Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1501472
4 NEWS 15.6.2023 AI Act will ban real time use of facial recognition software FLOW 23 recently brought together some 250 delegates to discuss the future of digital transformation. Organised for the second year by 4Sight Group Malta in collaboration with e Malta Cham- ber of SMEs, the event featured 25 speakers over nine sessions and exam- ined the challenges and opportunities faced by different sectors and industries when it comes to adopting and integrat- ing new technologies into their opera- tions. e event highlighted four key insights which apply to the digital transforma- tion process across various businesses and organisations. ese include hav- ing the right mindset and always being open to new ideas and constant change as well as maintaining adaptability and flexibility when implementing a solu- tion rather than opting for a 'big bang' approach. e importance of devoting time and energy to implementing business-crit- ical systems such as an Enterprise Re- source Planning (ERP) software was also highlighted as was the need to grasp how Artificial Intelligence and hyper-targeting can continue to drive positive results in performance market- ing. Via 4Sight, all those who attended Flow 23 also received a free Customer Relationship Management (CRM) soft- ware from Odoo, a leading provider of open-source business apps. Maurizio Mamo, CEO at 4Sight Group, said, "Flow 23 once again high- lighted how focussed the Maltese busi- ness community is on understanding how technology continues to evolve and how it can be used to positively impact their organisations. Bringing people to- gether to share experiences and insights about their own digital transformation journeys inspires us all to look again at how our own operations and processes can be made better. Based on the suc- cess of these past two years, we are con- fident that Flow 24 will be an even more engaging and enlightening event." More information on Flow 23 is avail- able at https://www.flow.mt/ Flow 23 highlights key insights to digital transformation Some 250 delegates discussed the future of digital transformation at Flow 23 FROM PAGE 1 European Parliament President Roberta Metsola said after the vote the intention is to have a finalised law by the end of the year. The AI Act would ban the real time use of facial recognition soft- ware to avoid the risk of mass sur- veillance and require makers of AI systems like ChatGPT to disclose more about the data used to create their programmes. Another provi- sion is a requirement for AI gener- ated material to be identified as so. The legislation is likely to be a trailblazer internationally amid global concerns on the dangers posed by AI and its impact on jobs and society. The EU has been debating the technology for two years but the is- sue became more urgent after last year's release of ChatGPT which intensified concerns about AI. Addressing a press conference after the vote, Metsola said the AI Act approved by parliament pro- vided a "balanced and human-cen- tred" approach to what she de- scribed as the first rules governing AI. "These are the first regulations to manage risk and provide for the lawful use of AI and are consistent with our will to be innovators in full respect of the values that un- derpin the union," she said. Metsola, who started the press conference by saying that she asked ChatGPT what to say, insist- ed that "emotions, will and judge- ment cannot be artificialized". She added: "These [qualities] be- long to us, here… and we do it re- sponsibly." The co-rapporteurs of the report that parliament voted on, Brando Benifei and Dragoş Tudorache said the challenge was trying to find a balance. "We had to identify the risks without overburdening creators and users of AI but we had to ban unacceptable uses of the technolo- gy that go against our fundamental values," Benifei said. Dragoş said it was important that regulation is accompanied by edu- cation and reskilling of the work- force. "We have to invest more in education and reskilling because the challenges posed by AI will create forces who will want to re- sist this technology." "Emotions, will and judgement cannot be artificialised... These belong to us, here… and we do it responsibly." - EP President Roberta Metsola European Parliament President Roberta Metsola congratulates rapporteurs Brando Benifei (left) and Dragos Tudorache after the successful vote in the plenary (Photo: European Parliament)