WIREDGOV

The European Commission yesterday hosted a high-level meeting with 12 representatives from philosophical and non-confessional organisations from across Europe, as part of the regular dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations foreseen by Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. This ninth annual high-level meeting discussed the topic "Artificial Intelligence: addressing ethical and social challenges". Yesterday's meeting was chaired by Vice-President Andrus Ansip.

First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for the Article 17 Dialogue yesterday said: "Our societies are in the midst of an unprecedented digital revolution which will impact every person living on the planet. This revolution brings new promises, and new risks of disruption. We have seen recently that the digital world moved faster than the ethical discussion about what could and should be allowed online. We cannot risk the same thing happening with Artificial Intelligence and automatization. We need to be in control of this transformation, and make sure that it is used to foster our values and defend our social model".

Andrus Ansip, Vice-President for the Digital Single Market, yesterday said: "From better healthcare to safer transport, the benefits of artificial intelligence are many and Europe should grab them. Along with increased investments, we are developing ethical guidelines for the development of AI for good and for all. This requires an open discussion on key issues such as the importance of diversity and gender balance in AI to avoid biased decisions. Today's meeting and the recent set up of the European AI Alliance contribute to this broad debate."

Yesterday's high-level meeting provided an occasion to address two important issues related to artificial intelligence (AI). First, the meeting looked at the potential impact of AI on fundamental rights, in particular when it comes to privacy, dignity, consumer protection and non-discrimination. Second, the social dimension of AI was addressed looking in particular at the impact of AI on social inclusion and on the future of work.

Vice-President Ansip encouraged the participants to continue their engagement on this topic by contributing to the ongoing initiatives of the Commission on AI, in particular through the European AI Alliance that was launched last week. The AI Alliance is a community of stakeholders brought together through an online forum to engage in a broad and open discussion of all aspects of artificial intelligence development and its impacts.

Facilitating multi-stakeholder dialogue on how to advance AI innovation to increase trust and adoption, and to inform future policy discussions, is a commitment made as part of the recent G7's Charlevoix Common Vision for the Future of Artificial Intelligence. It is also a key element of the European approach on AI and the Declaration of Cooperation on AI signed by 28 European countries.

Background

Yesterday's high level meeting with representatives of philosophical and non-confessional organisation is the ninth in the series of meetings launched by the Commission in 2009 when the dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations was enshrined in the Lisbon Treaty (Art 17 TFEU). The dialogue is under the responsibility of First Vice-President Timmermans. Each year, these meetings are dedicated to different topical matters. In previous years, First Vice-President Timmermans has invited participants for valuable discussions on 'Living together and disagreeing well' in 2015, 'Migration, integration and European values' in 2016, and 'The Future of Europe'in 2017.

On 25 April 2018, the European Commission launched a European initiative on artificial intelligence (AI). The Commission is proposing a three-pronged approach to increase public and private investment in AI, prepare for socio-economic changes, and ensure an appropriate ethical and legal framework. The Commission is in particular concerned that no one is left behind in the digital transformation and that these new technologies are based on values. As with any transformative technology, some AI applications may raise new ethical and legal questions.

As part of this initiative, ethical guidelines on AI will be developed by the end of 2018, based on the EU's Charter of Fundamental Rights, taking into account principles such as data protection and transparency, and building on the work of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies.

To help develop these guidelines and provide recommendations, the Commission has appointed an expert group on AI.

More information

The Communication "Artificial Intelligence for Europe" can be found at:https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/news/factsheet-artificial-intelligence-europe

To join the European AI Alliance: https://ec.europa.eu/digital-single-market/en/european-ai-alliance

European Commission' dialogue with churches, religious communities and philosophical and non-confessional organisations on DG Justice home page on fundamental rights:

http://ec.europa.eu/justice/fundamental-rights/dialogue/index_en.htm

List of Meeting Participants

• Mr Henri BARTHOLOMEEUSEN, President of the Centre d'Action Laïque (CAL)
• Mr Michael BAUER, Vice-President of the European Humanist Federation, Humanistischer Verband Deutschlands Bayern (CEO)
• Mr Max BOJARSKI, Grand Orient of Poland, Vice-President of the Congress of Laicity
• Ms Martine CERF, Secretary General of Egalité Laïcité Europe (EGALE)
• Ms Raluca CIOCIAN-ARDELEANU, Vice-President, Romanian Secular-Humanist Association
• Jean DE BRUEKER, President of the Contribution des Obédiences Maçonniques Adogmatiques et Libérales à la Construction Européenne (COMALACE)
• Mr Giulio ERCOLESSI, President of the European Humanist Federation (EHF)
• Ms Marie-Claude KERVELLA-BOUX, President Institut Maçonnique Européen, Grand Master of the Women's Grand Lodge of France
• Mr Marc MENSCHAERT, President of the European Masonic Alliance (Alliance Maçonnique Européenne – AME)
• Pr. Laszlo NEMES, Hungarian Humanist Association, Professor at Eszterházy Károly University, Eger (Hungary)
• Mr Keith Porteous WOOD, Executive Director of the (UK) National Secular Society
• Mr Claude WACHTELAER, President of the European Association for Free Thought (AEPL)

Press contacts:

• Alexander WINTERSTEIN (+32 2 299 32 65)
• Kasia KOLANKO (+ 32 2 296 34 44)
• Inga HOGLUND (+32 2 295 06 98)

General public inquiries: Europe Direct by phone 00 800 67 89 10 11 or by email