12/02/2018 (Agence Europe) – Human intervention will be central to the artificial intelligence initiative to be presented by the European Commission in spring (April) (see EUROPE 11931). We aim to ensure that Europeans get the best out of new technologies, rather than vice versa, said the Director General of DG Connect at the Commission, Roberto Viola. Above all, he acknowledges the potential of artificial intelligence, which could increase the viability of businesses by 38% up to 2035. However, he warned against the omnipotent machines. Leaving decisions up to machines would mean a virtually Orwellian control over our lives and cost us control over our future – a control which could be a new constitutional right for the digital age, he added. The European initiative should be used to tackle industrial capacity as well as ethical, legal and socio-economic questions. (SPj)