The European Commission presents the AI White Paper and its new European data strategy

The European Commission is implementing new measures to promote Europe’s digital transformation. As announced by Ursula Von der Leyen at a press conference, they are focusing on creating a data strategy that is fair, competitive, open, democratic, sustainable and people-centred; and paving the way for artificial intelligence to be reliable, trusted and excellent.

White Paper on AI

The EC presented the White Paper on Artificial Intelligence. This aims to implement and create incentives for the application of AI in the private and public sectors, as well as among SMEs within a framework based on excellence, trust and reliability. For high-risk cases, it is established that AI systems should be transparent and traceable and ensured by human verification. It is also specified that unbiased data is necessary for the systems to be developed properly. For lower-risk AI applications, the Commission envisages a voluntary labelling scheme in case they apply higher standards. The EC has opened a public consultation until 19 May 2020 in order to take into account the comments received in developing a reliable IA for the White Paper.

European Data Strategy

The amount of data generated by companies and public bodies is constantly growing, yet most of it remains unused. The European data strategy includes the creation of a European data space, a single market to unlock unused data by allowing it to flow freely for the benefit of European businesses, researchers and public administrations. ZABALA Innovation Consulting, in this case, has already made a commitment to innovation and has projects that collect and use this data to support small and medium enterprises in their development.

To implement the new strategy, the EC proposes the creation of the appropriate regulatory framework for data management, access and reuse between companies and administrators. This involves creating incentives; adopting rules that protect consumers, personal data and legislation; and increasing the availability of data in the public sector. They will also implement new strategies to make strategic data from private companies public.

In the same vein, the Commission intends to support the development of technological systems and the next generation of infrastructure. This will enable the EU to seize the opportunities offered by the data economy, and to invest in high-impact European projects on reliable and energy-efficient European data spaces and infrastructures.

Finally, it will launch sector-specific measures and continue to work on closing the digital skills gap.