On 18 September, during the Mobile 360 Series Event organised by GSMA, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, Mariya Gabriel, delivered a keynote speech on the ethical and economic impact of artificial intelligence (AI).
Mrs. Gabriel called for a strong European approach on AI, to allow for coordination and pooling of resources in order to maximize the impact of AI investments in the EU.
In this context, the Commission’s strategy is threefold:
The Commission's investments in AI will increase to €1.5 billion, over the next three years. In order to maximise the outcomes of these investments, the Commission will facilitate access to AI resources, especially through its support to an AI-on-demand platform that will be launched in January, as well as through the Digital Innovation Hubs.
Considering the revolution that AI will trigger, the Commissioner insisted on the fact that “we must ensure that AI is developed and applied, in an appropriate legal framework, in line with the Union’s values and our fundamental rights, with ethical principles, and last but not least with citizens at the heart”.
A dedicated high-level group is working on a proposal for ethics guidelines and will provide a first version open for comments before the end of the year. A wider discussion on a legal framework is also taking place in the European AI Alliance (a multi-stakeholder platform with more than 1350 members).
Investment in AI for the next budget period will mainly go through two programmes:
A first version of a coordinated plan on AI, involving the Commission and Member states, should be ready by the end of the year. The objective of such plan is to increase the impact of investments at EU and national levels by building synergies and cooperation.
Background
GSMA represents the interests of mobile operators worldwide. The Mobile 360 Series – Europe conference programme brought together policy and industry leaders to explore the opportunities mobile provides.
