27 May 2020

In February the Commission published the White Paper On Artificial Intelligence – A European approach to excellence and trust. It includes some interesting proposals on funding, attracting investment and skills, including prioritising the development of AI hubs across Europe.

The most eye-catching proposals (and the focus of this briefing) relate to a future regulatory framework to support an ecosystem of trust and ensure that the use of AI in the EU is in accordance with “European values”.

But while the aspiration of supporting development and adoption of AI in Europe is welcome, it is based on some questionable assumptions and in places veers dangerously towards protectionism.