High-Risk AI Applications in the EU AI Act

The EU’s AI Act sets out a risk-based regulatory framework to govern the potential harms emanating from use of AI systems. Within the AI Act’s hierarchy of risks, the AI systems that are likely to incur high-risk to health, safety, and fundamental rights are subject to the majority of the Act’s provisions. The Act describes high-risk AI applications by providing a list wherein the conditions that shape high-risk AI are defined. For high-risk AI systems, the AI Act places obligations on providers and users regarding use of AI systems and keeping appropriate documentation.
Building on our analysis of the clauses defining the criteria for high-risk AI in Annex III, we develop a novel methodology based on 5 core concepts that enable expressing AI use cases and assist in identification of high-risk uses of AI. To support further compliance tasks, we propose a new approach for representation of key AI and risk information to bring in automation in generating, auditing, and sharing AI technical documentation. These are attained by developing AI Risk Ontology (AIRO) alongside a Vocabulary for AI Risks (VAIR) which provide AI and risk information in a machine-readable, open, and standard manner, creating a common vocabulary that facilitates knowledge sharing and interoperability within the AI value chain.