The European Economic and Social Committee, together with the European Commission, will hold a summit June 18 in Brussels as regional leaders attempt to shape a European strategy on artificial intelligence.
The meeting follows the European Commission's June 14 appointment of a group of representatives from business, academia and civil society organizations, known as the European AI Alliance.
In preparation for widespread socio-economic changes expected to be brought about by AI, the 52-member body, whose first meeting is June 27, is tasked with advising on an ethical and legal framework aimed at the emerging technology, covering issues such as consumer protection, data privacy, fairness, safety, transparency, and the future of work. A draft of proposals will be finalized by the European AI Alliance before the end of the year and presented to the commission at the start of 2019.
The move to draft a set of guidelines on AI is part of a joint agreement by European countries, signed April 10, to unite different member states in their approach toward the research and deployment of AI.
Europe's increased focus on AI is also an attempt to catch up with its global peers, who have thus far led the market in private investment. European funding into the sector amounted to €2.4 billion to €3.2 billion in 2016, compared to €6.5 billion to €9.7 billion in Asia and €12.1 billion to €18.6 billion in North America.
In an attempt to support private sector investment, the EC created the Horizon 2020 initiative on AI, which has committed nearly €80 billion in funding over seven years between 2014 and 2020.
Overall, the EC estimates that by 2025 the economic impact of AI and automation, including the use of robots and autonomous vehicles will reach between €6.5 trillion and €12 trillion annually.
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| Europe | |||
| June 18 | Catelijne Muller, president of the European Economic and Social Committee's Permanent Study Group on AI, to speak at AI Europe/Stakeholder summit, which is being hosted by the European Commission and the European Economic and Social Committee in Brussels | ||
| June 20 | European Parliament to vote on new copyright framework as part of the Digital Single Market | ||
| United Kingdom | |||
| June 19 | Margot James, U.K. Minister for Digital and the Creative Industries at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, to address delegates at Connected Britain | ||
| June 19 | Science and Technology Committee hearing on proposals for immigration and visa rules for scientists and the technology industry | ||
| June 19 | Communications Committee hearing on regulating the internet | ||
| France: | |||
| June 20 | Members of the European Independent Film Distributors Association, or DIRE, and the Paris-based Audiovisual Distributors Union, or SEDPA, to testify before a National Assembly hearing on new audiovisual media regulation | ||
| June 20 | National Assembly roundtable of YouTube personalities specialized in digital education | ||
| June 21 | Members of the French Animation Producers' Association, or SPFA, to address National Assembly in a hearing on new regulatory proposals for digital communication, followed by a roundtable meeting | ||
| Industry events | |||
| June 18 | AI Europe/Stakeholder summit | ||
| June 19-20 | Connected Britain | ||
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CogX 2018: Artificial intelligence won't create killer robots, mass disruption
VivaTech 2018: Tech leaders say artificial intelligence can help humans do good
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