EU and USA want to cooperate more closely on AI

Among other things, a group of experts is to be set up to monitor and measure existing and new AI risks, according to a joint report published on Wednesday at the EU and US Trade and Technology Council. It said common AI regulations should be expanded, progress on further development of AI standards and tools for risk management should continue, and an inventory of existing and emerging risks should be developed.

EU Commission Deputy Margrethe Vestager described the proposal as “a big step in a race we cannot afford to lose”. Accountability can’t wait, he wrote on Twitter: “We will work with our key partners and the AI ​​community on security measures to make AI accountable, safe and trustworthy.”

In addition, the US and the EU want to further their cooperation in AI research in certain areas, such as extreme weather and climate forecasts, emergency management or improving agriculture and energy networks. “We are committed to harnessing the potential of emerging technologies while limiting the challenges they pose to universal human rights and shared democratic values,” the statement said.

A dramatic-sounding warning from AI experts

Transatlantic initiative stands behind dramatic-sounding warnings: In a report released Tuesday, several leading AI experts called for the risks to be taken seriously. Sam Altman, president of ChatGPT inventor OpenAI, also signed the short statement. Chatbot ChatGPT, which can produce human-level sentences, has created a new buzz around artificial intelligence in recent months. The nonprofit organization, whose text appears on its website, cites its use in warfare as a potential danger of artificial intelligence. The EU and the US want to cooperate more closely with other technologies such as the future 6G mobile communication standard or online platforms.

At the meeting in Lule, Sweden, EU and US leaders also agreed on a common, international standard for megawatt charging systems for charging heavy-duty electric vehicles. According to the EU Commission, this will reduce production and deployment costs, thereby facilitating transatlantic trade and investment.

Commission Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis said EU-US cooperation is more important than ever, given the growing pressure on the global environment, security and economy. “By creating a green and digital transatlantic marketplace, we can drive prosperity and job creation on both sides of the Atlantic while working together on improved global standards and rules.”

Bilateral trade between the EU and the US is reported at $1.55 trillion. EUR will reach a historical peak in 2022, with EUR 100 billion in digital trade. The European-American Trade and Technology Council is set to meet from 2021 to coordinate joint action on key global trade, economic and technology issues. The fifth meeting is scheduled to be held in the US later this year.

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