In a timely gathering ahead of the critical EU AI Act vote, the ADAPT Centre, in partnership with the National Standards Authority of Ireland (NSAI), hosted a panel discussion titled "Shaping the Future through AI Standards."
The event underscored the indispensable role of international AI standards, which are pivotal in the context of the forthcoming EU AI Act, a cornerstone of the new European regulatory landscape for artificial intelligence.
Opened by Dara Calleary, the Irish Minister of State for Trade Promotion, Digital, and Company Regulation, the discussion brought to light the fundamental importance of setting global standards in AI technology. A diverse panel including European AI standardization experts, policymakers, industry leaders, and pioneering researchers provided a multifaceted view on the subject. Their dialogue aimed to merge the pathways of technological innovation with policy development, showcasing how AI standards are currently being adopted and adapted at high governance levels and in practical applications.
One of the highlights of the session was a practical demonstration from the SFI ADAPT Centre, which showcased how theoretical standards are making a tangible impact in real-world applications, thus propelling AI technology forward.
Commenting ahead of the panel discussion, Professor Dave Lewis, interim director of the SFI ADAPT Centre said: “This meeting will advance European consensus on the technical standards that play a critical role in the future success of the EU’s AI Act. ADAPT is proud to be actively contributing to the development of AI standards on a global and European scale through the NSAI and participation in key technical committees like ISO-IEC and CEN-CENELEC.”
The panel discussion was part of the European Joint Technical Committee on Artificial Intelligence (CEN-CENELEC JTC 21 Artificial Intelligence) plenary session held in Ireland from February 12th to 14th, drawing together over 80 international experts in AI.
Visit the ADAPT Centre’s website for more information about the event and learn more about the provisions of the EU AI Act in the explainer here.