Regulation is a word we hear often today in relation to artificial intelligence. Due to the excessive potential that this new technology shows every day, people (and experts) are looking for government regulations to accompany its development. Some authorities have already begun to structure laws.
Along these lines, as reported Quartz, the first UN resolution on artificial intelligence was agreed. The project seeks to ensure that this new technology be safe and reliableas well as that all countries in the world, particularly those that are developing, have access, putting an end to a notable digital divide that is accentuated daily.
In detail, It aims for everyone to be present in the debates about AI. A conversation that, until now, was concentrated in the pioneering AI countries of the global north. It also wants everyone to have the technology and skills necessary to take advantage of its benefits, such as detecting disease, predicting floods and training the next generation of workers.
Furthermore, according to reports The Associated Pressone of the key objectives of the project is to use AI to help drive progress towards achieving the 2030 UN development goals, which are very late. Among them, ending hunger and poverty in the world, improving health throughout the planet, guaranteeing quality secondary education for all children and achieving gender equality.
Also, this resolution places great emphasis on the fact that each country and its government must open the debate more and focus on different angles to direct their nations along with this inevitable technological growth. Although the UN’s position may represent a great step forward, it is up to each country to develop and support standards on the matter.
The United States was the one who began promoting this debate at the United Nations. Three months ago, negotiations began with the 193 members of the UN and, after some drafts, this latest project achieved consensus.
The European Union takes the final step to its regulation
At the beginning of December, the Council of the European Union and the European Parliament managed to reach a provisional agreement. This Wednesday, March 13, the law was finally approved by the legislators of the European Parliament with 523 votes in favor, 46 against and 49 abstentions, according to reports CNBC News.
“We have the world‘s first regulation that sets a clear path for safe, human-centered development of AI. “Now we have a text that reflects Parliament’s priorities,” he said according to Euronews Italian legislator Brando Benifei, who described this day as a historic day.
The regulation will go into effect this May, but its implementation will only become effective a year later. The main objective of this act of law is to reduce and identify risks and to do so, it classifies the different uses of technology according to their threat level. The highest ones will adhere to strict rules while the lowest ones will be more flexible.
This content was originally published in RED/ACCION and is republished as part of the “Human Journalism” program, an alliance for quality journalism between RÍO NEGRO and RED/ACCION.