(Wednesday - 11:00)

Artificial Intelligence (AI) systems are no longer futuristic novelties—they shape how we learn, work, shop, and even make critical life decisions. As their influence expands, so do the risks: from algorithmic bias in hiring or healthcare, to opaque decision-making in financial services, to the misuse of data at scale. Building “responsible AI” therefore requires more than technical safeguards; it demands a serious reckoning with societal impacts—how classrooms evolve, how research is conducted, and how labour markets are reshaped. The challenge is not simply to innovate, but to ensure that innovation serves the public good.

The European Union’s AI Act marks a groundbreaking attempt to set global standards for how AI should be developed and deployed. By classifying systems from “minimal” to “unacceptable” risk, it outlines obligations for both developers and users, seeking to balance two forces often in conflict: trust and accountability on one side, and innovation and competitiveness on the other. Yet, the Act has also sparked debate. Critics question whether its scope may stifle smaller innovators, whether its definitions are precise enough, and whether regulation can ever keep pace with the speed of technological change.

The goal of this panel is to explore the challenges and implications surrounding the AI Act and to support discussion on how best to address them. Featuring panelists with diverse expertise—including healthcare applications, Green AI, and other critical areas—this session aims to provide a multi-view dialogue on how regulation can shape the future of AI responsibly and ethically.

The discussion will begin by comparing the EU’s regulatory strategy with other global approaches, before moving on to the role of emerging infrastructures, such as AI Factories and Gigafactories, which promise to supercharge Europe’s AI ecosystem. We will then examine the added complexity of domain-specific applications: for example, how do we regulate diagnostic AI in healthcare, where bias can cost lives? Finally, through case studies, we will present real-world examples of both regulatory success and failure, providing participants with a grounded perspective on what “responsible AI” can—and cannot—achieve.

Painel: Nuria Oliver, ELLIS Alicante

Amparo Betanzos, University Coruña

Allan Tucker, Brunel University

Marko Grobelnik, Josef Stefan Institute

Mario Campolargo University Aveiro (moderador)