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5 INTERVIEW 1.12.2022 safeguarding users this respect. High-risk applications such as scan- ning tools that rank applications will be subject to specific legal require- ments whilst other applications not explicitly banned or listed as high- risk are largely left out of the pro- posed regulations. As a group, we are also proposing further improvements to the Com- mission proposal to ensure that peo- ple are able to question and under- stand new technologies, as well as they have the right to seek redress when their rights have been harmed and they have been affected by nega- tive uses of AI. Why are workshops such as these organised by S&D important on an EU-level but also on a national level? The S&D Group's Artificial Intelli- gence Action Day, taking place on the 1st of December is organised by the digital formation, which I am char- ing and responsible for as the S&D Vice-President for digital policy. In the last few years, the S&D group has been making significant policy changes on digital files at the Euro- pean level, such as DSA, DMA, and the Universal chargers. The new AI proposal is another example where the S&D leads the negotiations and makes a real difference in people's lives. The EU's plans to position it- self as a global leader in this field are quite ambitious and require an exten- sive dialogue with all stakeholders at an EU level to ensure that the sector's regulation is effective and fair. For us as a group, it is also essen- tial to involve people, professionals, academics, and students at a local level, and that is why we decided to go back to our countries and create a cross-country stakeholder consul- tation and discussion. The AI action day will connect stakeholders from 4 countries - Malta, Italy, Spain, and Denmark - in one big event. The idea is to listen to each other and gath- er feedback from the people on the ground, who have been the pioneers in the AI sphere for many years, to make sure we are in tune with what they expect from policymakers and that our attempts to ameliorate Com- mission proposals are still up to date in this fast-moving environment. At a national level, we need to talk about AI in realistic terms that treat it as the contemporary and core component in our daily lives, which it already is. The digital event, organised on the 1st of December, is an excellent op- portunity for Maltese AI leaders to engage with their foreign counter- parts and share practical experienc- es that inspire politicians to make the right choices. The discussions in Malta will focus, in particular, on remedies and redress rights to ensure that people can question and under- stand new technologies and can be protected when their rights have been harmed. Do you personally think Malta is doing enough to take advantage of the benefits of AI? I think the Maltese Government has already made significant strides in this field, with a strategic document outlining Malta's vision for artificial intelligence up to 2030 published in October of 2019. These documents are a great starting point, but nat- urally they need to be followed-up with real investment and the crea- tion of an environment which fosters innovation. I am optimistic in this sense, since the TechMalta database already shows dozens of start-ups and established companies operating in this field and we are integrating AI processes in the public sector for the benefit of end-users. The private sector is also responding well to the emergence of AI and I believe Malta has what it takes to become a leader in this innovative field. What can the EU do better to bring AI closer to the people, to help them understand its use and benefits and to mitigate any fears they might have about technology infringing on their daily lives? The EU needs to provide the right tools to Member States and incentiv- ise the inclusion of Artificial Intelli- gence and connected subjects in the national curricula of educational in- stitutions for both the young and old. To recap, I believe that formal and informal education must be coupled with targeted media campaigns which ensure that a clear and fair picture of the EU's plans in this sector reaches all European households, irrespective of educational and social background. The AI revolution we are currently experiencing may provoke fear and confusion, especially in the elderly cohorts of our society. The EU must counter this with the diffusion of knowledge and meaningful dialogue at all levels. How do you see AI developing in the next 10 years? I think we won't be able to distin- guish between decisions made by AI systems and by our fellow humans by the year 2032. I am hopeful that this level of sophistication, accuracy and empathy in AI decision-making helps us a human race develop our po- tential by unlocking time and effort which was previously dedicated on mundane and repetitive tasks, and re- directing this time and effort to more meaningful and rewarding activities that bring us even closer as a commu- nity. Alex Agius Saliba

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