Transparency and Independence at Risk? The Integration of Artificial Intelligence in EFSA’s Scientific Assessment

Artificial Intelligence (AI) offers significant opportunities to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of public action, especially in domains characterized by risk and uncertainty, such as food safety. In this context, the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) has started to explore the use of AI applications in its risk assessment activities. Building on this premise, the paper examines what has been described as the ‘automation’ of scientific risk assessment and investigates the regulatory and institutional challenges arising from this technological shift. After outlining the main AI tools and applications that EFSA is considering for the performance of its tasks, the paper analyzes the problems raised by such uses within the already controversial role of EFSA in the EU risk analysis system, and tests whether the existing regulatory framework–in particular the AI Act and the General Food Law–is adequately equipped to address these issues.