"AI Must Be Controllable by Humans"… EU Digital Guidelines

EU Commission to Announce Draft Digital Strategy on the 19th

Strict Regulations Including Ethical Standards for Developers

US Media Interprets as a Measure to Curb US IT Giants like Google and Amazon

▲Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission [Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jaehee] The European Union (EU) has announced a new digital strategy that limits the rapidly growing artificial intelligence (AI) within human control. It is the world's first guideline that focuses on nurturing domestic IT companies through data sharing and applying strict regulations if AI does not meet the EU’s own standards. Since this strategy targets US information technology (IT) companies such as Google and Amazon, it is expected to further strengthen digital barriers.

The European Commission, the EU’s executive body, announced a draft of this digital strategy on the 19th (local time). This was carried out following the directive of Ursula von der Leyen, the EU Commission President who took office in December last year, to present a new digital strategy within 100 days.

The core of this strategy is to limit the growth of AI to a controllable level. Accordingly, strict ethical standards for AI developers have been set, and AI used in 'high-risk sectors' such as healthcare, public safety, transportation (autonomous vehicles), and law must meet the EU’s own standards. Commission President von der Leyen told reporters in Brussels, "We will pay particular attention to ensuring that human rights are not fundamentally endangered," adding, "The purpose of AI is to serve people and must comply with human rights." Margrethe Vestager, the EU Commission’s Executive Vice-President, also stated, "The principle is that AI technology must remain under human control," and "AI companies operating in Europe must pass tests set by authorities and obtain certification."

The EU Commission plans to establish and announce 'conformity assessment criteria' as soon as possible.

In addition, the EU Commission announced plans to build a single data market within the region, allowing companies, research institutes, and public institutions free access to data. This will enable EU companies to freely exchange various data without any regulations or barriers. The Commission also decided to open public data such as geographic, environmental, statistical, and corporate information to EU companies free of charge.

US media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) analyzed that the EU’s move is a measure to curb the US tech giants who are already ahead of European companies in the AI field. Meanwhile, US IT giants like Facebook, Google, and Apple, which have invested heavily in AI, expressed concerns that excessive regulations could stifle the AI industry. Earlier, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and Google CEO Sundar Pichai visited Brussels and conveyed their position that "while they agree on the need for AI regulation, balance must be maintained."

Based on this, the EU Commission plans to finalize the digital strategy for AI and data by the end of this year after policy consultations. It will be applied immediately after approval by all 27 member states and ratification by the European Parliament.