Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence to continue discussion on defence, security and cybersecurity

The Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence, chaired by Deputy Malcolm Byrne, will continue their discussion on defence, security and cybersecurity on Tuesday, the 28^th of April, at 11.00 am in Committee Room 4.

The Committee returns for its third module on defence, security and cybersecurity this week. The Committee will hear from Ms. Bonnie Docherty, Lecturer on Law at the International Human Rights Clinic at Harvard Law School and Senior Arms Advisor, Human Rights Watch; and Ms. Rosanna Fanni, an expert working on the ethics of emerging technology.

Speaking before the Committee meetings the Cathaoirleach Malcolm Byrne said:

"The Committee returns this week to continue our discussion on defence and AI. We will discuss information superiority, a strategic advantage over a nations defence through data and intelligence, with our witnesses which would have a significant impact geopolitically for Ireland, Europe and globally.

AI technology has played a key role in the defence of Ukraine against Russia and preventing loss of life by mobilising unmanned aerial and ground vehicles and using autonomous underwater drones. We will also discuss the ethical use of AI by the Italian defence forces. However, as AI advances at a rapid pace, we must discuss how Ireland and the EU can manage this growing trend of harnessing AI during war times, managing its impact and ensure it is ethically sourced and deployed."

The Joint Committee on Artificial Intelligence has 14 Members, nine from the Dáil and five from the Seanad.

The Committee meeting can be viewed live on Oireachtas TV. Committee proceedings can also be viewed on the Houses of the Oireachtas Smartphone App, available for Apple and Android devices.