Taoiseach: AI must benefit humanity, not ruin it

Taoiseach Micheál Martin said AI should be designed for the benefit, not the "ruination of mankind," following an informal EU leaders' meeting in Dublin today. Nobel Prize-winning computer scientist Geoffrey Hinton delivered a "stark message" on AI's potential to destroy the world, advocating for global governance and regulation. He stressed Europe's role as a regulatory bastion, with the EU's AI Act providing a strong platform. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen noted Hinton's emphasis on controlling "runaway AI," comparing it to pharmaceutical testing. She said Europe's AI Act, initially criticized, now draws praise for balancing innovation with risk control.