by Lucilla Sioli, Director for Digital Industry at DG Connect, European Commission

The High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence is meeting for the first time today. I wish our experts a successful meeting and a very fruitful day. The purpose of this first meeting is to plan the work of the group, and to start working on the two main deliverables. As you know, the Group will draw up draft AI ethics guidelines and make policy and investment recommendations. Today’s meeting will explore ethical themes and other policy-related questions, with a view to identifying the aspects to be treated as priorities.

In carrying out its tasks, the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence will take into account the input provided by members of the European AI Alliance. I was very glad to see so many comments in response to the earlier blog post in which I asked all of you to reflect on the themes that the Group should tackle, and more particularly on the main principles that our future AI ethics guidelines should address.

I have read all the comments with great interest, and I have found them to be very thoughtful and comprehensive. I have seen many aspects covered, including the mission and scope of the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence, ethics considerations, economic and business issues, and aspects related to individual rights, personal data, privacy and citizens, and the status of AI. Many comments also included very good suggestions for the discussions to be held by the High-Level Expert Group.

I have also noticed that there are many ideas that are shared by all of us, and I think the exchange we have had so far shows that this online platform not only brings together all of our voices, but also highlights issues and areas that we all are concerned about or focusing on.

All your input was extracted from the Alliance’s platform and inserted into a summary document that was sent to the members of the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence in preparation for today’s meeting. We will do something similar with the results of the meeting. We will share here information about the discussions held today and the conclusions reached, as feedback from the Group to the Alliance. This two-way input and feedback communication will serve as the bridge between the Group and the members of the Alliance as representatives of all sectors of our society.

I can see that our European AI Alliance is already shaping into the intended diverse community of citizens and organisations that are interested in how AI will influence our future and wish to contribute to the shaping of the future of AI in Europe and in the world. I thank you for your interest and active involvement from the very beginning and I look forward to continuing our exchanges.