Review

Google Ireland opens the doors to its first dedicated Accessibility Discovery Centre to drive R&D in accessible technology

Google is opening a dedicated accessibility space  where Google engineers, researchers and wider product teams will focus on driving new innovation in accessible technology to help to remove some of the barriers that people with disabilities face everyday.

The ‘Accessibility Discovery Centre’ has been built in consultation with local partners including Spinal Injuries Ireland, ADHD Ireland, the National Disability Authority, Fighting Blindness  and Google’s internal Disability Alliance employee resource group. Not only a workshop for research and product development, the centre will be a space for cross-industry learning, sharing information and building greater understanding and empathy among the accessibility community.

The centre will also facilitate tours to increase awareness of the power of technology to empower those with disabilities. These tours will include real life examples of new technologies empowering people with disabilities via a series of interactive zones and gaming zones that bring to life the ways people with disabilities interact with technology. The opening is also an acknowledgement that there is much more to do to meet people’s ever changing needs, allowing Google to learn from and partner with accessibility and disability communities to keep improving and innovating for users.

Christopher Patnoe, Accessibility and Disability Inclusion, Google, said,  “The Accessibility Discovery Centre isn’t just a place where we will build better products and services – it’s also a medium through which we can engage more effectively with different disability communities to better understand and address their needs. The new space can break down barriers and will ultimately change lives for the better. Today’s event marks the beginning of that exciting journey that will first understand the myriad problems that exist and then address them in an inclusive manner.”

Sinead Burke, CEO, Tilting the Lens said, “As the CEO of Tilting the Lens, a global accessibility consultancy, our value is not merely in guidance and advice, but in creating meaningful connections. Over the past year, we have been fortunate to bring our clients together at Google’s Accessibility Discovery Centre in London, where they have been energised by the advancements in accessible technology and ambitious to implement better practices in accessibility. As an Irish-based company, we’re excited to leverage Google’s global influence through their newest Accessibility Discovery Centre at home.”

Dr Gerald Craddock Chief Officer at The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design at the National Disability Authority commented: “The Centre for Excellence in Universal Design (CEUD) welcome the launch of the Accessible Discovery Centre (ADC), a great initiative by Google in creating an innovative space for co-designing and learning on accessibility with the disability communities in Ireland.  These elements are the bedrock of Universal Design which is enshrined in legislation in Ireland and we readily recognise the value of this new initiative.  The ADC will provide a ‘discovery’ space for everyone as well as demonstrating new and inclusive technologies.”

Among the first events to take place at the new space will be regular readouts with accessibility and disability communities. Developers will also be given the resources they need to integrate accessibility into products from the beginning of their processes.

This is Google’s first Accessibility Discovery Centre in the EU and builds on years of investment and innovation in helpful technology that can improve the lives of people with disabilities.

Equinix’s Fabric Cloud Router Enabling Enterprises in Ireland to Easily and Efficiently Connect Applications Across Multiple Clouds

Equinix, Inc, the world’s digital infrastructure company, has announced the general availability of Equinix Fabric Cloud Router to its customers in Ireland. The service will help enterprises easily connect applications and data across multiple clouds and on-premise deployments through virtual routing.

Equinix Fabric Cloud Router can help customers simplify their complex cloud-to-cloud and hybrid cloud networking challenges by providing an easy-to-configure, enterprise-grade, multicloud routing service that can be deployed in under a minute. Utilising Equinix’s secure private connectivity, customers can connect applications across public clouds in more locations than any other service, improving application performance, reducing cloud costs and accelerating services to market.

Customers can deploy Equinix Fabric Cloud Router in all 58 Equinix Fabric-enabled markets globally, including Ireland, with low latency connectivity to all major cloud providers, including Amazon Web Services (AWS), Google Cloud Platform, Microsoft Azure and Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, as well as hundreds of other service providers like Akamai, ServiceNow and Zoom.

Equinix Fabric Cloud Router, a key component of Platform Equinix®, helps customers meet those demands in four specific ways:

Multicloud Performance – Customers achieve the low latency between all major cloud providers with Equinix’s industry leading cloud-adjacent locations around the world, eliminating the need to backhaul traffic through a remote location. This superior cloud-to-cloud networking performance enables customers to quickly and easily support evolving infrastructure demands, like cloud migrations.

Private Connectivity – By easily deploying private network connections, customers can avoid exposing sensitive data and network infrastructure to the risks of the public internet and support data sovereignty requirements.

Enterprise-Grade – Customers can act with confidence knowing they are supported by a 99.999% uptime SLA and can scale bandwidth and connectivity across clouds without constraint using speeds up to 50Gbps, with hundreds of gigabits of aggregate throughput supported per router.

Lowering Costs – Enterprises can reduce cloud egress costs by up to 75% using private cloud connections rather than egress over the internet. Built-in Equinix Fabric Cloud Router resilience can save IT teams even more by eliminating the need for expensive redundant routers. Delivered as a service, customers can pay only for what they need without being locked into long-term contracts and have the flexibility to scale up and down as needed.

Delivered as a service on demand and in near real time, Equinix Fabric Cloud Router can remove the costs and complexities of owning and operating a physical router or licensing a virtual router. Enterprises can also accelerate their multicloud adoption by avoiding vendor lock-in with Equinix’s cloud agnostic service, eliminating networking constraints and enabling them to choose the right cloud environment and provider for specific workloads.

Peter Lantry, Managing Director for Equinix Ireland, said: “Equinix Fabric Cloud Router helps our customers in Ireland to easily connect applications and data across multiple clouds and on-premise deployments. With data-heavy workloads on the rise, particularly as businesses start to unlock the power of AI, cutting-edge solutions like this will play a key role in the growth of our economy, removing routing limitations and enabling our customers to move data between different cloud providers with more ease than ever before”.

If you are a Bank Of Ireland customer you may need to change your phone

If you are a Bank Of Ireland customer you might need to upgrade your smartphone to continue to use their digital services, this is because of security reasons and support of older devices which is running older software.

The 31st March is the date given to change your device if you use the app which is not much notice to be honest and for those who like to tamper with their device and use Huawei devices your luck is also out as they will not support either.

BOI says

Device manufacturers regularly update the software and hardware they use. When they do, older operating systems are discontinued, and older software which has become outdated is no longer supported. Apps including ours must stay up to date with updates, so that customers can continue to have access to new and existing features.

 

Devices supported are Android phones and tablets using Android version 11 or higher and iPhones and iPads using iOS version 15 or above so now would be a good time to go and check if you need to update your device

 

Mobile Operating System Support Policy

Update your device before 31 March 2024

31 March is a key date for any customer with an operating system on their device that is older than those mentioned below. After this date we will no longer offer support for these operating systems. Importantly, customers will not be able to download a new instance of the Bank of Ireland mobile app again on that device.

Your device may be running on one of the following affected operating systems:

  • iOS (Apple) devices using operating systems 14 and lower
  • Android devices using operating systems 10 and lower

Why updating is important: If your device is running on one of these older operating systems, and you do not update the device by 31 March, the existing version of the BoI app that you use today may not work. If you delete the app, you will not be able to reinstall it on that device. In other words, your phone or tablet will no longer work for mobile banking. The only fix for this is to update your device before 31 March.

Why is this happening? Device manufacturers regularly update the software and hardware they use. When they do, older operating systems are discontinued, and older software which has become outdated is no longer supported. Apps including ours must stay up to date with updates, so that customers can continue to have access to new and existing features.

Devices and operating systems that we support

We support the following smart devices and operating systems only:

  • Android phones and tablets using Android version 11 or higher
    Available from the Google Play store
  • iPhones and iPads using iOS version 15 or above
    Available from Apple store

Restrictions

  • Windows and Blackberry phones are not supported.
  • The app is not available for download from the Huawei app store.
  • Biometric login using face or fingerprint cannot be enabled on rooted Android or jailbroken iOS devices, in other words devices where any of the manufacturer’s software restrictions have been removed.

Source

UPDATE 28/8/24  Bank Of Ireland have now said they are extending the date till July 1st if you can’t use phone or tablet you can still access via your web browser or PC with a PSK (Physical Security Key)

What Should Be Covered By Your Health Insurance In Ireland?

Having health insurance in Ireland is not mandatory, but it is highly recommended. It can protect you from the high costs of private medical care and give you peace of mind knowing that you are covered in case of an unexpected illness or injury.

However, with so many different health insurance plans in the market, it can be difficult to know what you should be covered for. Let’s look at the essential aspects health insurance must cover in Ireland.

Public vs Private Healthcare

Understanding the Irish healthcare system is crucial when selecting health insurance. Ireland operates a two-tiered system, consisting of:

  • Public Health System: Funded by the government, the public health system provides free basic healthcare services to all residents. However, waiting lists for certain treatments can be lengthy, and some advanced procedures may not be covered.
  • Private Healthcare: This sector offers quicker access to a broader range of specialists, hospitals, and treatments. However, it comes at a cost, and private health insurance is necessary to cover these expenses.

Essential Coverages

While specific coverage details can vary between insurers, some fundamental aspects should be included in your health insurance plan:

  • Inpatient Care: This covers the cost associated with hospital stays, including room charges, nursing care, and meals.
  • Outpatient Care: This covers the cost of consultations with specialists, diagnostic tests (X-rays, MRIs, etc.), and other medical services received outside a hospital setting.
  • Day Surgery: This covers the costs of surgical procedures performed on an outpatient basis, where the patient is not admitted to the hospital overnight.
  • Maternity Care: It covers the costs associated with pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care.
  • Mental Health: It covers the cost of consultations with psychiatrists, psychologists, and other mental health professionals.

Additional Considerations

Beyond the essential coverages, you can consider the following factors when choosing your health insurance plan in Ireland:

  • Excess: This is the amount you pay upfront before your insurance covers treatment costs. Choosing a plan with a lower excess comes with a higher premium.
  • Co-payments: These are fixed amounts of money you pay for certain services, such as doctor consultations or prescriptions.
  • Sub-limits: These are caps on the amount your insurer will cover for specific treatments or procedures.
  • Network of Hospitals and Specialists: Ensure your chosen plan provides coverage for the hospitals and specialists you prefer or those located conveniently near you.

Tailoring Your Coverage

If your individual needs and circumstances drive your purchase, you’ll ultimately justify your health insurance’s cost. For this, you can consider factors like:

  • Age: Younger individuals may prioritise lower premiums, while older people may require more comprehensive coverage.
  • Medical History: If you have any pre-existing medical conditions, ensure your plan covers the necessary treatments and medications.
  • Family Planning: If you plan to start a family, ensure your plan offers adequate maternity and childcare coverage.
  • Lifestyle: If you participate in risky activities or sports, consider adding personal accident cover to your plan.

Comparing And Choosing

Once you understand your coverage needs, comparing plans from different insurers is crucial. Use online comparison tools or consult a registered health insurance broker to find the plan that best suits your budget and requirements. To make things easier, you can try Cornmarket, a reliable name in the industry with over 50 years of experience.

Empower Your Health Journey

Selecting the right health insurance in Ireland won’t look like a fruitful decision until you encounter a medical situation. So, while choosing health insurance, always keep your own requirements in mind and then pick the right plan with the right coverage.

 

Hit The Ground Hiking: Regatta Unveils Footwear Tech For Every Walker!

Regatta Great Outdoors, the nation’s leading hike and outdoor brand, today announces new technologies and the launch of its SS24 technical footwear range, a performance-led collection built for varying terrain and abilities ensuring everyone can enjoy the outdoors.

From supportive performance hikers to durable family walking boots, Regatta has unveiled a line of waterproof and breathable outdoor footwear for men, women, and children.  There is six core styles across the brand’s technology and performance led ‘Footwear Hierarchy’ – see illustration, with brand new editions to the Samaris range offering shock absorbing comfort and grip.

Each style has been carefully considered with the wearer in mind – from professionals to hobbyists, everyone will stay safe, dry, fresh, and comfortable.

A clear standout in the new range is the evolution of the brand’s best-selling Samaris hiker.

Introducing the all-new SAMARIS III, Regatta’s most premium walking boots to date are built for technical terrain and with performance in mind. With superior grip, both Samaris styles are built with performance tread that gives high-class traction control for braking on uneven terrain while their EVA shock absorbing midsole cushions every step.

Samaris III is available in men’s, women’s, and kids mid and low walking boots, from €160 adult / €115 kids. Samaris Pro II is available in men’s mid-boot styles from €150.

Alongside Samaris, VENDEAVOUR SUEDE and HOLCOMBE bring hardwearing and supportive comfort for trail walkers and those who love adventures off the beaten track. With die-hard weekend walkers in mind, these styles offer multi-purpose tread for reliable grip, stability, and long-wear comfort.  Vendeavour Suede is available in men’s, women’s, and kids mid and low walking boots from €120 adult / €90 kids. Holcombe styles are available in men’s, women’s, and kids mid and low walking boots, from £90 adult / £60 kids.

For leisure walkers and families, EDGEPOINT and VENDEAVOUR styles bring Regatta’s values of inclusivity, ensuring the outdoors is enjoyed by everyone, to life. Built for trusted comfort and everyday easy ground, these styles are waterproof and breathable and so much more than a boot for ‘fair-weather’ walkers. Hardwearing and with a secure grip, the Edgepoint and Vendeavour offer value with durability at their core. Edgepoint is available in men’s, women’s, and kids mid and low walking boots from £80 adult / £60 kids. Vendeavour is available in men’s, women’s, and kids mid and low walking boots from €130 adult / €105 kids.

To complete the most exciting season of footwear launches in its history, for SS24 Regatta has invested in TECFOAM technology across it’s footwear offering, to provide everyday comfort and extended wear for customers. Tecfoam insole cushioning offers a 70% increase in energy absorption as well as 25% reduction in compression adding greater comfort to every stride. Tecfoam also prolongs endurance by staying thicker for longer and with its recycled top mesh and PU foam, is kind to the environment as well as your feet.

Microsoft rolls out new initiatives to help skill up rural Ireland for the era of AI

Minister for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation, Dara Calleary TD, joined Microsoft at a Connected Hub in north Mayo as it announced the rollout of AI Skill-Up-A-Thons to rural communities across the country and AI masterclasses for businesses in the Kerry region. The rural skilling initiatives are a key part of Microsoft’s ambition to ‘Skill Up Ireland’ providing every person in the country with the opportunity to skill up for the era of AI.

The AI Skill-Up-A-Thons are designed to help equip those with little or no understanding of AI with the basic knowledge, skills and competencies in AI. Those who complete the free, 4-hour course will earn an industry recognised Career Essentials Certificate in Generative AI and gain access to LinkedIn Premium to help support those looking to develop a career in AI.

AI Skill-Up-A-Thons are being delivered in partnership with FIT (Fastrack into Information Technology) and with the support of local authorities, ETBs and the large network of Connected Hubs throughout the country.

Learners will be given the opportunity to take part in a series of AI Skill-Up-A-Thons which are taking place in Counties including Cavan, Galway, Kilkenny, Mayo, and Tipperary in the coming weeks with other locations to be announced in the coming months.

The first AI Skill-Up-A-Thon was held at the Connected Hub in Knockmore in north Mayo, where Minister Calleary joined learners as they developed the practical and transversal skills necessary to thrive in an AI age and secured their Generative AI certification.

Microsoft has also announced that it will be rolling out a series of AI masterclasses for businesses in Munster focusing on providing business leaders in rural Ireland with the skills and insights to adopt AI within their organisation.

Developed in collaboration with the RDI Hub, the AI masterclasses will be delivered both in-person and online from now until September.

Speaking at the inaugural AI Skill-Up-A-Thon, Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital and Company Regulation Dara Calleary TD, said: “I welcome the announcement by Microsoft that it is providing new AI upskilling and reskilling opportunities in communities across rural Ireland, including here in Mayo. AI tools and technology have significant potential to transform how we work and do business. But to fully unlock their benefits and meet the ambition of our National AI Strategy, individuals and businesses must start to develop in-demand AI skills and capabilities. It is only by working together across Government, industry, and the education sector that we can demystify AI and ensure Ireland’s workforce has the AI skills that will be needed now and into the future.” 

James O’Connor, Microsoft Ireland Site Leader and Vice-President Microsoft Global Operations Service Centre, said: “AI has the potential to empower people and organisations across the country but it’s critical that everyone, everywhere has the skills to harness its benefits. Last October, we launched our national AI skilling programme to help give everyone in Ireland the opportunity to upskill and reskill. One of our key ambitions as part of the programme is to bring AI skilling directly to people, communities and businesses in rural Ireland and ensure they are given equal opportunity to engage in AI.

 “That’s why today we’re rolling out the first-ever AI Skill-Up-A-Thons across rural Ireland. Through these new AI learning pathways, we want to empower people of all ages, backgrounds and experience with the skills and knowledge to succeed in an AI-enabled economy. Our new AI masterclasses, in collaboration with the RDI Hub in Kerry, will also help businesses develop the tools and skills to adopt AI at speed and support growth into the future.

 By providing these AI rural skilling initiatives, as well as our significant investment in skills more broadly, we will continue to play our part in helping to Skill Up Ireland for the era of AI.”

Danielle Barr, Director of Training & Employment Services at Fastrack into Information Technology (FIT) said: “We’re delighted to be working with our long-term partner, Microsoft, on the delivery of AI Skill-Up-A-Thons across the country. AI is such a powerful tool. But we need to ensure that every person, at all levels, can access and most importantly understand how it can benefit their education and professional journey. By rolling out the AI Skill-Up-A-Thons in Connected Hubs and other venues in rural Ireland, we can ensure that every person is given the opportunity to learn about AI and understand its importance.”

Speaking about her experience in taking part in the AI Skill-Up-A-Thon in north Mayo, Sandra Hennigan said: “AI is everywhere these days, and it is important that we all understand this powerful digital technology and its potential. Taking part in Microsoft’s AI Skill-Up-A-Thon in a local Connected Hub in north Mayo provided the perfect chance to do just that.  As well as gaining new insights into AI, I believe the knowledge and skills I gained during the AI Skill-Up-A-Thon will be very valuable in my own job and help to boost my productivity and creativity. The instructors were incredibly helpful and helped open my eyes to the possibilities of AI in my own daily life. I now feel like I have the confidence to start applying AI tools in my work and I would encourage everyone to use the opportunity to begin developing their AI skills today.”

Liam Cronin, CEO, RDI Hub said: “The RDI hub has always had a powerful connection with the topic of Artificial Intelligence. The RDI hub building itself is named after and dedicated to Professor John McCarthy, as a tribute to the Stanford University computer scientist who was one of the founders of the discipline of artificial intelligence and his father was born in Cromane, near Killorglin in Co Kerry. From our very first year in business, we have run an annual two-day artificial intelligence summer school focusing on both core and applied research, and we are keen to continue this momentum. The collaboration with Microsoft helps us deliver exceptional AI masterclasses at scale across Munster and we look forward to continued growth and meaningful contributions to the AI landscape in 2024 and beyond.”

To learn more about the AI Skill-Up-A-Thons taking place across the country and to register your interest, visit: https://fit.ie/skillsforjobslearningpathways/.