In a collaborative effort to establish ethical oversight of artificial intelligence (AI) in the European Union (EU) region, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the Dutch government have launched a noteworthy project. The initiative, named “Supervising AI by Competent Authorities,” aims to provide a framework for the responsible management of AI technologies.
This significant undertaking, officially initiated on October 5th, is being led by the Dutch Authority for Digital Infrastructure in partnership with UNESCO. It focuses on collecting data regarding how European countries currently supervise AI applications.
Crucially, the project has received financial support from the European Commission’s Technical Support Instrument (TSI). The information compiled through this endeavor will contribute to the development of a set of “best practice” recommendations for AI supervision.
Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO’s Assistant Director-General for Social and Human Sciences, emphasized that the discourse surrounding AI governance is fundamentally a societal one. She underscored the importance of shaping AI’s technological evolution within the framework of ethical and moral values that society collectively cherishes, emphasizing the significance of effective governance structures.
In addition to establishing best practices, the data gathered will facilitate the creation of future training sessions aimed at enhancing the “institutional capacity” to address AI-related issues.
It’s worth noting that UNESCO had previously played a substantial role in crafting ethical guidelines for AI back in November 2021, a framework adopted by all of its member states.
These recent developments align with the passage of the European Union’s AI Act in parliament in June 2023. This comprehensive legislation lays out a set of rules governing AI development within the EU. Initially proposed by the European Commission in April, the bill received overwhelming support in parliament. Subsequently, member states will engage in negotiations with the parliament to finalize the specifics of the legislation.
In addition to regulatory efforts at the EU level, there has been a growing focus on AI within individual European countries. Spain, for instance, announced plans on August 25th to establish a local AI regulation agency and a national strategy to ensure inclusive, sustainable, and citizen-centered AI development. Meanwhile, in Germany, policymakers and digital experts are grappling with varying perspectives on how best to manage and implement AI technology. These initiatives collectively reflect a broader commitment to responsible AI governance and development within the European context.
