Europe's journey toward establishing regulation and asserting leadership in the realm of Generative AI took center stage at a recent event titled after the report: "Generative AI: Europe's Quest for Regulation and Industry Leadership." Hosted at EIT House in collaboration with AiNed and the EIT AI Community on March 21, the event brought together experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to delve into the complexities and implications of regulating AI systems capable of generating content autonomously.
Keynote presenter Mrs Lucilla Sioli, Director for AI and Digital Industry at the European Commission, set the tone for the event by emphasising the significance of addressing the challenges posed by AI through the establishment of the AI Office at the European Commission. Mrs Sioli highlighted the importance of fostering innovation while safeguarding ethical principles and ensuring societal well-being in the digital era and how the AI Office will best deal with those.
A pivotal moment of the event was the presentation by Willem Jonker, Chairman of the Board of AiNed and former CEO of EIT Digital, who shared insights from the comprehensive report on Generative AI's potential impact on various sectors. The report provides a comprehensive overview of the technological advancements, potential applications, and regulatory considerations surrounding Generative AI including policy recommendations for the EU and the selected case study of the Netherlands.
Following the presentation, a moderated panel discussion featuring five distinguished speakers further enriched the discourse. The panel was moderated by EIT Digital’s CEO Federico Menna. The panelists, represented diverse perspectives from academia, represented by Prof. Holger Hoos (RWTH Aachen University) and Cristiano Codagnone (Milan State University), research, innovation and industry, respresented by Sabine Demey (Flanders AI Research Program & IMEC), the EU regulator, represented by Kai Zenner (European Parliament) and other regulatory bodies, represented by Philip Piatkiewicz (AI, Data & Robotics Association) engaged in a lively exchange of ideas on the challenges and opportunities associated with Generative AI.
Throughout the discussion, themes such as ethical implications, regulatory frameworks, and industry collaboration emerged as central points of focus. Panelists emphasized the importance of striking a balance between innovation and regulation to harness the full potential of Generative AI while mitigating risks associated with its misuse.
Moreover, the panelists underscored the necessity of interdisciplinary collaboration and dialogue between stakeholders to develop robust regulatory frameworks that foster trust and accountability in AI technologies.
In conclusion, the report "Generative AI: Europe's Quest for Regulation and Industry Leadership" served as a significant platform for advancing discussions on the responsible development and deployment of Generative AI in Europe. The event highlighted Europe's proactive approach to shaping the future of AI technology, emphasizing the importance of regulatory initiatives and collaborative efforts in ensuring a human-centric approach to AI innovation.
Following a second event organised by AiNed in the Hague focusing on the recommendations for the Netherlands the report has been made available here. See below some pictures from the Brussels and the Hague events.
