Webinar on AI & Social Protection
The European Social Insurance Platform (ESIP) together with the Belgian Federal Public Service of Social Security (FPS Social Security), held a webinar on "Artificial Intelligence and Social Protection in the EU: Navigating Challenges and Seizing Opportunities". The webinar took place online on Wednesday 5th of June from 14.00 to 15.45 CET, under the auspices of the Belgian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has transitioned from niche technology to a mainstream tool across various sectors, heralding significant changes in how services are designed, delivered and managed. The integration of AI in the field of social protection may result in enhanced efficiency and timeliness, improved service provision to individuals, and better resource management. However, despite its widespread adoption, there remains a nebulous understanding of the specific implications of the European AI Act on social security systems. This ambiguity requires a structured dialogue to acquire a clearer understanding of the AI Act's impact and to examine strategic pathways for innovation among organisations providing social protection across the EU.
The webinar aimed to provide clarity and strategic insights into the integration of AI within social protection systems. It addressed the pressing challenges posed by regulatory frameworks, explored opportunities for innovation and cooperation, and highlight potential difficulties in the implementation of effective AI systems to ensure that AI contributes positively to social welfare current objectives and future needs.
An opening speech from the European Commission shed light on the implications of the recently adopted EU AI Act followed by a panel discussion with experts coming from ESIP members who discussed how use (or intend to) AI in their organisations as well as their own experiences with this technology. The last panel look at how the European Union can encourage AI innovation in the field of social protection.
The webinar was moderated by Manuel Paolillo (Director General, Belgian FPS Social Security).
This webinar started with a Keynote Speech from Martin Ulbrich (Policy Officer DG CONNECT & Contributor to the AI White paper and the AI Act) presenting the European AI Act and its implications for national policies and the prioritisation of user-experience driven AI implementation. It has been followed by the first panel “Promising practices of AI application for Social Protection” where we talked about the best practices & case studies from EU countries as well as the exploration of implementation plan and implemented examples within social protection organisations. The second panel discussed “What can be done on the European level to further support innovative AI solutions applied to social protection?” where it was the occasion to question the regulatory framework and his gaps. It was also the occasion to discuss the opportunities for further cross-border collaboration. We ended with some closing remarks by the President of ESIP.