French President Emmanuel Macron calls for boosting development of artificial intelligence in Europe
PARIS–French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday called for boosting the development of artificial intelligence in Europe while introducing “smart” regulations that would not hinder the growth of tech companies.
“We are too late in terms of innovation and regulation too late,” Macron said at Vivatech, Europe’s biggest startup and tech event. He said France and the EU lag behind the UK and the world’s biggest players, the US and China.
His comments were made on Wednesday as European lawmakers signed the world’s first comprehensive set of rules on artificial intelligence.
It could be years before the rule is fully enforced. Trilateral negotiations involving EU Member States, parliament and the European Commission will continue.
Macron praised the EU talks as “a good discussion” but said that by the time the rules were announced “they will be regulated based on assumptions and knowledge that are already largely outdated”. . He added that he was “very cautious” about making regulations “too strict.”
The rapid advancement of chatbots like ChatGPT shows the benefits emerging technologies bring and the new dangers they bring.
Macron also called for broader talks, including between the UK and the US. He suggested that the Paris-based UNESCO, the United Nations Cultural Organization and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) should be involved in these discussions.
He said Friday he will meet billionaire Elon Musk, who owns Twitter, Tesla and SpaceX, in Paris to discuss the rules needed for artificial intelligence and social media. He said the meeting would focus on “promoting the attractiveness of France and Europe”.
Musk is scheduled to speak at Vivatech on Friday.
The EU regulation, first proposed in 2021, aims to regulate all products and services that use artificial intelligence systems. The measure classifies AI systems according to four risk levels, ranging from minimal to unacceptable.
Higher-risk applications, such as technology targeted at children, will face tougher requirements, such as increased transparency and the use of accurate data.
