Ireland's Grassroots AI Adoption Cluster
We drive the practical, responsible and meaningful
adoption of AI across Ireland.
ABOUT US
Trusted AI
Leadership
AI² brings together Public Sector, Civil Society, Enterprise and Academia to support the responsible adoption of AI across the country. Through leadership, collaboration
and practical action, AI² turns ambition into informed progress.
Our Pillars
Our pillars provide the framework for how AI² supports responsible AI adoption in practice and across different sectors. Together, they guide the work of the organisation and all its engagements, through trust, capability and real-world implementation.
PILLAR 1
Advocacy
Uniting voices across business, academia, government, and civil society to shape policy and champion responsible AI use.
A shared voice for responsible AI in Ireland.
PILLAR 2
Safe and Trustworthy AI
Providing practical guidance, risk assessment tools, and strong governance to ensure AI adoption is ethical and worthy of public trust.
Trust at the centre
of adoption.
PILLAR 3
Education and
Literacy
Building the practical knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to help people and organizations engage meaningfully with AI.
Stronger understanding. Better decisions.
PILLAR 4
Adoption
Turning awareness into action by accelerating
real-world AI implementation across enterprise, academic, and public sectors
From ambition to implementation.
Governance
AI² is guided by a transparent governance model designed to ensure that our work remains credible, and aligned with Ireland’s long-term AI ambitions. The board is led by our co-founders and supported by pillar steering groups drawn from relevant sectors.
Ivan Jennings
FOUNDER
Ivan Jennings
FOUNDER
As the driving force behind the original idea for AI² and one of its Co-founders, Ivan draws on over twenty-five years of experience in enterprise technology delivery. Having recognised early anecdotal evidence of low real-world AI adoption, he brought together the initial group behind the consortium to help ensure Ireland’s transition to AI is guided by practical, secure, and responsible principles.
Bernard Hanratty
CO-FOUNDER
Bernard Hanratty
CO-FOUNDER
As a Co-founder of AI², Bernard draws on three decades of executive leadership in international banking and corporate governance. He provides the strategic oversight necessary to unite cross-sector communities and translate national AI ambitions into practical, real-world outcomes.
Brian Farrell
CO-FOUNDER
Brian Farrell
CO-FOUNDER
An enterprise CEO and expert in Open Source infrastructure at Securelinx, Brian is a co-founder of AI². He leverages his extensive industry leadership to champion practical AI implementation strategies that drive adoption and strengthen Ireland's national competitiveness.
FAQ
Got a question? We answered some of the things people often want to know about us and what we do. If you cannot find what you are looking for, please get in touch.
What is AI²?
AI² is Ireland’s grassroots AI Adoption Cluster. We are a collaborative community driving the practical, responsible, and meaningful adoption of artificial intelligence across all sectors to strengthen Ireland’s long-term capability, confidence, and national competitiveness. The philosophy underpinning AI² is grounded in Michael Porter's Industry Cluster theory: that when stakeholders within a sector collaborate rather than operate in isolation, the solutions they develop are more robust, more innovative, and more beneficial to the sector as a whole.
Who is AI² for?
We operate across the full "quadra-helix" of Irish society: Enterprise, Academia, Public Sector, and Civil Society. Whether you are a business leader, a researcher, a public servant, or a citizen, our community is open to anyone committed to ensuring AI is used responsibly and effectively in Ireland.
How is AI² different from other national AI initiatives?
We are focused on adoption in practice. While we collaborate closely with government agencies and research centres, AI² distinguishes itself as a credible national enabler of real-world implementation, rather than a policy-only or events-led organisation. We focus on actionable roadmaps, safe technical frameworks, and proven use-cases. We also focus on inter-sector collaboration.
How is AI² different from other national AI initiatives?
We are focused on adoption in practice. While we collaborate closely with government agencies and research centres, AI² distinguishes itself as a credible national enabler of real-world implementation, rather than a policy-only or events-led organisation. We focus on actionable roadmaps, safe technical frameworks, and proven use-cases. We also focus on inter-sector collaboration.
What is the AI Regulatory Sandbox?
As part of our commitment to safe adoption, we are championing the development of an AI Regulatory Sandbox. This is a secure, supervised technical environment where Irish organisations and startups can test and deploy new AI solutions to ensure they are fully compliant with EU regulations before going to market.
What practical tools or resources does AI² provide?
Beyond our events and advocacy, we are exploring technical enablers to support safe adoption. Through initiatives like our proposed Regulatory Sandbox, our goal is to encourage the development of practical blueprints - such as evaluation sets and technical frameworks. Ultimately, we aim to help organisations understand how they might safely integrate AI into their professional workflows.
How does AI² align with Ireland's national strategies?
Our mission aligns with the broader goals of the "Digital Ireland 2030" strategy. We engage constructively with national policymakers and aim to contribute to the conversations shaping bodies like the National AI Advisory Council. Ultimately, our focus is on helping translate high-level frameworks, such as the EU AI Act, into practical, workable solutions for Irish organisations.
Who supports AI²?
We are a collaborative community backed by strong cross-sector partnerships. Our initiatives are supported by national skills agencies, academic institutions, and leading enterprise technology partners who share our commitment to driving practical, responsible AI adoption across Ireland.
How can I get involved?
We rely on cross-sector collaboration and have recently established Volunteer Pillar Steering Groups to drive our initiatives. You can get involved by attending our practical events, joining our LinkedIn community, or volunteering your expertise to help shape Ireland's AI future.
How does AI² fit into the wider Irish AI ecosystem?
AI² is designed as a collaborative catalyst, not a competitor to existing institutions. We work alongside state agencies, such as IDA Ireland and Enterprise Ireland, and national research centres like CeADAR, to unify efforts and turn national AI strategy into real-world action.
Why does AI² champion an "industry cluster" approach?
We embrace industry cluster principles to ensure firstly, that AI adoption is transparent, accountable, and accessible,and secondly, that sectors collaborate to address common issues for the benefit of all stakeholders. This approach helps Irish organisations avoid vendor lock-in and encourages the collaborative sharing of proven technical frameworks across the community.
How does AI² specifically support startups and SMEs?
Our Adoption pillar focuses directly on the enterprise ecosystem. We connect startups with mentorship and potential partners, while providing SMEs with practical roadmaps and implementation frameworks to help them navigate AI development securely and effectively.
How is AI² structured and governed?
AI² operates through a transparent governance model designed to ensure broad representation across all sectors. Our initiatives are driven by four core Pillar Steering Groups, staffed by cross-sector volunteers, which ensures diverse perspectives guide our decisions and projects. Strategic direction is set by the executive board which meets weekly.
CONTACT US
Why Connect
With AI²?
Be part of the conversation and help shape AI for all of Ireland.
We rely on active cross-sector collaboration to drive practical and responsible AI adoption across Ireland. Get in touch to share your expertise, partner on technical initiatives, participate in our events, or join our growing open-source community.