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Artificial intelligence (AI) is probably the most relevant issue when it comes to the new technological frontiers. AI represents a huge challenge for governments, private firms, and society as a whole if we take into account the threats coming from such an instrument. As the European Commission states, the EU’s approach to artificial intelligence “centres on excellence and trust, aiming to boost research and industrial capacity while ensuring safety and fundamental rights”. This sounds like a general position with limited involvement for the member states. This is why countries such as Italy, Germany, and France are already working on strengthening their cooperation in artificial intelligence. Last week, the ministers from the three countries that relate to industrial policy had a meeting in Rome in order to discuss how to face the changing dynamics associated with AI “as part of the overall efforts towards the digital and green transition”.

The three ministers acknowledged how AI “is a key technology for the future” and the EU’s competitiveness, but there is a need for an innovation-friendly regulation on the matter, including general-purpose AI. In this light, an important issue of the European AI Act and its risk-based approach should be that rules are established where specific risks arise in application, according to the German Minister for Economy, Robert Habeck. 

The safety of AI has also been the focus of a global summit hosted by the United Kingdom, attended by leaders and ministers from EU member states and institutions, like European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The common interest is to ensure that “AI should be designed, developed, deployed, and used in a manner that is safe, in such a way as to be human-centric, trustworthy, and responsible”, as states the so-called Bletchley Declaration, signed by the representatives of the countries participating in the AI Safety Summit. This shared vision involves public services such as health and education, food security, science, clean energy, biodiversity, and climate “to realise the enjoyment of human rights and to strengthen efforts towards the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals”. Ambitious tasks that require real coordination among all the actors on the global stage, with the European Union playing an important role.

Written by: Francesco Marino