Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 April 2023
483. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Enterprise, Trade and Employment the current status of the working group on trustworthy AI principles and guidelines, as outlined in a response to this office in December 2022; and when this body is to report. [16422/23]
View answerThe National AI Strategy, AI – Here for Good, launched in July 2021, sets out how Ireland can be an international leader in the use of artificial intelligence to benefit our economy and society, through a Strategy which takes a people-centred, ethical approach to the development, adoption and use of AI. My department is leading on the implementation of the Strategy and is responsible for driving the adoption of AI by businesses.
The Strategy calls for a robust governance framework to safeguard against risk and to underpin public trust in AI, and it is this context that my department has convened a Working Group on Trustworthy AI Principles and Guidelines. We have brought together experts in the area of artificial intelligence with representatives of Government Departments and State Bodies, with a view to agreeing an accessible set of principles and parameters for the deployment of trustworthy and ethical AI in the public sector. The group is considering the ways in which it can best help decision makers in the Public Sector to make informed decisions on the use and deployment of AI.
The Working Group has met twice and in between meetings, a draft document has been developed which was considered by the Working Group in March 2023. Work will continue to progress this document. The recommendations of the Group to be brought to Government for consideration as soon as possible and, subject to Government approval, these principles will be part of the decision-making process for the adoption and use of AI in the Public Service.
