Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/993482
maltatoday | WEDNESDAY • 13 JUNE 2018 11 BUSINESS www.creditinfo.com.mt info@creditinfo.com.mt Tel: 2131 2344 Your Local Partner for Credit Risk Management Solutions Supporting you all the way The EU wants to hear your questions about blockchain AN organisation established by the European Commis- sion to focus on blockchain research and development is soliciting questions from the general public about the nas- cent technology. The EU Blockchain Obser- vatory and Forum announced through a Tweet on Monday that it is hosting a 90-minute AMA (Ask me anything) ses- sion on June 18, to address any concern from the pub- lic about blockchain and the organisation's future plan on the emerging space. The session marks a notable move by the European Un- ion's executive arm in a bid to educate the public about the basics of blockchain tech- nology and its real-life ap- plications, according to the session's agenda listed on the Observatory's website. Formally launched in Feb- ruary this year by the Eu- ropean Commission and ethereum startup ConsenSys, the Observatory focuses on developing blockchain-based applications, such as cross- border remittance, that can contribute to the single Euro- pean market. The European Commission announced in April that it plans to invest around $400 million in blockchain related projects over the next two years since the agency thinks blockchain technology is go- ing "mainstream," as Coin- Desk previously reported. Earlier this year, Mario Draghi, head of the European Central Bank also hosted an online session where he ad- dressed questions posted by the public through Facebook and Twitter that related to blockchain and cryptocur- rency. Google lays down its Artificial Intelligence law GOOGLE has laid down a set of principles for its work in artifi- cial intelligence. The company says that while it believes AI technologies will promote inno- vation and 'further its mission to organise the world's informa- tion and make it universally ac- cessible', it recognises that such tech raises important challenges 'that we need to address clearly, thoughtfully, and affirmatively'. Google believes that AI should • Be socially beneficial and the company will only proceed with development where it believes the overall likely benefits sub- stantially exceed the foreseeable risks and downsides • Avoid creating or reinforcing unfair bias by seeking to avoid unjust impacts on people, par- ticularly those related to sensi- tive characteristics such as race, ethnicity, gender, national- ity, income, sexual orientation, ability, and political or religious belief • Be built and tested for safety, with Google testing AI tech- nologies in constrained envi- ronments and monitoring their operation after deployment • Be accountable to people, with AI technologies subject to ap- propriate human direction and control • Incorporate privacy design principles • Uphold high standards of scientific excellence as Google works with a range of stake- holders to promote thoughtful leadership, drawing on scientifi- cally rigorous and multidiscipli- nary approaches • Be made available for uses that accord with these principles In addition, the company says it will not design or deploy AI in technologies that cause or are likely to cause overall harm, in weaponry designed to injure people, in tech that uses infor- mation for surveillance violat- ing internationally accepted norms, and in solutions that contravene widely accepted principles of international law and human rights.