For those who don’t know, the European Parliament proposed an “AI Act” in June in order to avoid risks related to AI applications and prevent discriminatory effects, without however slowing down technological innovation in Europe. During the discussions, Parliament put forward the proposal that the code of conduct should initially be binding only for major AI providers, predominantly from the United States.
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However, according to a joint document revealed by Reuters, now too three EU governments (including Italy) have raised concerns regarding this apparent competitive advantage for smaller suppliers in Europe and I agree to create an agreement that can be binding for all.
The positions of the countries
Italy
Italy’s position on the regulation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is focused on creating an ethical regulatory framework for sustainable and trustworthy AI. The Italian Ministry of Economic Development published a preliminary version of its national AI strategy in October 2020, underlining the importance of ensuring transparency, accountability and reliability in AI systems to stimulate citizen trust and foster an AI ecosystem growing.
The Italian strategy also emphasizes the need to promote research and innovation in the field of AI to enhance entrepreneurial competitiveness. Furthermore, the government aims to invest 2.5 billion euros in human capitalresearch and innovation in AI.
To date, there is no specific national regulation in Italy that focuses on discriminatory and bias practices in the field of AI. However, the Italian Constitution provides different principles and provisions that can influence AIand some AI solutions have already been examined by courts and authorities.
Germany
The German Ministry of Economic Affairs, responsible together with the Ministry of Digital Affairs, stressed that the state should not directly regulate AI, but rather its use. The German national AI strategy aims to bring benefits to people and the environment by funding AI applications that benefit society.
The German strategy proposes several political reforms and formal education and training initiatives, with a special focus on training educators, trainers and the general public to ensure a high-quality level of AI education. Furthermore, Germany contributes to the OECD’s ongoing work on AI and supports the OECD AI Principles, in order to help policymakers implement these principles.
France
France is actively advocating for regulations on a global scale for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and recognizes the United States as a significant partner in this effort. French President Macron has proposed that platforms such as the G7 and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) would be suitable to establish global regulations for AI by the end of 2023.
French politicians highlight the importance of ensuring safety, minimizing bias and promoting transparency in AI systems, while encouraging flexibility to foster innovation. France aims to position itself as a development hub for AI and collaborate with the innovative EU AI Act, while supporting global regulations.
Furthermore, the French President Macron has warned against overly restrictive and punitive AI regulationshighlighting the need to regulate the uses of AI rather than the technologies themselves.