On Tuesday 18 December, the European Commission presented a first draft of the guidelines for establishing an ethics framework for the development and use of artificial intelligence, which would focus on the human being and ensure the development of reliable technology.
“The use of artificial intelligence, like the use of all technology must always be aligned with our core values and uphold fundamental rights. The purpose of the ethics guidelines is to ensure this in practice,” said Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner for Digital Economy and Society, soberly on this occasion.
Because these guidelines, drawn up by a group of 52 high-level experts on artificial intelligence (see EUROPE 12036), unlike other documents published so far - as the introductory summary reminds us - not only set out a series of core principles, but also develop the concrete terms of their implementation.
Thus, the document of just under 40 pages has two objectives: - ensure that AI practice respects fundamental rights, European legislation and the values and principles that structure the Union (Chapter I); - enable the development of “robust and reliable” technology” (Chapter II). A third chapter is dedicated to the operation of the principles set out.
“The work of the expert group is very important in this regard and I encourage everyone to share their comments to help the group finalise the guidelines," added Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market. These guidelines are therefore open for comments until 18 January 2019, after which the group is expected to present a final draft of the guidelines in March of the same year.
Artificial intelligence is becoming increasingly important in the European political landscape. Recently, the Commission, together with the Member States, presented a coordinated plan to bring an AI "made in Europe" to the giants that are the United States and China.
To view the content of the guidelines: https://bit.ly/2EA7CGn. (Original version in French by Pascal Hansens)