Coordinated plan on artificial intelligence

Summary

The European AI Strategy, introduced by the European Commission in April 2018, highlights the transformative impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on various aspects of daily life and economic sectors, likening its influence to that of electricity in the past. AI enhances products, processes, and business models by analyzing vast amounts of data to offer efficient solutions, such as improving healthcare diagnostics, reducing energy consumption through smart thermostats, and predicting machinery maintenance needs.

AI systems exhibit intelligent behavior by autonomously analyzing their environment and taking actions to achieve specific goals, which we encounter daily in spam filters, digital assistants, and more. Advances in computing power, data availability, and algorithms have established AI as a critical technology of the 21st century. However, AI also brings challenges, including fears of job loss due to automation, accountability concerns in AI decisions, difficulties for small businesses in adopting AI, and competitive pressures from substantial investments in the US and China. To address these issues and capitalize on AI opportunities, the European strategy emphasizes a human-centric approach, promoting ethical, secure, and innovative AI developed in Europe. The strategy is built on three pillars: increasing public and private AI investments, preparing for socio-economic changes, and establishing an appropriate ethical and legal framework.