Matt Carthy (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

I just have one question. In the closing part of his opening statement, Dr. Browne touched on the challenges that artificial intelligence, AI, technology is going to present. He rightly mentioned that there has been an awakening to the full potential of AI technology through the increased presence of ChatGPT. In that regard, does Dr. Browne share my view that it is concerning that there are virtually as many different responses as there are Departments that have been asked about the protocols currently in place? For example, we are told that the Department of Foreign Affairs is assessing the risk presented by ChatGPT while the Department of Defence has not used it. The Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications has restricted access to it while the Department of Transport has used it. The Department of Finance made no comment on the grounds that it is a security matter. The Department of Public Expenditure, National Development Plan Delivery and Reform does not use ChatGPT but has used other AI technology. The Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment has used it but has advised staff to use caution. The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine has used ChatGPT and other AI. The Department of Education has not used it. The Department of Justice has no specific departmental policy. Others have said that they are carrying out risk assessments.

Surely, that is a red flag if this is something that has the potential to be used in a way that affects cybersecurity, which is not to say that it creates a cybersecurity threat in and of itself. In the first instance, should it not be the case that we have a uniform approach across Departments? We have not even gone into what State bodies and agencies are doing in this regard but, based on the responses from Departments, I take it that there is likely a myriad of other responses and approaches to this technology within those agencies. Does Dr. Browne see the NCSC as having a role in providing direction and setting out a uniform policy and protocol with regard to the use of this type of technology among State bodies?