MPP students participate in a guest lecture on Artificial Intelligence by Dr. Luca Tangi

Artificial intelligence is rapidly transforming industries, government operations, and society as a whole. However, this technological revolution also presents significant risks that must be carefully navigated. As AI systems become more advanced and ubiquitous, ensuring their safety, trustworthiness, and ethical deployment has emerged as a critical priority for both policymakers and innovators alike. 

The Head of Digital Policy and Artificial Intelligence at the Brandt School, Dr. Hasnain Bokhari, invited Dr. Luca Tangi, Project Officer at the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission, to deliver a timely guest lecture to MPP students. The lecture took place as part of the graduate course titled "AI and Public Policy," taught by Dr. Bokhari.

A key aspect of the lecture centred on the EU’s AI Act, which categorises AI systems based on their risk levels and establishes guidelines for their creation and use. In his talk, Dr. Tangi discussed the various risk categories, ranging from minimal-risk applications to high-risk AI systems demanding rigorous oversight. Another core theme of the lecture was the application of AI in the public sector. Dr. Tangi provided practical examples that illustrated how AI can transform government operations at various levels. 

The lecture offered important perspectives on how the EU strives to harmonise innovation with regulation in a fast-changing digital landscape. For public policy students, it highlighted the difficulties of managing AI while fostering technological advancement.