George Lawlor: AI's Promise and the Threat of Sexual Exploitation

Over the past year or so we have all seen the emergence into the general populace of what can only be described as a profound technological transformation. Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant concept, it is here, it is partaking in every part of our daily lives, shaping our economy, our public services, our ways of communication and increasingly our vulnerabilities. The decisions we make in this House or further afield in other parliaments will determine whether AI becomes a force for human flourishing or a tool that magnifies and indeed encourages exploitation, inequality and harm. AI is not inherently good or bad but it is powerful and power, as history teaches us, must be governed with foresight, responsibility and moral clarity. We cannot afford to be passive observers. Today I think we all need to speak frankly about both sides of this technological revolution. The extraordinary benefits AI can bring to Ireland and the world but also the grave danger it poses, particularly when it comes to the sexual exploitation of women and children. I also want to address without equivocation the deeply troubling behaviour of certain AI systems or apps and platforms including the Grok app on X whose reckless design choices and permissive content generation have raised legitimate alarm. I do welcome Grok's announcement overnight with regard to its facilitation of clear abuse of people albeit enforced on them by worldwide outrage. So let us begin with the positive because as we know the potential is immense. AI is already helping doctors detect cancers earlier, analyse scans faster and personalised treatments with unprecedented precision. AI assisted radiology can identify tumours invisible to the human eye. Predictive models can anticipate cardiac events before symptoms appear. Virtual assistants can support people with chronic illnesses, improving quality of life and reducing strain on our health system. Imagine how the HSE would benefit where waiting lists shrink because of an AI triage system that would streamline diagnostics. Where rural communities in particular gain access to worldwide expertise through AI powered telemedicine. This is not just a fantasy, it is happening right now. For instance, AI apps are analysing vital signs for heart conditions. Diabetes, hypertension and fall risks. AI can also be transformative in education and learning. Tools for students with dyslexia, ADHD or autism can level the playing field. And in a country which in theory commits itself to opportunity for all, AI can be a great leveller. And as we are all aware, Ireland's tech sector is already a global powerhouse. AI can both enhance and amplify that success. It can drive innovation in agriculture, manufacturing and also renewable energy. If we harness it wisely, AI can strengthen our competitiveness and create high quality jobs for decades to come. AI can help government operate more efficiently and transparently and God knows nobody in this building would announce that. Fraud detection systems can protect public funds. AI-driven analytics can improve transport planning and reduce congestion. Emergency services can use predictive modelling to allocate resources more effectively. In short, AI can help us build a smarter, more responsive state and community. But we must also speak with equal clarity about the dangers. Because the same technology that can diagnose cancer can also generate, as we know, deep fake child abuse imagery. The same algorithms that can personalise education can also personalise harassment. The same systems that can empower us can also exploit us. The sexual exploitation of women and children is the darkest frontier of AI misuse. And it is expanding at a terrifying pace. AI, as we know now, can fabricate hyper-realistic images and videos of people, often minors, without their consent. And these deep fakes are being used to harass, to blackmail and to degrade. There have been cases where teenage girls discover their faces pasted onto pornographic images circulating amongst classmates. Women targeted by ex-partners who use AI tools to create fake sexual content as a form of coercive control. Predators use AI to generate fake child abuse material that is indistinguishable from reality. And this is not devastation inflicted on victims is profound. Their reputation, their sense of safety, their dignity are all shattered by images that never existed. But feel real to everyone who sees them. We must be absolutely clear. AI generated sexual exploitation is sexual exploitation. And is absolutely and completely a criminal offence and must be punished. AI generated child abuse imagery is child abuse and is absolutely a criminal offence and must be absolutely punished. The harm is real. The Grok app on the X platform has become a symbol of this irresponsibility. Its design choices, its willingness to generate inappropriate, sexualised and harmful content, have demonstrated a profound failure of duty. But Grok is not the only app to facilitate this type of deviant behaviour. A quick Google search by myself this morning revealed a myriad of such apps. A review on one of them stated, Using the app was a surprisingly engaging experience. The interface is user friendly making it accessible even for individuals with limited technical skills. I uploaded a simple photo and within seconds the AI generated a stunning transformation. The ability to adjust the levels of nudity was particularly impressive allowing for a customised outcome. What an amazing review of such a deviant app. We must condemn in the strongest possible terms any platform that treats safety as an afterthought. We must condemn any AI system that trivialises harm or enables exploitation. And we must absolutely condemn the culture of move fast and break things when what has been broken are people's lives. But we must most definitely ensure that the people responsible face the rigours of the law and face criminal conviction. We as a parliament must show in the strongest possible terms and use every available power that we have that we cannot and will not tolerate AI systems that facilitate abuse, harassment or exploitation. We must hold platforms accountable legally, financially and morally. AI can also generate convincing fake news, fake speeches, fake evidence and democracies as a result are vulnerable. A society is a judge minister on how it protects its most vulnerable. Women and children are disproportionately targeted by AI enabled abuse. That is a fact that we must confront. Ireland must lead with strong modern legislation. We must establish clear rights for victims including rapid takedown mechanisms and legal recourse. We have already seen that we cannot rely on voluntary codes of conduct. We have already seen that we need enforceable laws. AI also does not respect borders and neither should our response. We simply cannot do it alone. We have to work with the EU, the UN and international partners. It is also imperative that we equip parents, we equip teachers and young people with the knowledge to recognise and report AI enabled abuse. Digital literacy is now a form of safeguarding. Despite the dangers, I absolutely and certainly remain optimistic because AI with proper governance can be a force for extraordinary good. We should invest in AI tools that protect, not exploit. AI can empower people with disabilities. Real time captioning for the deaf. AI powered mobility aids for the visually impaired. Communication tools for people with speech impairments. That is AI at its best. Expanding human capability. We can't stop the AI revolution nor should we want to. But we can shape it. We can use our powers to guide it. We can ensure that it serves humanity rather than harms it. The question is whether or not AI will change society. But it already has. We have to ensure that platforms who feel that they can operate without consequences get the message very directly that there will be no hiding place for their ambivalence or their inaction. AI in the wrong hands can do dreadful things. But in the right hands, in responsible hands, it can save lives, it can expand opportunity and it can strengthen our society. So let us in this chamber, in this Oireachtas, ensure that our country, Ireland, stands as a global leader in ethical AI. It is our responsibility but we must act with the urgency, the times we live in demand. It is our responsibility to supply and elections. 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