The European Commission launches an initiative to collect ideas about deployable Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Robotics solutions as well as information on other initiatives that could help face the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. The initiative aims to create a unique repository that is easily accessible to all citizens, stakeholders and policymakers and become part of the common European response to the outbreak of COVID-19.

The Ethics Guidelines for Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a document prepared by the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG). This independent expert group was set up by the European Commission in June 2018, as part of the AI strategy announced earlier that year. The AI HLEG presented a first draft of the Guidelines in December 2018. Following further deliberations by the group in light of discussions on the European AI Alliance, a stakeholder consultation and meetings with representatives from Member States, the Guidelines were revised and published in April 2019. In parallel, the AI HLEG also prepared a revised document which elaborates on a definition of Artificial Intelligence used for the purpose of its deliverables.

Welcome to the consultation on the Draft AI Ethics Guidelines of the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG). The AI HLEG was established by the European Commission in June 2018 to support the implementation of its Strategy on Artificial Intelligence and to prepare two deliverables: (1) AI Ethics Guidelines and (2) Policy and Investment Recommendations. The first draft of the Guidelines, published on 18 December, is now open for consultation until 1 February (i.e. a two-week extension from the original deadline of 18 January, in order to allow the opportunity for more feedback). You can comment on or contribute to the individual sections of the draft, as well as provide your general feedback through the following consultation form. The AI HLEG also published a Definition on artificial intelligence which accompanies its deliverable.

Tieto announced today that it is one of the first Nordic companies to join the European AI Alliance, a newly-formed forum for artificial intelligence (AI) stakeholders to come together to push European competitiveness on AI research and development and its impacts on industry and society. The AI Alliance, established by the European Commission, brings together a diverse set of leading AI actors, including companies, consumer organizations, trade unions and other representatives of civil society bodies across Europe to share best practices. The AI Alliance aims to directly contribute to the European debate on AI and impact the Commission's AI policy-making. To achieve that, the AI Alliance works in close collaboration with the High-Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG), a group the Commission has also established, with 52 members from academia, business and civil society such as Bayer, BMW, Bosch, Fraunhofer Institute, Google, IBM, Nokia, Siemens, Telenor and University of Oxford. The AI HLEG advises the Commission on AI's opportunities and challenges, and supports it in the implementation of the European strategy on AI.

Members of the European AI Alliance can interact with the experts of the High Level Expert Group on Artificial Intelligence (AI HLEG), established by the European Commission, in a forum-style setting. By signing up to the Alliance, members will find a dedicated platform where they can offer input and feedback to the AI HLEG. The AI HLEG will be able to draw on this input when preparing its draft AI Ethics Guidelines and completing its other work. Moreover, the discussions hosted on the platform will directly contribute to the European debate on AI, and will feed in to the European Commission's policy-making in this area. The European AI Alliance is hosted on the European Commission's Futurium platform.

Today, the European Commission hosted a high-level meeting with 12 representatives from philosophical and non-confessional organisations from across Europe, as part of the regular dialogue with churches, religions, philosophical and non-confessional organisations foreseen by Article 17 of the Lisbon Treaty. This ninth annual high-level meeting discussed the topic "Artificial Intelligence: addressing ethical and social challenges". First Vice-President Frans Timmermans, responsible for the Article 17 Dialogue said: "Our societies are in the midst of an unprecedented digital revolution which will impact every person living on the planet. This revolution brings new promises, and new risks of disruption. We have seen recently that the digital world moved faster than the ethical discussion about what could and should be allowed online. We need to be in control of this transformation, and make sure that it is used to foster our values and defend our social model".

The High-Level Expert Group will make recommendations on how to address mid-and long-term challenges and opportunities related to artificial intelligence (AI). The recommendations will feed into the policy development process, the legislative evaluation process and the development of a next-generation digital strategy. The Group will also prepare draft ethics guidelines that will build on the work of the European Group on Ethics in Science and New Technologies and of the European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights in this area. The guidelines will cover issues such as fairness, safety, transparency, the future of work, and more broadly the impact on upholding fundamental rights, including privacy and personal data protection, dignity, consumer protection and non-discrimination. The draft guidelines will be finalised by the end of the year and presented to the Commission at the beginning of 2019.

On 25 April 2018, a new Communication was published that sets out the European Commission's (EC's) new strategy to boost Europe's artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities and related industries, while at the same time preparing for socioeconomic changes emanating from these emerging technologies. The Communication also poses questions as to whether – and, if so, where and how – the European legal and ethical framework needs to be adapted due to the advent of AI. The EC refers to AI as "systems that show intelligent behaviour by analysing their environment, and performing various tasks with some degree of autonomy to achieve specific goals."1 European leaders are considering AI as a top priority. On 10 April, 24 member states2 and Norway co-signed a Declaration which commits them to working together on AI.

Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming our economy and society. AI increasingly contributes to many sectors such as healthcare, agriculture, public administrations and transport and it also helps address grand challenges such as ageing and climate change. Moreover, AI offers major business opportunities for European industry, SMEs and start-ups and contributes to productivity growth. To make the most of what AI can offer, the Commission has already invested in research and innovation, created a Digital Single Market, and it is now committed to intensifying these efforts. It will present a comprehensive European strategy on AI in the coming months (in line with the conclusions of the European Council of 19 October).