Culture
03 Aug 23

National Risk Assessment report outlines challenges facing Ireland

The list of strategic risks was drafted and published for public consultation, which occurred between December 2022 and February 2023.

Artificial Intelligence may potentially be used to spread conspiracies, reshape jobs and create political instability, according to a National Risk Assessment report.

The report started in 2014 and aims to underline any risks to Ireland’s economy, security and political sphere.

In report’s introduction, An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar stated that the 25 risks range from issues like climate change, Ireland’s energy supply and potential consequences of new technologies such as AI.

In regards to AI and automation, it read that while “these advances create a range of opportunities”, they could also “displace or reshape jobs” or be used with “malign” intentions.

“Generative AI systems will bring extraordinary change, but will also pose a challenge for societal resilience, in particular how we counter the harms that could flow from their malicious use,” it said. “This could include the use of AI to generate disinformation and misinformation, deepfakes, or conspiracy theories, with the potential to distort markets, undermine cohesion or cause political instability.”

Elsewhere, the report said that groups with “very limited levels of support” are “intent on disrupting the significant progress” in Northern Ireland.

It also said high rent costs have created a “locked-out generation”, and is a key impact in the record-high homelessness rates.

With regards to climate change, the report stated that the issue is occurring at “an accelerating and alarming rate”, and the country must “step up” efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions.

“Failure to meet obligations and targets on emissions, energy usage, and renewable energy, set both by the EU and in national legislation, is a risk,” it said.

A proposed list of strategic risks is drafted which is then published for public consultation, which took place from December 7th 2022 to February 17th 2023.

The list of strategic risks was drafted and published for public consultation, which occurred between December 2022 and February 2023.