The EU and the US have initialed an administrative arrangement on AI and cyber to address global challenges for the public good in the fields of climate change, natural disasters, health, energy and agriculture.
The US Department of State and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technologies (DG CONNECT) have signed a “Administrative Agreement on Artificial Intelligence for the Public Good” in a “virtual” ceremony, held simultaneously at the White House and at the headquarters of DG CONNECT in Brussels, as requested in the U.S.-EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC) commitment.
What the deal says: AI developments
The document, signed in Europe by Robert ViolaGeneral Manager of the DG CONNECTand in the United States by Jose W. FernandezUndersecretary of State for Economic Growth, Energy and the Environment, is based on the principles expressed in the Declaration for the Future of the Internet and on the shared interests and values of using emerging digital technologies to address global challenges and it will be implemented by the relevant US and EU institutions and agencies working in this area.
At the basis of the agreement is the provision of growing importance of artificial intelligence.
Greater research collaboration will help identify and further develop promising research findings on AI, which has the potential to spread broad societal benefits in areas ranging from climate change, natural disasters, health and medicine, from optimization of the agricultural electricity grid.
This innovative technology, which has been talked about so much in recent months and which according to experts will be the technology that will characterize 2023, is destined to play a role in heterogeneous sectors, precisely to demonstrate the transversal nature of its implementation: the forecast of extreme weather conditions e natural disastersto support crops, thanks to soil analysis, atmospheric conditions, but also with a careful look at fauna and its behaviors.
AI will be used, therefore, for support the agricultural harvestevaluate the efficiency and sustainability of land use and the state of the atmosphere, sowing, irrigation, use and impact of pesticides and fertilizers.
AI in healthcare diagnostics and treatments
AI will also be developed in terms of promoting and strengthening the medical research, diagnostics and gods health treatments where the same technology can add value to patient care, also with a view to reducing the gaps that exist between different countries.
This agreement, in fact, not only with reference to the Health issue, intends to have a broad social and global value, so much so that the EU has declared that the results and resources of all the works deriving from the Agreement will be shared with international partners, which , although borrowing common values, do not have the relevant skills to manage such emergencies and challenges.
The National Security Advisor of the United StatesJake Sullivan, noted that the collaboration “will drive responsible advances in AI to address key global challenges with a joint development model and integrated research to deliver benefits to our societies.”
The Declaration for the Future of the Internet
On 28 April 2022, the European Union, the United States and several international partners proposed one statement for the future of the Internetwhich defines the vision and principles of a trusted Internet.
The partners champion a future for an open, free, global, interoperable, trusted and secure internet and affirm their commitment to protect and respect human rights online and across the digital world. Until now, 60 partner have endorsed the declaration, including all EU member states, and other countries are expected to follow suit.
The Declaration for the Future of the Internet is in line with strongly anchored rights and principles in the EU and builds on the Declaration on Digital Rights and Principles.
The declaration partners say that the Internet must strengthen basic democratic principles, fundamental freedoms and human rights, as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. They also share the belief that the Internet should function as a single network of decentralized networks, in which digital technologies are used reliably, avoiding unjust discrimination between individuals and allowing online platforms to be contestable, for fair competition between businesses.
In launching this declaration, the partners also expressed their strong concern about the repression of Internet freedoms by some authoritarian governments, the use of digital tools to violate human rights, the growing impact of cyber-attacks, the dissemination of illegal content and disinformation and excessive concentration of economic power.
They also pledge to cooperate in addressing these developments and risks. Furthermore, they share the view that digital technologies have the potential to promote connectivity, democracy, peace, the rule of law and sustainable development.
The European Union has worked together with the United States and a group of international partners to develop a positive agenda and a shared vision for the future of a global internet. The Declaration for the Future of the Internet is fully consistent with EU values enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights and the EU principles on digital rights under the European Digital Decade, as well as a wide range of initiatives of digital policy promoted by the EU.
This follows the announcement made in the Digital Compass Communication to build on a renewed transatlantic relationship the way for a broader coalition of partners, who share the EU’s vision of digital transformation.
