The Law Society of Ireland has made a submission to the Irish Government on how it believes the European Artificial Intelligence Act (AI Act) should be implemented in Ireland. The EU’s AI Act, which is designed to regulate and foster responsible AI development, officially came into force on August 1, 2024.
The AI Act classifies AI systems into categories based on their risk levels—from minimal to unacceptable risks—each subject to tailored regulations. For instance, AI systems categorised under minimal risk, such as spam filters and video games, are largely exempt from obligations, whereas high-risk applications, like medical and recruitment software, must adhere to stringent requirements including risk mitigation and human oversight.
One of the most critical elements of the AI Act is its prohibition of AI systems that enable social scoring, which are deemed a severe threat to fundamental rights and are thus banned. The legislation aims to position the EU as a global leader in safe AI, promoting innovation across vital sectors such as healthcare, transportation, and public services while ensuring the protection of fundamental human values.
Concurrently, the Commission has initiated a consultation for the Code of Practice for general-purpose AI, addressing key areas such as transparency and risk management, with the implementation of provisions for these models slated for the next 12 months.
The Law Society’s submission, which supports the broader goals of the AI Act, underscores the potential of AI to improve legal aid and access to justice, and advocates for policies that balance economic benefits with ethical standards.