How we use AI

Shannon.ie uses AI in two places: drafting new evergreen guides and organizing site structure. It does not use AI to rewrite archived articles, generate fake news events, or invent quotes and interviews.

The archive is preserved as it was published. Articles written five, ten, or fifteen years ago stay at their original URLs with their original wording. The only changes are the removal of navigation clutter, dead ad blocks, and broken layout code. The text itself is untouched.

When a new evergreen guide is drafted, the editor provides the topic, the intended audience, and any specific facts or sources to include. An AI model generates a first draft. The editor then rewrites, cuts, checks, and publishes. The final text is the editor's responsibility, and no draft goes live without human review.

AI is not used to fabricate authority. If a guide states a fact, that fact comes from a named source (county council, CSO, Bus Éireann) or from the site's own archive. The AI is not allowed to invent studies, quote unnamed experts, or claim "reports suggest" without a specific citation the editor has verified.

Site structure, category pages, and internal link suggestions are also AI-assisted. The model scans the archive, identifies topic clusters, and proposes ways to connect related articles. The editor decides which suggestions make sense and which do not. The goal is to make the site easier to navigate, not to automate editorial judgment.

Shannon.ie does not use AI to generate high-volume SEO spam, to rewrite competitors' articles, or to flood the site with low-quality content. Every page published is intended to be useful to a real person with a real question. If a topic does not meet that test, it is not published, regardless of how easy the AI makes it.

AI tools change quickly, and this policy will be updated if the site adopts new models or methods. The core principle will not change: AI is a drafting aid, not a replacement for editorial judgment, and it is never used to invent facts or rewrite history.

If you believe an article was generated carelessly or contains AI-fabricated detail, send a note via the contact page. The editor will review the piece, check the sources, and make corrections if needed. Transparency about AI use is part of the site's editorial policy, and questions are welcome.