MEPs debate and vote on the final report by the Special Committee on Artificial Intelligence in a Digital Age. The text says the EU must set global AI standards and unlock its enormous potential to address challenges in the fields of health, the environment and climate change. Opening statement by Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and by Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission.

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

fight against cyber attacks (T)

joint debate

VOSS, Axel (EPP, DE)

use of robotics and artificial intelligence (T)

VESTAGER, Margrethe (DK, CE)

Artificial intelligence in a digital age: opening statement by Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur and by Margrethe VESTAGER, Executive Vice-President of the European Commission

Introduction to the debate by the President

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Thank you very much indeed, President. Thank you also for those very clear explanations. I think it's great to see you, Madam Vice President. Thank you also for your presence here today. Dear colleagues, I wish to thank you for everything we've been able to achieve here. And obviously my thanks also go to the Secretariat and the assistants.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, We've achieved a great deal, but I must say that we could have been even bolder or even more revolutionary, if I could put it that way, because I is a key technology. It's the key technology. It's it boosts digitalisation and is of great relevance and strategic importance. Every aspect of our lives will be affected by this. These developments in technology and the consequences for competitiveness for our welfare, wealth and security cannot be understated.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, And I think with the very swift developments that we're seeing in this field of technology, we have to ask ourselves what we as Europe, as the EU want to achieve, how we do we want to live in a data driven society. How are we going to interact with other regions, regions that are much more determined and targeted when it comes to investment and research that are really trying to pour a lot of money into these developments. I'm very quick to react when new technologies come up.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Now we have a great deal to offer to the world because we can combine our values with a type of technology and a way that other regions are unable to do. But then in our very complex structure, we have to be able to act quickly enough to be the first to come up with new ideas. And we need to be able to anticipate developments.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, Reacting and based on what's already been invented, is the wrong approach. We need to think ahead and be proactive. None of this should make us feel anxious in any way. It should give us a sense of optimism with a view to the future because of the great potential for good, whether it's for healthcare, sustainability.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, These are just a handful of examples where great opportunities need to be harnessed, and we've listed all these opportunities in the report. And with human centred, trustworthy approaches to AI based on fundamental rights, European values, we truly can counter the risks to our freedoms. So social scoring, disinformation, automated arms. So these are some of the examples that we don't want to see.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, But in this context we have an opportunity to set global standards, and that's an opportunity that we cannot miss. If we allow ourselves to lose a leadership position, we will miss the opportunity to set standards and we will resign ourselves to the status of digital colonies, subjugate it to other regions that don't share our values.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, We are lacking investment, we are lacking market power and dominance. So we need to carry out an analysis to see which steps must be taken in the coming years to ensure that we can shape the future of AI rather than act as bystanders.

SOUNDBITE (German), Axel VOSS (EPP, DE), Rapporteur, The revolution is underway and it's reaching Europe, and that's what this report deals with. Sadly, I've run out of speaking time. I would have said a few more points on the substance, but I'd like to stop here now and perhaps make some complimentary remarks later on. Thank you very much indeed for this outcome. Thank you.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, Thank you very much for this debate. I find it very important that we here today. And first of all, I want to congratulate all members of the committee. The report is very comprehensive. It draws, I think, a rich picture of the landscape of artificial intelligence in Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, An artificial intelligence can be a precious to solving some of the biggest challenges in our time, or at least helping us solve some of the biggest challenges. Because artificial intelligence, as any other technology, is a tool for humans. And no matter the technology, our societies will be no better or no worse than the choices we make as humans or we have choices to make.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, Because some citizens are still left out when it comes to health and we are all still not quite there when it comes to fighting climate change. We see many synergies in the EDA reports and the Commission approach to artificial intelligence. Our approach to AI also recognises the two sides of the AI metal that we just heard of. Providing enormous opportunities in terms of economic growth to our well-being.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, But using A.I. for certain applications, well, it also carries risks. Risk of something fundamental that is that are the building blocks of our society and our democracy. And then you have use cases that should be tackled with legislation. We want artificial intelligence to flourish, to reap the benefits, but of course, also to make sure that we address any possible concern to ensure what is trustworthy technology.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, What is technology used in a way that puts the human at the centre and that respects Europe's social market model? We want to make Europe a global leader in adopting these latest technologies and in developing these technologies. Seising the benefits, promoting the development of this technology.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, Our ambition is to increase public and private investment to a total of €20 billion per year over the course of this coming decade. Well, currently we stand at about €14 billion per year of combined public and private investment in artificial intelligence throughout Europe.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, For the Commission side, we're investing 50 billion in Horizon Europe to create a network of excellence centres to bring together excellence, because we know that talent attracts talent. And if we want the best to come here, we need to invest. And we also are investing in industrial research.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, We just set up a public private partnership on artificial intelligence to deal with data and robotic strengthening the use of artificial intelligence when it comes to our industrial needs. And of course, also how we can make our societies more sustainable. And in the context of the AI Act, we foresee a number of measures that ensure that Start-Ups and SMEs are encouraged and not discouraged from developing their technologies within the European Union.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, Foremost is the creation of regulatory sandboxes, which will ensure an environment in which business and regulators can cooperate in ensuring the development of AI is in compliance. But I think that most important thing here is that as legislators, we are not suggesting you to regulate technology.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, We are suggesting you to regulate the use of technology, in order for that to be future proof. In order not for the making the next developer, the next researcher, the legislator looked as if we were in the past to regulate in the use cases, and I think that is how to create trust.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, That's elected representatives as you are thinking about something that is indeed future proof, that preserves the fundamentals while at the same time enabling this technology to serve us at our best when we want to fight climate change. Increase cohesion and make sure that all the other use cases they can be as prosperous as possible.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, I think together we can achieve this. The Parliament has already put forward suggestions for civil liability regimes for AI, and we will follow up on this with legislative proposals later this year to create the necessary synergies between the acts and AI liability rules to develop an overall regulatory framework for AI, because that is part of creating trust that if damaged, you can get compensation.

SOUNDBITE (English), Margrethe VESTAGER, executive vicepresident of the European Commission, Together I think we can achieve this. I have been enjoying and I've been learning from the cooperation with the European Parliament in these many months, and I look forward for our continued cooperation. Thank you.