Government to fast-track fines for tech companies over AI abuse

Ellen O'Donoghue

The Government is to fast-track laws to fine tech companies that abuse artificial intelligence.

It comes in the wake of the controversy surrounding Elon Musk's Grok bot on X, which has allowed users to publicly undress people in images, including children.

Enterprise Minister Peter Burke will ask the Cabinet to approve legislation that transposes an existing EU act on AI.

The law would outline eight harmful uses of AI that violate people's rights and basic decency.

It is also to grade each type of AI use by risk, with fines of up to €35 million or 7 per cent of the company's annual turnover, whichever is higher.

According to the Irish Independent, the Dáil is likely to fast-track the bill in light of recent developments.

A new AI office will be set up as an authority as early as August, to oversee the setting up of the Act.

In the UK, Prime Minister Keir Starmer has told X to control Grok, or the British Government will.

While here, Junior Minister for AI Niamh Smyth awaits a meeting with X officials on the platform's nudification features.