Use of AI in Cybersecurity and its Legal and Ethical Implications
Winning team examines AI's role in clinical trials, highlighting issues of bias, cybersecurity, and liability
Matheson was delighted to co-host the second annual Matheson and University College Cork (“UCC”) Hackathon recently. The on campus event saw over 40 students taking part to generate innovative ideas and explore emerging technologies.
This multidisciplinary hackathon brought together students from law, commerce, data analytics, and finance undergraduate and postgraduates programmes. The theme of this year's event was for students to investigate the use of AI in cybersecurity, focusing on its legal and ethical implications.
The event featured representatives from leading Munster-based organisations such as; Dell Technologies, Johnson & Johnson, McAfee, Northern Trust, JP Morgan Workplace Solutions and Qualcomm Ireland (QT Technologies Ireland Ltd.), who also participated as panel speakers, judges and team mentors. Kieran O’Sullivan, senior associate in Matheson’s Financial Institutions Group, moderated the hackathon with great energy and enthusiasm which played a big part in keeping the students motivated throughout the day.
Welcomed by Gráinne Callanan, partner and Head of Matheson’s Cork office; Mark Poustie, Dean of Law UCC and Nessa Lynch, Matheson Lecturer in Law, Innovation and Technology. This was followed by an informative client panel discussion, moderated by Deirdre Crowley, partner in Matheson’s Commercial Litigation Department and co-head of the firm’s Digital Economy Group.
Participants worked in teams to consider issues such as liability for AI-driven decisions, and the potential for AI in both defending against and perpetrating cyber-attacks, including how bias in AI algorithms may impact on cybersecurity. After the team pitches, the judging panel announced the winning team made up of Abbie O’Sullivan, Brian Donnelly, Ronan O’Keeffe, Saya O’Sullivan and Sarah O’Neill whose winning idea was noted by the judges to be thorough and well thought out.
The winning team's project examined AI's role in clinical trials, highlighting issues of bias, cybersecurity, and liability. Key recommendations include classifying clinical trial data as high-risk under the EU AI Act, using AI models for faster threat detection, and ensuring companies are aware of liability risks from AI-driven biases and security breaches. These steps aim to enhance safety and transparency in AI-supported clinical research.
The hackathon forms part of the UCC and Matheson Innovation Partnership, a five year sponsorship which supports the creation of a new lectureship and scholarship, as well as a series of lectures and collaborative events in the area of law, technology and innovation.
As legal practice continues to evolve, firms must embrace a culture of innovation in order to meet the complex challenges that can arise. Businesses across all industries and sectors are undergoing significant digital transformation.
