Currently, useful data includes not only specific information organized into rows, columns, or databases, but also data that is not organized in any specifically defined way. This constitutes the majority of data we encounter, including images and text documents such as tweets and blog posts. Thousands of individuals and organizations generate it daily, with little regard for how it can be used. It is precisely thanks to unstructured data that such rapid AI development is possible through machine learning, which involves training algorithms to find patterns and correlations in large data sets.
On September 11th, we had the pleasure of participating in an event organized by LifeScience Cluster on the application of artificial intelligence in healthcare. The webinar began with an explanation of the very concept of AI, which is controversial and riddled with myths. A key element of AI is machine learning. It involves creating predictions based on previous data. Within machine learning, deep learning, a model based on neural networks, was developed. The difference between traditional machine learning and deep learning lies primarily in the number of neural network layers. These enable the recognition of increasingly complex relationships. The concept of data science, which lies between artificial intelligence and data analysis, was also mentioned. It is the art of combining data with practice. This allows for the automation of many processes and better decision-making.
Under EU Law, namely Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 on the protection of natural persons with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, and repealing Directive 95/46/EC (General Data Protection Regulation) (hereinafter “GDPR”) and the pending entry into application of Regulation (EU) 2024/1689 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2024 laying down harmonised rules on artificial intelligence and amending Regulations (EC) No 300/2008, (EU) No 167/2013, (EU) No 168/2013, (EU) 2018/858, (EU) 2018/1139 and (EU) 2019/2144 and Directive 2014/90/EU, (EU) 2016/797 and (EU) 2020/1828 (Artificial Intelligence Act) (hereinafter “AIA”), the use of sensitive data (including medical data) for AI training would only be possible after obtaining consent, in cases specified by law, or when using anonymized data. AIA is not a lex specialis vis-à-vis the GDPR, so when using personally identifiable data, using data for AI model training requires meeting the requirements of both acts.
