World needs intergovernmental body to regulate AI tech: Von der Leyen
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The EU Commission's chief stressed the need for swift action in regulating rapidly advancing AI technologies.
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European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen speaks during a media conference after an EU summit in Brussels, Friday, Dec. 13, 2019. (AP)
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has called for the establishment of an effective intergovernmental mechanism on the global stage to mitigate the risks associated with the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies and to promote responsible advancements in technology.
Speaking on the second day of the G20 leaders' summit in New Delhi, she emphasized the need for Europe and its partners to develop a new worldwide framework addressing AI risks.
Von der Leyen proposed that this framework should safeguard against systemic societal risks while encouraging investments in safe and responsible AI systems. She also highlighted the importance of involving the broader United Nations community in these efforts.
She suggested that a body similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) should be established in close collaboration with scientists, developers, and the business community to provide expertise on AI risks and potential benefits for humanity.
Read next: Senators submit two bills on AI as US falls behind on risk containment
European guidelines for AI
The G20 leaders, as stated in the summit's declaration on Saturday, acknowledged their responsibility to harness AI for the public good while addressing challenges in a responsible, inclusive, and human-centric manner, all while safeguarding people's rights and safety.
Notably, India has chaired the G20 since December 1, 2022, and the high-level summit held in New Delhi brought together the 20 member states along with nine other nations, including Bangladesh, Egypt, Spain, Mauritius, Nigeria, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, and Singapore. Russia and China were also represented at the summit by Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and Premier Li Qiang, respectively.
Earlier this year, the European Parliament adopted its negotiating stance on the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, which proposes guidelines for the use of AI in Europe to encourage responsible use of the technology and protect people from its potentially detrimental impacts.
The position was adopted with 499 votes in favor, 28 votes against, and 93 abstentions, according to the parliament, which added that the vote occurred ahead of discussions with EU member states on the final version of the law.
The parliament said in a statement, "The rules would ensure that AI developed and used in Europe is fully in line with EU rights and values including human oversight, safety, privacy, transparency, non-discrimination, and social and environmental wellbeing ... The rules follow a risk-based approach and establish obligations for providers and those deploying AI systems depending on the level of risk the AI can generate."
The laws also recommend prohibiting biometric surveillance, emotion recognition, and predictive policing by AI systems based on profiling or prior criminal behavior.
