The Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) has released a new Issue brief, Using generative AI in parliaments, which explores the potential opportunities and risks associated with the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI) in parliamentary settings. (ref. https://www.ipu.org/resources/publications/issue-briefs/2024-04/using-generative-ai-in-parliaments )
GenAI is a new form of AI that can generate entirely new content, such as texts or images, based on large volumes of data, often referred to as large language models. Its explosive growth in recent months has made it a topic of significant media and political attention, including at the parliamentary level.
The Brief provides an overview of how parliaments can leverage GenAI to save time and increase productivity while reducing operating costs. It calls on parliaments to proceed carefully but also to begin experimenting – for example, on low-risk tasks such as creating records of parliamentary debates.
However, it cautions the parliamentary community against introducing GenAI into core legislative systems until it has confidence in the technology and stronger governance structures are in place.
The Brief notes that AI is already in use in many parliaments, including tools like anti-virus software, email spam protection and cybersecurity technology.
Despite the potential benefits of GenAI, there are already significant risks associated with it, particularly its ability to create misinformation, disinformation or deep fakes, which can be used maliciously to influence elections or harm candidates.
To address these risks, the Brief argues that the pace of AI development must be matched with the development of safeguards and control mechanisms. The Brief recomm
