Artificial intelligence

Artificial intelligence is an important driver of the digital transformation and is increasingly used in a variety of areas. Due to its broad application, the opportunities and risks of underlying AI technology cannot be generally evaluated, meaning a generic ‘AI law’ is not a viable option. Instead, it is recommended that problems and unwanted developments caused by AI be regulated within the scope of prevailing laws and ordinances, or through voluntary measures.
AI systems perform many tasks faster and often more precisely than humans, and they could assist us in conducting various activities much more efficiently than is currently the case. AI systems often make it possible to better adapt services and goods to the needs and abilities of individuals. It is in this capacity to personalise that AI holds great potential.
Many AI systems have to be trained on massive data sets to attain the required skills, meaning that AI’s immense need for data threatens to erode our private sphere and to undermine data protection rules. And when the data sets delivered to an AI system contain errors, the results of AI calculations are false. Another problematic issue is that imbalanced data leading to mathematically correct results may generate distorted content that could result in systematic discrimination of certain groups of people. As such, self-learning AI systems can develop autonomously and in certain circumstances generate results that are obscure and incomprehensible not only to their owners, but mainly to affected persons.

Use of artificial intelligence must be clearly and plainly designated so that affected persons know when they are interacting with an AI system and not with a human being.
Important decisions affecting individuals must not be delegated to an AI system before detailed consideration of the advantages and disadvantages has been made. If relevant personal issues are concerned, the results of an AI system must be controlled and justified by a human being.
The use of AI has consequences that go far beyond the technical implications. As such, persons who develop AI or work with data resulting from AI should be informed with regard to the ethical and legal issues involved. Moreover, they should be ready and willing to engage in interdisciplinary collaboration with representatives from other disciplines.