AI Bot Creates 'Guinndex,' Revealing Ireland's Pint Prices

An artificial intelligence voice agent has compiled the first comprehensive index of Guinness prices across Ireland, affectionately dubbed the 'Guinndex,' by contacting more than 3,000 pubs. The AI, named Rachel, made calls over the St. Patrick's Day weekend, speaking with establishments in all 32 counties.

National Average and Price Extremes

The Guinndex found the national average price for a pint of Guinness to be €5.95, with the most common price being €5.50. However, prices vary significantly, with the most expensive pint recorded at €11 at The Temple Bar in Dublin. Conversely, the cheapest pint was found to be €3 at The Dufferin Arms in Downpatrick, County Down. The west and midlands of Ireland generally offer lower prices, with Laois showing the lowest county average at €5.38.

Dublin's High Costs and Customer Service

Dublin emerged as the most expensive county, with an average pint price of €6.75. Unsurprisingly, it also hosts the priciest pint. The index also noted that out of 46 pubs with a perfect 5.0 Google rating across Ireland, none are located in Dublin.

AI's Approach and Pub Reactions

Matt Cortland, an AI engineer and former pub owner, created the Guinndex. He explained his motivation stemmed from understanding both the consumer's desire for fair pricing and the challenges publicans face with pricing inquiries. Cortland noted that most publicans did not realize they were speaking with an AI. When identified as such, Rachel truthfully stated she was compiling a price comparison list, a response generally met with acceptance.

Some publicans engaged humorously with the AI. At Malzard's Pub in Kilkenny, a bartender offered to buy a round when the AI inquired about the €6.20 pint price. At Doogies in Northern Ireland, a bartender jokingly quoted £25 before offering a pint for a fiver. Conversely, McIntyre's Bar in Donegal initiated a detailed interrogation about the caller's identity and intentions.

The 'Rachel' Persona and AI's Role

Cortland chose the AI's name and Northern Irish accent to evoke warmth and believability, inspired by Rachel Duffy from the reality show 'The Traitors.' He stated that while AI cannot yet perform physical tasks like pouring a pint or assessing a customer's state, it can efficiently gather and disseminate information, such as price comparisons.

The full Guinndex dataset, including an interactive map and county breakdowns, is available at guinndex.ai.