Irish Youth Anxious About AI Job Displacement, Urge Stronger Regulation
An NYCI report shows Irish youth are anxious about AI displacing jobs and its impact on the environment, misinformation, and the digital divide. They advocate for stronger AI regulation, job protection, and educational support. The Ombudsman for Children stresses the need for child-centric AI policies.
New research from the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) reveals young people are anxious about job displacement by artificial intelligence (AI). The report, based on Citizen Youth Juries, recommends stronger protections for entry-level work, clearer AI regulation for employers, and investment in retraining. It also calls for incentivizing companies to retain human jobs.
Concerns extend to AI's environmental impact, misinformation, radicalization, and a widening digital divide due to unequal technology access. Youth juries advocate for clear AI guidelines in schools and youth work, a publicly owned AI tool for students, and stronger safeguards for AI chatbots used for emotional support. They oppose social media bans for under-16s but seek differentiated rules, including greater transparency for recommender algorithms.
Overall, young people are optimistic about AI's potential but demand stronger, more transparent, and youth-centered regulation focusing on safety, fairness, transparency, and environmental responsibility. NYCI CEO Mick Ferron emphasized that young people need support to navigate AI, not to figure it out alone. Nathan Geszczak, 16, a participant, noted the need for practical education and trusted information, challenging the «digital native» assumption.
Dr. Niall Muldoon, Ombudsman for Children, highlighted that AI is not designed with children in mind, making them vulnerable to harm. He urged government and regulators to adopt a child rights approach in AI policy development. The report was produced in partnership with the Ombudsman for Children’s Office and the Insight Research Centre for Data Analytics at DCU.