Ajeetkumar Singh, Data protection and ISO compliance manager
Introduction
The European Union's provisional agreement on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act has significant implications for AI-driven biometric health assessment. As a pioneer in AI technology, AHI is committed to understanding and navigating these changes to continue driving improvements in human health.
Background
On December 8, 2023, the EU Parliament and Council reached a provisional agreement on the AI Act, which aims to ensure AI systems in the EU are safe and respect fundamental rights and values. The Act introduces a groundbreaking framework for AI regulation, categorizing applications into three risk levels and imposing strict compliance on high-risk and banned AI practices.
Implications for AI in Health Monitoring
While the Act may place limitations on innovation, AHI believes the opportunity to leverage AI to drive insights and inform proactive healthcare management remains. With ongoing increases in the costs of treating complications associated with obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease, it is essential to navigate this change and continue driving improvements in human health.
Key Aspects of the EU AI Act
• The Act introduces a risk-based approach, categorizing AI applications into three risk levels: minimal, high, and unacceptable.
• High-risk AI applications, such as biometric identification, face strict compliance requirements.
• The Act has extra-territorial scope, meaning organizations outside the EU must comply in certain circumstances.
• Voluntary and informed collection of biometric data for health purposes is still allowed.
AHI's User-Centric Approach
AHI has always been focused on empowering users to control their health data through their mobile phones, working cohesively with care providers or agencies when allowing access to personal health records. Our values align with the EU AI Act, prioritizing transparency, trust, and user autonomy.
The Way Forward
For AHI and its customers, generating genuine trust and transparency in AI algorithms is core to fostering engagement in AI's potential. The rules within the AI Act support this aim. As the AI value chain is complex, a collaborative approach is needed to ensure appropriate and ethical use, development, and distribution of AI.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the EU AI Act brings both opportunities and challenges for AI-driven biometric health assessment. As a leader in this field, AHI is committed to navigating these changes and upholding our principles of transparency, accountability, and human oversight. We recognize the potential of AI-driven biometric health assessment to revolutionize healthcare, and we are dedicated to working closely with our customers to bring access to health insights to broader segments of the world's population.
By prioritizing data protection and security and consumer choice, we can build trust with our customers and end-users and ensure that AI-driven biometric health assessment is used for the betterment of society. We believe that collaboration and innovation are key to unlocking the full potential of AI-driven biometric health assessment, and we look forward to working with stakeholders across the industry to shape the future of healthcare.
Together, we can harness the power of AI-driven biometric health assessment to improve patient outcomes, reduce healthcare costs, and enhance the overall quality of life for individuals worldwide. With our commitment to informed consent, transparency, accountability, and human oversight, we can create a future where AI-driven biometric health assessment is trusted, accessible, and transformative for all.
Fines and Penalties
While most organisations will welcome a structured framework for operating responsibly in this new paradigm, hefty fines await those that deploy systems with unacceptable risk. Companies that introduce systems barred by the AI Act can face staggering penalties of up to €35,000,000 or 7% of annual worldwide turnover. These consequences eclipse those stipulated in the GDPR, cementing the EU's stance on non-compliance via some of the harshest penalties in the region.
Call-to-Action
AHI will continue to closely track next steps for this legislation and others closely, taking a proactive stance in ensuring our principles are upheld as further clarity emerges on implementation. We invite you to stay updated on the latest developments in AI regulation and its impact on biometric health assessment and we welcome your inquiries on how we are navigating these changes to drive continued improvements in human health. As we move forward, we remain committed to working with our customers to bring access to health insights to broader segments of the world's population, with utmost focus on data protection and security. We are dedicated to ensuring compliance with existing regulations and strive to take a leadership role as future regulation emerges around AI, leveraging our technical and medical expertise to pioneer innovative solutions.
About the author
Ajeetkumar Mulchand Singh, M.Sc. (IT), LL.B, CDPSE, CISA, CISSP, CISM, is a notable figure in the domain of data security and privacy.
With a rich history of working across global organizations, particularly within the European Union, Ajeet has accumulated extensive experience in both IT and OT, equipping him with a holistic understanding of security, as well as compliance and privacy domains. Having navigated diverse roles within multinational companies, Ajeet possesses invaluable insights into the complexities of safeguarding data in various operational contexts.
Ajeet's academic qualifications include a Master of Science degree in IT and a Bachelor of Laws degree, providing a solid foundation for his endeavours in data security and privacy. His certifications, attest to his commitment to excellence and proficiency in the field.
