Its main goal is to create speech-to-speech capacity in the Irish language for generative AI tools like ChatGPT, which would see people able to speak to an AI in Irish and have it respond in the same language.
It comes after Údarás na Gaeltachta first went to tender late last year for technology providers, researchers, and stakeholders to give feedback on how the presence and usability of the Irish language could be enhanced on such AI models.
“[We seek] professional consultancy services to support the development of Irish language capabilities in AI technologies,” it said.
“The contractor will serve as a core member of Údarás na Gaeltachta’s AI team, providing support in future strategy development and implementation.”
The agency set out primary objectives for these consultants to focus on, which includes supporting the drafting of scope documentation for a platform delivering services in Irish.
Speech-to-speech functionality in Irish
It must also support the ongoing development of technical specifications for speech-to-speech functionality in Irish for generative AI products.
Furthermore, it must also make efforts to maintain Irish language AI development a topic of industry discussion through the publication of its results, and establishing an authoritative source for ranking the Irish language capabilities of different AI systems.
Údarás na Gaeltachta said: “The contractor must support discussions with leading AI companies (including Anthropic, Mistral, and others) to advocate for Irish language service development.
“[And support] developing a backlog of Irish language AI implementation opportunities.”
It added that the contract, worth an estimated €40,000, would be valid for 18 months.
Debate on the future of AI in Ireland has come to the fore in recent months, with an oireachtas committee established in this Dáil for the first time.
Its remit is to make recommendations on Ireland’s approach to the development, deployment, regulation, and ethical considerations of AI.
Last week, it heard that software engineers, junior lawyers, and customer service roles will be among the first in Ireland to be affected by job losses to artificial intelligence.
“We cannot predict the exact pace, scale, or whether new jobs will replace those lost,” AI Advisory Council chairwoman Patricia Scanlon said.
Údarás na Gaeltachta has been contacted for comment.