International Advisory Council on Artificial Intelligence established

The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Public Service has established the International Artificial Intelligence Advisory Council, which brings together leading international experts in the field of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Transformation, to advise the Ministry on key aspects in the development and future of this technology, as well as the potential trends, challenges and opportunities that it entails.

The first meeting of the Council has also coincided with the launch of the activities of the Spanish AI Supervision Agency (AESIA), which will have a fundamental role in supervising high-risk AI systems and promoting understanding and responsible use of this technology in Spanish society and economy and whose general director was appointed last week.

At the Council meeting held in person in Madrid, various issues related to the deployment of AI in Spain were discussed and delved into; among them, the role that the public sector must play in the development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence, analysing possible new forms of public-private collaboration. The different dimensions of AI have also been examined in the context of political polarisation and risks for liberal democracies.

One of the working sessions was dedicated to the importance of data used in AI models and systems, and in particular, how to combine the use of data with the protection of rights and privacy. Another focus of the meeting was the analysis of the risks, both macroeconomic in the labour market and technical risks that AI may pose. The ultimate goal is to maximize the benefits of AI, minimising its potential uncertainties.

In addition, the members of the Council held a meeting with President Pedro Sánchez at the Moncloa Palace in which Spain’s strategic priorities in this matter were discussed.