At the end of April, the European Commission will publish its strategy on artificial intelligence (AI), in view of encouraging the development of this technology, whilst ensuring that it does not lead to any irregularities.
The document is based on three principal areas of work: (1) stimulating the EU's technological and industrial capacity in this area; (2) tackling ethical and legal issues (whilst taking on board questions relating to safety, liability, transparency and data access); and (3) responding to socio-economic challenges on the labour markets and modernising education and training systems in Europe (see EUROPE 11931).
According to the Commission, the combined economic impact of vehicle automation, know-how and robots is estimated to be around €6.5-12 trillion every year up to 2025, including productivity gains (40%) and the improved quality-of-life for an ageing population.
European budget earmarking
According to a preliminary version leaked to the press, the strategy seeks to create a European budget to boost the development of artificial intelligence in Europe.
The Commission intends to mobilise €200 million every year before 2020 (as part of the current multi-annual financial framework) through a public-private partnership. A €250 million envelope would be allocated to research and innovation as a means of responding to societal challenges and €50 million to help support centres of excellence.
As part of the post-2020 multi-annual financial framework, the Commission will be proposing that €14 billion is unblocked to support research and development in artificial intelligence, financing the integration of artificial intelligence by SMEs and other organisations, as well as underpinning experiments and trials through digital innovation hubs and bringing European research centres up to speed on AI.
Developmental monitoring
At the beginning of 2019, the European Commission will develop an ethics charter for AI. In the second quarter of the year it will also publish an orientation paper on the “products liability" directive, as well as a report on the long-term implications relating to liability in this area.
With regard to training and the labour market, the communication has announced that before the end of 2018, there will be a review of the recommendation on key skills for lifelong learning and a report based on recommendations on the impact of AI and robots on the labour market.
By June this year, the Commission will be launching a study to improve the understanding of skills requirements, while the experts' group on public services and employment will be publishing a position on future employment and impacts on the public employment services, by the end of 2018.
The artificial intelligence strategy is almost certainly going to be presented on 24 April as part of a data related package, which will also include an online health initiative and another on the reuse of public sector information.
Another package focusing on platforms will be unveiled the following day. This will contain an initiative on relations between the platforms and their commercial partners and another on fake news. (Original version in French by Sophie Petitjean)