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Brando Benifei MEP on the draft AI Act of the EU

Brando Benifei, Italian Member of the European Parliament and co-rapporteur of the EU’s Artificial Intelligence (AI) Act, spoke live via video link to the conference participants. He said that the title of the NMHH conference “Humans in Charge – Steering the AI Age Responsibly” encapsulated perfectly what they wanted to achieve with the new Community legislation: a set of human-centred rules that allow strong human oversight, minimise risks and promote the reaping of the benefits.

Regarding the state of play of the legislative process, Benifei mentioned that negotiations were ongoing with Member State governments in the Council of the European Union to reach an agreement and create the world’s first regulation to address the risks the use of artificial intelligence entails in a horizontal way and to encourage the exploitation of its potential.

“In fact, the rationale behind the AI Act stems from a very obvious question. We must avoid fragmenting the EU market of artificial intelligence. We need a common market in artificial intelligence, which means we need common legislation to avoid each Member State creating its own,” he noted.

High-risk cases of use of artificial intelligence

“Our general approach has been to work on risk mitigation: to identify the risks associated with the entry of AI into our society and our lives,” Benifei continued, “resulting in a so-called risk pyramid which includes the riskiest instances of use, those that pose intolerable and pointless risks. A risk is pointless when it is not outweighed by a fairly clear positive impact on our society. We have therefore identified areas and cases of use where we want to explicitly prohibit the use of artificial intelligence.”

He cited a few examples:

  • the use of AI in public places, for surveillance camera systems capable of biometric identification;
  • AI-assisted recognition of emotions of students and workers;
  • the use of artificial intelligence for preventive police actions.

High-risk cases of use that should be regulated include cases where social, welfare or civil rights are at risk, where AI is used to profile or screen job-seekers, where use concerns critical digital infrastructure, or where the healthy development of children or processes affecting democracy are at stake.

Where content is produced by artificial intelligence, it should be clearly identifiable

MEP Benifei specifically noted the challenges of content creation using artificial intelligence.

He said that the European Commission and the European Parliament both wanted such content to be recognisable. Actually, they have one more goal in mind...

“We want to support content creators, artists, creative specialists who get nothing when the asset they produce is used to teach AI. We also want to fight disinformation that is overrunning legitimate content.

When will this become law and how will it be introduced?

Brando Benifei also expressed his hope that the final vote on the AI Act would take place in early 2024, and then its gradual introduction and application could begin. But there is something else as the Commission would like to speed things up.

“We hope that many organisations, developers and institutions will join the so-called AI Pact initiative which we are launching together with the Commission to enable gradual compliance until the act fully enters into force,” the politician explained (see also: EU, Google to develop voluntary AI pact ahead of new AI rules, EU’s Breton says).

AI and the race for economic power

According to Brando Benifei, some areas require further standardisation.

“We need a fully integrated capital market. We need more corporate investment in digital infrastructure at the European level. We need more joint research. We need a critical mass if we are to compete with China and the US,” he stressed adding that more training and support should be given in the world of work to help the sectors affected by the new technology prepare for making the necessary transition.

This speaker

Brando Benifei profile photo

Brando Benifei

Member of the European Parliament, EU AI ACT Co-Rapporteur
on LinkedIn

Brando Benifei is an Italian MEP serving his second term and is the Head of Delegation of Partito Democratico in the European Parliament.

He is Rapporteur for the Artificial Intelligence Act, as a Member of the Committee for the Internal Market and Consumer Protection.

In 2016 he was included by Forbes in its 30 under 30 to watch list.

Brando's page

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Speeches

Dr. András Koltay, the president of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority is speaking at the "Humans in Charge – Steering the AI Age Responsibly" conference in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The opening speech of András Koltay

The President of the National Media and Infocommunications Authority, emphasized the need for collaboration among researchers, developers, and decision-makers for ethical AI development and usage. While AI has great potential to enhance life quality and human efficiency, it also poses significant challenges, particularly with deepfake technologies eroding faith in digital reality. Koltay called for further exploration of the AI's legal implications, data protection, and vital ethical standards.
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George Tilesch, president of the PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence is speaking at the "Humans in Charge – Steering the AI Age Responsibly" conference in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The closing speech of George Tilesch

At the "Humans in Charge - Steering the AI Age Responsibly" conference, George Tilesch, international expert and PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence's founding president, emphasized on the convergence of technology, regulation and social inclusion in anticipation of AI Act's implementation. He expressed the vital need for proactive planning and hoped the conference’s insightful discussions would help Hungary prepare for its upcoming EU presidency.
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Gianluca Misuraca futurologist and AI expert (AI4GOV) gives his presentation at the Humans in Charge AI Conference held in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The keynote speech of Gianluca Misuraca

Italian researcher and AI4GOV founder Gianluca Misuraca spoke at the "Humans in Charge" conference on AI governance and the vital role of the public sector. He emphasized the importance of managing AI's potential benefits and risks for public services and society. Misuraca noted government's role as AI regulator, user and facilitator, and highlighted the challenge of adopting AI in public services while protecting citizens, especially under uncertain outcomes. He also stressed the need to prepare the workforce for increased AI use.
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Maria Luciana Axente (PwC UK) gives her presentation at the "Humans in Charge – Steering the AI Age Responsibly" conference in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The keynote speech of Maria Luciana Axente

Maria Luciana Axente, a renowned AI ethics expert and advocate for children's rights, spoke at the "Humans in Charge" conference, focusing on child protection in the digital age. She explored the opportunities AI offers in education and health but warned of its darker side, including reducing human interaction crucial for childhood development. Axente highlighted notable efforts, such as UNICEF's "AI for Children" initiative, designed to answer emerging ethical questions around AI and children's safety.
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Adrian Gonzalez Sanchez is speaking at the Humans in Charge AI conference in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The keynote speech of Adrián González Sánchez

As Data & AI Lead for Public Sector & Health at Microsoft Spain, he highlighted the need for collaboration between government and private sector in managing AI. He emphasised the transformative potential of AI. Sanchez underscored the importance of a cautious yet optimistic approach, referencing Microsoft's own AI regulation framework. He referenced Spain's progressive national AI strategy and the potential for other EU countries like Hungary to adopt the AI Sandbox model.
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Olivia Erdélyi internationally recognized AI ethics and policy expert is speaking on the stage at the Humans in Charge AI conference in Budapest on 2 October 2023
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The keynote speech of Olivia J. Erdélyi

Prof. Dr. Olívia J. Erdélyi addressed the issue of AI regulation at the "Humans in Charge" conference, noting its current inconsistencies and suggesting the adoption of a risk-based approach like the EU's in the formulation of AI governance. She emphasized the importance of using consistent, scientific terminologies and developing regulations that technical staffs can accurately implement. Erdélyi also suggested AI governance could either be handled by a dedicated regulatory authority or multiple specialized agencies, provided there is coordination and expertise in AI and machine learning.
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Panel discussions

Participants of the first panel: Adrián González Sánchez, George Tilesch, Imre Bárd and Eric Slooten
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The first panel discussion

The panel discussion on 'Responsible AI in Digital Platforms, Telco & Media' focused on AI's role in these sectors and exploring strategies, challenges, and regulatory compliance. The panel comprised experts from Microsoft Spain, PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence, OpenAI and T-Systems International.
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Participants of the 2nd panel discussion at the Humans in Charge AI conference: Maria Luciana Axente, László Drajkó, Imre Porkoláb, George Tilesch and moderator Krisztina Bombera. The symposium was held on 2 October 2023 in Hotel Helia, Budapest, Hungary.
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The second panel discussion

The panelsists – who are internationally renowned AI experts – discussed AI's power as a constructive force but also potential threats and risks. The main focus was on creating awareness regarding AI safety and security, protecting vulnerable populations, particularly the youth, and the role of institutions and defense against AI misuse.
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Participants of the 3rd panel discussion: Levente Juhász (Government Affairs & Public Policy Manager, CEE, Google), Olivia Erdélyi (Professor, Canterbury & Bonn Universities), George Tilesch (Founder & President, PHI Institute for Augmented Intelligence)
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The third panel discussion

The world is nearing consensus on ethical AI, presaged by the anticipated EU AI Act. Questions of creating norms, operationalizing them, and establishing governance structures are central. Leaders are expected to understand AI policy, ethics, and communicate its implications effectively.
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Participants of the 4th panel discussion of the Humans in Charge AI conference held on 2 October 2023 in Budapest, Hungary. Form the left: Andrea Halmos (online, on the screen), Kristel Kriisa, Gianluca Misuraca, George Tilesch and moderator Krisztina Bombera
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The fourth panel discussion

The fourth panel discusses AI-infused government services as a key area for AI introduction in society. Questions revolve around EU political readiness for AI, creating trustworthy AI environments, the role of AI sandboxes, and partnerships between public authorities and AI leaders. The participating panel experts hail from a diverse array of AI-related fields.
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