US MS Artificial Intelligence: Political Impact

The European Commission’s priority: A Europe fit for the digital age

Digital technology is changing people’s lives. The EU’s digital strategy aims to make this transformation work for people and businesses, while helping to achieve its target of a climate-neutral Europe by 2050. The Commission is determined to make this Europe's “Digital Decade”. Europe must now strengthen its digital sovereignty and set standards, rather than following those of others – with a clear focus on data, technology, and infrastructure.

• Artificial intelligence and freedom of expression: Implications for democracy | European Commission, Directorate-General for Research and Innovation

  The use of algorithms in digital media to personalise content has important implications for the democratic role of the media. EU-funded research is helping to ensure that these powerful new tools are harnessed for the benefit of society as a whole.

• Excellence and trust in artificial intelligence | European Commission, Directorate-General for Communication

  Trustworthy artificial intelligence (AI) can bring many benefits, such as better healthcare, safer and cleaner transport, more efficient manufacturing, and cheaper and more sustainable energy. The EU’s approach to AI will give people the confidence to embrace these technologies while encouraging businesses to develop them.

• Regulatory framework proposal on artificial intelligence | European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

  The Commission is proposing the first-ever legal framework on AI, which addresses the risks of AI and positions Europe to play a leading role globally.

• A European approach to artificial intelligence | European Commission, Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology

  The EU’s approach to artificial intelligence centers on excellence and trust, aiming to boost research and industrial capacity while ensuring safety and fundamental rights.

• AI Watch | European Commission, Joint Research Centre

  AI Watch monitors industrial, technological and research capacity, policy initiatives in the Member States, uptake and technical developments of Artificial Intelligence and its impact in the economy, society and public services. It provides a number of analyses necessary to monitor and facilitate the implementation of the European Strategy for AI.

• European AI Alliance | European Commission, Joint Research Centre

  This forum is an initiative of the European Commission to establish an open policy dialogue on Artificial Intelligence (AI).

• Artificial intelligence | European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS)

  The European Data Protection Supervisor (EDPS) is the European Union’s (EU) independent data protection authority.

Source: https://ec-europa-eu.libguides.com/ai-and-democracy/introduction 

The Republican National Committee responded to President Biden’s re-election announcement Tuesday with an AI-generated video depicting a dystopian version of the future if he is re-elected.

• The video features AI-created images appearing to show Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris celebrating at an Election Day party, followed by a series of imagined reports about international and domestic crises that the ad suggests would follow a Biden victory in 2024.

Why it matters: AI-generated images are disrupting art, journalism, and now politics. The 2024 election is poised to be the first election with ads full of images generated by modern Artificial Intelligence software that are meant to look and feel real to voters.

• This is the first time the RNC has produced a video that is 100% AI, according to a spokesperson.

Source: https://www.axios.com/2023/04/25/rnc-slams-biden-re-election-bid-ai-generated-ad

ADIA Lab chooses Spain as its European headquarters for the development of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Computing

• The Government of Spain, through the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, has reached an agreement for ADIA Lab, the Abu-Dhabi-based research institute dedicated to data and computational sciences, to establish its European headquarters in Spain.
• The European headquarters of ADIA Lab will be located in Granada. As part of the agreement, ADIA Lab will launch five research programs with Spanish universities and research institutions to create a network that promotes scientific exchange and industrial growth between Spain and the UAE.
• The research areas will focus on the analysis of data and complex systems applied to public health, the environment and the digital economy, as well as high-performance computing and the development of AI.
• The agreement aligns with the aspirations of both countries to establish a strategic partnership in various fields including scientific and educational cooperation as announced during the state visit of the President of the Government of Spain, H.E. Pedro Sánchez, to the UAE in February 2022 and his meeting with the President of the UAE, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
• This milestone is part of Spain’s National Strategy for Artificial Intelligence and "SpAIn Talent Hub", a program aimed at advancing Spain’s role as a magnet for digital talent and investment in Europe, led by the Secretariat of State for Digitization and Artificial Intelligence (SEDIA)