AI is increasingly moving beyond experimentation — and into solving real-world challenges. Projects like HeatSafe, built in Dublin, show how AI can create meaningful impact when applied to real problems.
The future of AI is not written in what’s discussed — but in the problems it solves.
This is exactly what Callum Hughes and his team demonstrated at the CHARM-EU Ideathon in Dublin.
Out of 100 students, 20 submissions, and 14 teams pitching, their project HeatSafe was selected as one of the winners, bringing home a €500 prize.
From Hackathon to Real Impact
Not long ago, this journey started with a first hackathon — without a clear roadmap, just curiosity and willingness to build. Step by step, iteration by iteration, it evolved into a solution addressing a real-world problem.
This is what makes stories like this powerful — not just the outcome, but the process behind it.
The Problem: Heat as a Public Health Risk
Extreme heat is becoming an increasingly serious public health issue.
Traditional weather apps provide city-wide forecasts.
But risk is not the same for everyone.
Age, medical conditions, medications, and even the type of building you live in can significantly affect how vulnerable you are.
What HeatSafe Built
HeatSafe goes beyond generic forecasts.
It generates a personalized 0–100 heat risk score based on:
- Individual characteristics (age, health conditions, medications)
- Living environment (building type)
- Real-time temperature data
This allows for individual-level risk assessment, not just general predictions.
From Insight to Action
What makes HeatSafe stand out is not just analysis — but action.
When the risk reaches a critical level:
- The system automatically alerts carers and family members
- Intervention can happen before the situation becomes an emergency
For cities and public institutions:
- An AI-powered layer maps vulnerability clusters
- Helping authorities understand and protect entire communities
Why This Matters
This is where AI moves from being “interesting” to becoming essential.
Projects like HeatSafe show that:
- AI can solve real, high-impact problems
- Innovation doesn’t have to be complex to be meaningful
- The next wave of AI is about application, not just capability
AI Beyond Ideas
At AI Dubliners, this is what we care about most:
Not AI that is talked about — but AI that is applied.
Because these are the projects that:
- Solve real problems
- Inspire new ideas
- And shape what the future of AI will look like
We’ll continue to follow and showcase how builders and startups across Dublin & Ireland are applying AI to real-world challenges.
