Last Updated on Friday, 15 March, 2024 at 10:56 am by Andre Camilleri
“By ensuring an ethical and human centric-approach to artificial intelligence that secures our fundamental rights and values, while leaving vital breathing space for research and innovation, the adoption of the Artificial Intelligence Act is a historic day for European policymaking.” This was MEP Cutajar’s initial reaction following this week’s plenary vote confirming the provisional agreement on the AI Act, the first-ever comprehensive legal framework on AI worldwide.
Dr Cutajar, who contributed towards this law as Rapporteur for the Transport and Tourism Committee’s position, welcomed how this regulation aims to address risks that artificial brings with it, whilst also contributing to more safety and privacy in vital sectors such as transport and health.
She also highlighted the importance that the EU further incentivises investment in technological solutions that will bring improvements to our quality of life, such as helping to ease traffic congestion and pollution or increasing accessible transportation for persons with disability or mobility issues. Josianne Cutajar also welcomed the fact that this legislation will allow small market actors, our SMEs, to reap the benefits of this fast evolving sector.
The MEP concluded by stating that while the adoption of this legislation is a cause for celebration, much more policy and legislative work on AI will be necessary in the coming months and years, be it when it comes to civil liability in case an accident occurs due to an AI system, or the use of AI at the workplace. “I remain hopeful that the spirit of the AI Act, and its appeal for clear and transparent rules, will permeate future policymaking in the field,” stated Dr Cutajar.
