Malcolm Byrne (Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

Cuirim fáilte roimh an Aire Stáit. As this question is about artificial intelligence, AI, perhaps at some stage in the future I will not need to call the Minister of State into this House. I might be able to use some AI-enabled device which will predict or give me the answers.

I know the Minister of State is deeply committed to ensuring that Ireland is prepared for the challenges and opportunities that AI and emerging technologies present. I am grateful for him having come to the House to talk about an update on Ireland's national AI strategy, AI - Here for Good, published two years ago. The Minister of State has appointed an AI ambassador and he is setting up an AI advisory council. These are welcome measures. We should go further and establish an Oireachtas committee specifically to look at AI and emerging technologies and how this development impacts on every area of Irish life. Not a day goes by without there being a news story about how AI is transforming some aspect of society or, indeed, the economy. Media outlets today are telling us about the AI-powered store at Dublin Airport, which is the first such store open to the public in Ireland.I have been to one of these in the United States, and in terms of how it is transforming retail, it is quite an interesting experience. There was also a slightly worrying survey from the Institute of Directors this week which found that 75% of senior executives in Irish companies do not know how extensive the EU AI Act will be and the impact it will have on business. It is my view, and the Minister of State may share it, that the AI Act has the potential to be the most significant piece of European legislation this decade, impacting on how AI is utilised not just here in Europe but indeed globally. It is critical. The approach, broadly speaking, of the EU has been correct in setting out the varying series of risks that are involved but building in the whole concept of safety by design, thus placing the pressure on some of the companies from a very early stage to ensure AI is used for the best interests of humanity.

I share certain concerns as to whether the legislation may allow industry too much self-assessment around what could be classified as high-risk AI activity. It is critical, particularly around high-risk AI activity, that there is input from elected representatives and is not just industry making those decisions. We need to learn from a number of the mistakes we made in the regulation of social media while looking at the potential of AI. I welcome the fact there is talk of establishing a central EU AI office to ensure enforcement of the AI Act. I note, for instance, that Spain has launched the first EU AI agency responsible for regulating AI within that country. I suggest to the Minister of State that he may consider launching a bid, given the presence of so many tech companies here in Ireland and the very progressive stance the country has taken with the national strategy, to host the European Union's AI office here in Ireland. Given our important role as a centre for global technology, that would be welcome. AI has enormous potential. There are great opportunities but also challenges, and it is important the Government continues to take a progressive approach in this regard.