Peadar Toibin claims he was sent a reply to a Parliamentary Question in Ancient Greek

The article discusses an incident involving a bizarre response from the Department of Energy, initially posed in English about home retrofitting but replying in Ancient Greek. Minister Eamon Ryan expressed surprise at the situation, denying any involvement, while Deputy Peadar Tóibín speculated that artificial intelligence may have played a role in the error. Tóibín also warned that prolonged use of AI could diminish users' intelligence, highlighting the concentration of power in the hands of a few due to AI in decision-making processes.

"I believe this has something to do with AI," Mr Tóibín said, admitting that he did not kick up a fuss at the time over apparently being treated with disdain. He added: "I also believe that AI is already being used in Dáil speeches. I will go no further than that."

"But I believe artificial intelligence has the capacity to reduce the intelligence of people who use it over a long period of time. AI is typically in the hands of rich and powerful institutions and organisations, and it concentrates that power in the hands of a very limited number of individuals."

Minister Eamon Ryan, who was the person officially replying, denied any involvement. "I am astonished," he said, "it definitely wasn't me" - although he took ancient Greek for two years when a schoolboy in Gonzaga.

The Greek version of the retrofitting reply has turned into English in the Departmental files, and is also in the vernacular on the Dáil record - leaving no trace of any tinkering.

Read at Irish Independent