EU unveils artificial intelligence rules to temper Big Brother fears

BRUSSELS (AFP) - The European Union unveils a plan on Wednesday (April 21) to regulate the sprawling field of artificial intelligence, aimed at making Europe a leader in the new tech revolution while reassuring the public against Big Brother-like abuses. "Whether it's precision farming in agriculture, more accurate medical diagnosis or safe autonomous driving, artificial intelligence will open up new worlds for us. But this world also needs rules," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said in her state-of-the-union speech in September last year. "We want a set of rules that puts people at the centre." The Commission, the EU's executive arm, has been preparing the proposal for over a year and a debate involving the European Parliament and 27 member states is to go on for months more before a definitive text is in force.