Artificial Intelligence: Navigating the Future We’re Creating

Humanity is in a constant state of flux, both the creator and the victim of the changes we continuously generate. I’ve personally felt this tension – this push and pull between progress and its consequences – throughout my life. The relentless pace of change makes it increasingly difficult to control its effects. In today’s world, I see that Globalization, Demographics, and Technology are the primary forces shaping the changes on our planet.

The Interplay of Global Forces

The interplay of these forces gives rise to phenomena and trends that are already disrupting our present lives and will have profound consequences for the future if we don’t manage them effectively. For instance, I’ve witnessed how these interactions have led to a shifting global geo-political landscape, climate change, transformations in the future of work, rapid urbanization, and a necessary reinvention of our health systems. These are just a few examples of the massive change I’m talking about.

The Digital Transformation and AI’s Central Role

I believe we’re only at the beginning of a massive transformation of our economies and societies, driven by the rapid development of digital technologies.

Key Drivers of Digital Development

From a technological standpoint, I see that the key drivers behind this accelerating development are digitalization, the Internet of Things (IoT), Big Data, Artificial Intelligence (AI), virtual reality, augmented reality, the widespread use of sensors, cryptocurrencies, and blockchain systems. These advancements have spurred the development of robots, drones, and wearable devices.

Disruptive Changes and Societal Impact

The resulting disruptive changes are significantly impacting the job market, the rise of Industry 4.0, safety and security concerns, common goods, workers’ rights, social justice, equality, and social relationships. It’s a lot to take in, and I often find myself pondering the best way to navigate it all.

The Paradoxes of Digital Development

At the same time, I’ve observed that digital development is generating a series of paradoxes. The explosion in the availability of vast amounts of information is, ironically, contributing to the spread of disinformation and fake news.

The Paradox of Social Connection and Isolation

Also, while social networks are expanding, they often lead to increased physical isolation. In my opinion, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is central to these changes, and I believe it offers real opportunities to improve our lives and address these very paradoxes.

The Evolution of AI: From Rules to Machine Learning

When I think back to the 1990s, I recall that AI primarily focused on correlating input data using rules (algorithms) to generate “mediated” responses. Developers/Engineers often used this approach to optimize the functionality of devices like washing machines, where precise responses to a limited set of initial data were crucial for achieving the best results.

The Shift to Machine Learning

However, the increasing availability of data and the industrial demand for faster responses have driven AI towards machine learning (ML).

From Programming to Training: A Paradigm Shift

In this shift, I’ve seen that we’ve moved from programming to training. Now, developers process initial data along with known responses. By associating data with responses, AI derives rules that developers can apply to identical or very similar situations.

The Rise of Deep Learning and Reinforcement Learning

More detailed and specialized processing has led to the development of Deep Learning (DL) and Reinforcement Learning (RL).

AI and the Development of Robotics

This suite of technologies has enabled the development of robotics, including social robots. I’m amazed at how machines equipped with various forms of AI and algorithms of varying complexity can now solve many ‘simple’ problems.

Examples of AI Applications

For example, I’m sure you’re familiar with AI’s use in spam filters, automatic translations, image recognition, music generation, repetitive industrial operations, autonomous vehicles, and medical diagnostics. I use many of these daily!

The “Black Box” Challenge and the Need for Transparency

Currently, I see AI as somewhat of a “black box.” We can access the inputs and outputs, but we often don’t know what happens inside. I believe we don’t fully understand how certain outputs, including decisions and subsequent actions, are determined.

The Importance of Transparency

Therefore, I strongly believe that we must develop mechanisms for transparency to evaluate the quality and performance of AI and build trust in this technology. It’s crucial that we are able to control and guide AI, filtering its benefits while mitigating its risks.

AI, the Economy, and the Future of Work

From a purely economic perspective, I’ve seen data and projections indicating a significant increase in AI investments, with global investments estimated to reach around 60 billion euros by 2025, compared to a modest 2 billion euros in 2016. It’s worth noting that in 2016, European investments represented only about one-fifth of those in the USA.

Global AI Leadership

On a global scale, I acknowledge that the European Union (EU) is second only to the USA in the number of AI practitioners. However, projections suggest that by 2030, China will become the leading player in the field of AI.

The EU’s Challenge: Guiding AI Development

For the EU, I believe the main challenge isn’t “winning” this race, but rather guiding the development of AI to harness its benefits in a human-centric, ethical, safe, and value-driven manner.

EU Collaboration for AI Strategies

I’m encouraged that EU Member States recognize that only a coordinated effort at the EU level can effectively implement the strategies the European Commission proposes. This collaboration will build upon our strengths, including research, leadership in specific sectors like robotics, a robust legal and regulatory framework, and rich cultural diversity at both regional and local levels.

AI’s Impact on the World of Work

The world of work, as I see it, is facing radical changes, and we’re already seeing examples of this today. For instance, voice assistants on our phones and computers use machine learning, which necessitates a rethinking of the traditional role of secretaries. Self-driving cars may eventually replace human drivers. Algorithms largely guide our online shopping experiences; these algorithms learn our needs and bombard us with targeted product offers, effectively replacing some of the work of market analysts and sales representatives.

AI’s Job Displacement and Creation

In short, like all technological innovations, AI will replace some human jobs, with varying impacts across different sectors and timeframes. In the long term, and with appropriate policies, I’m optimistic that AI will create more job opportunities than it eliminates. Many low-skill and repetitive tasks will be automated.

The Transition to a New Equilibrium

However, similar to the industrial revolution, I anticipate that this process will take years to reach a new equilibrium. Projections indicate that the EU will need over 1.7 million additional workers in the digital field by 2030.

The Demand for Higher-Level Skills and the Risk of Inequality

I’ve noticed that the widespread implementation of digitalization, including AI, will require higher-level skills. It’s predicted that over 80% of future jobs in the EU will require basic digital literacy within the next decade.

The Potential for Improved Job Quality

The quality of work will likely improve, with more demanding and rewarding tasks that require significant knowledge and abilities.

The Risk of Widening Inequality

However, I’m also concerned about the risk of amplifying socio-economic changes and widening the gap between social classes, as the risks and opportunities aren’t evenly distributed across society. The fact that AI can replace tasks requiring fewer skills will also lead to a greater emphasis on the complementarity of resources that industries and companies need. Furthermore, AI will likely foster greater empowerment and decentralization of decision-making authority.

The Importance of Human Skills

Of course, I recognize that certain roles will remain uniquely human, such as those based on creativity and emotional engagement – qualities that distinguish humans from machines.

Addressing Economic Inequalities

Social contracts will need to be revised to address economic inequalities. Traditionally, political solutions have included progressive taxation and social safety nets like pensions, unemployment benefits, and healthcare. While these mechanisms are fundamental, I believe that new approaches, such as universal basic income, may need to be considered in light of AI’s impact on the labor market.

Updating the Regulatory Framework

The regulatory framework must also be updated to consider the interests of workers, consumers, and small businesses as they face competition from mega-organizations. We will need to develop new methods to monitor the added value provided by new technologies, both at the individual company level and at the central government level.

The Need for New Roles and Skills

Moreover, the widespread adoption of AI will necessitate new roles and skills in complementary disciplines. The complexity of the multi-dimensional technological/digital world requires the involvement of non-specialists and horizontal roles. These individuals will need to assess the technological, ethical, social, and legal landscape and guide the necessary development of changes to effectively harness the benefits of AI.

Growing Demand for Interdisciplinary Expertise

I foresee a growing demand for expertise in social sciences, revision of social contracts, behavioral and anthropological studies, control and evaluation mechanisms, intellectual property rights protection, privacy, and related fields.

Sociological and Educational Impact: The Imperative of Change

Ultimately, I believe that these changes are not predetermined; they must be managed and guided through appropriate policies. Social transformation can only be guided and controlled through a multi-dimensional approach that considers the ethical, social, legal, educational, economic factors, data availability, privacy concerns, cybersecurity, risks of discrimination and exclusion, and overall social resilience.

The Role of Civil Society in Shaping AI

Civil society must be engaged and involved in discussions about values to shape the development of AI, especially during these transition phases. I advocate for AI to be open, accessible, and understood by everyone in society, so it can become an integrated tool for societal advancement.

Building a Robust Ecosystem for AI

A robust IT infrastructure and data access should foster interaction among public administration, businesses, and civil society, enriching the data ecosystem, enhancing verification and control, and making the data suitable for AI applications. This, in my view, will allow us to fully realize the benefits and opportunities that AI offers.

Re-evaluating Education in the Age of AI

AI will inevitably change the relationship between education, work, and human development. Therefore, I think it’s essential to better understand the impact of interactions between AI and human intelligence on the cognitive abilities of both adults and children.

The Imperative to Reform Education

More broadly, this situation requires us to re-evaluate our educational and training models. In fact, I consider this to be the most critical aspect for the adequate development of AI and a central pillar in the transformation of social contracts.

Limitations of Traditional Education Models

The Industrial Revolution introduced educational and training models focused on preparing students for immediate entry into the workforce. The Anglo-Saxon model heavily influenced these systems, but I contend that its effectiveness has diminished over the past few decades, and educational systems are now misaligned with the future world of work. Technological progress is advancing so rapidly that this model has become obsolete and inadequate to address future challenges.

The Need for Lifelong Learning

During a typical course of study, technological progress is so significant that it’s practically impossible to train individuals for specific jobs. While some universities are increasing interactions between academia and the professional world, I see these as mere improvements on a fundamentally flawed system.

A Call for Educational Revolution

I firmly believe that the educational model must be revolutionized. Education should be a lifelong journey, focusing on developing the ability to implement knowledge, rather than simply acquiring it. Given the accelerating pace of change, we must prepare future generations to adapt to and anticipate changes, comprehend complex problems, break down multi-dimensional complexity into holistic and comprehensive visions, and foster creative processes.

The Importance of Creativity in Education

In essence, I propose that the educational model should be less specialized and more general, integrating technological and humanistic aspects, social and ethical considerations, and prioritizing the development of creative processes. Nurturing creativity is fundamental in the school of the future. I define creativity as the ability to generate associations and connections between seemingly disparate subjects; it’s the ingredient that can make the impossible possible.

A Holistic Educational Approach

An educational path that combines science and technology with the arts will better prepare us to navigate the ongoing evolution and reap the benefits of a society based on knowledge – global, shared, and interactive knowledge.

The Importance of Awareness and Resilience

I believe that awareness of these issues and the educational development I’ve described are essential for social engagement and for strengthening our resilience at all levels – local, national, and EU-wide.

Building a Human-Centered AI

This approach, involving institutions, industries, and civil society, will help us build an AI that is human-centered and guided by social values.

The EU’s Contribution to AI Development

I’m impressed by the efforts of various European institutions and the European Union as a whole to address the topic of AI comprehensively and multidisciplinarily. In 2018, EU Member States signed a Declaration of Cooperation on AI. In the same year, the European Commission published a Communication on AI with three main objectives:

EU Objectives for AI

• Promoting AI Adoption and Capacity: Increasing the technological and industrial capacity of Europe and promoting the adoption of AI across various sectors of the economy, both public and private. This includes investments in research and innovation and improved access to data.
• Preparing for Socio-Economic Changes: Preparing for the socio-economic changes driven by AI through the modernization of education and training systems, talent development, anticipation of labor market changes, support for labor market transitions, and adaptation of social protection systems.
• Establishing an Ethical and Legal Framework: Ensuring an appropriate ethical and legal framework based on the Union’s values and aligned with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. This involves guidelines on existing regulations and product liability, detailed analysis of potential issues, and collaboration among stakeholders (industry, public sector, Member State governments, European institutions, etc.) to establish ethical guidelines.

EU’s Comprehensive Approach to AI

I want to emphasize that the European Union, through its institutions, is the only global entity to have issued such comprehensive communications on AI. These communications cover technological, economic, legal, social, and ethical aspects. They include guidelines for the design, production, and use of robots, principles for autonomy, individual responsibility, informed consent, privacy, social responsibility, the rights of the elderly and disabled, healthcare, ethical practices and codes, equality and non-discrimination, fairness, justice, benefits, standardization, safety, data protection (GDPR), intellectual property rights (IPR), precaution, inclusion, accountability, benefit maximization, and harm minimization.

Human-Centric Values in EU AI Policy

All of this centers on the human being, the dignity and centrality of the human person, the ethical principles of the European Charter of Fundamental Rights, the European values upon which the EU Treaties were founded, and the social challenges and acceptability of AI.

Proposal for a European AI Agency

Furthermore, the EU has proposed the establishment of a European Agency for Robotics and Artificial Intelligence to guide and monitor the development of AI within the European Union.

EU’s Focus on Open Data

Regarding data, I’m aware that the European Commission has been proactive since 2013, publishing communications and directives for open, transparent, and free access to scientific publications resulting from publicly funded European research and development. The goal is to make related data available (mandatory under the upcoming framework program) to ensure transparency, reproducibility of results, faster adoption of research findings by industries, and positive economic impact.

Shaping Our Collective Future with AI

I believe that we are still in a position to shape the future based on our collective vision. The actions taken at the EU level provide a solid foundation.

The Need for Unified Action

However, from any perspective – economic, ethical, legal, social, etc. – I strongly believe that only a joint effort by all EU member states can lead us in the desired direction outlined in the various communications from European institutions.