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The governments of France and Canada are leading the way in establishing a global study group, similar to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, to study the worldwide changes occurring through technology in artificial intelligence (AI).
The new study group will be called the International Panel on Artificial Intelligence. The group’s formation was announced by Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French minister for digital affairs Mounir Mahjoubi.
One of the primary goals of the panel is to get ahead of the curve and how artificial intelligence is used and regulated.
Countries around the globe are concerned over the ways in which the deployment of artificial intelligence could impact human employment. One of the chief concerns is that automation through artificial intelligence could lead to a reduction in jobs for humans, potentially resulting in significant economic disruption.
Another vital area of concern is the ethical use of artificial intelligence. The panel hopes to take a proactive approach to AI rather than a reactive one, where the genie could already be long out of the bottle before legislation is in place to provide regulations and protections. The latter has been the case in regards to technology for decades now.
In recent years, Trudeau has approved the launching of several programs, increasing Canada’s investment in artificial intelligence. Trudeau has previously said that he wants his country to take the lead in tapping into the potential artificial intelligence offers. However, he is equally concerned with the potential downsides of AI.
“If Canada is to become a world leader in AI we must also play a lead role in addressing some of the ethical concerns we will face in this area,” Trudeau said.
According to statements by Mahjoubi, the members of the Group of Seven, or G7, a group of the world’s largest industrialized economies, have already held discussions on the international AI panel and are interested in taking part.
Currently, Canada presides over the G7, which rotates its presidency, and the role will move to France in 2019.
Mahjoubi also expressed confidence that other European Union members outside the G7 will also take an interest in joining the new AI study panel.
