Meet the Future of AI: Generative AI and Democracy
On 19 June 2024 a significant milestone was reached as six European-funded projects focused on AI and disinformation (AI4Media, Titan, veraAI, AI4Trust, AI4Debunk and AI-CODE), alongside the European Commission, hosted the event “Meet the Future of AI – Generative AI and Democracy” in Brussels. The gathering brought together approximately 60 participants in person to explore the critical interplay between AI and democratic processes, presenting innovative AI-powered solutions to counter disinformation and fostering insightful discussions. Below are the highlights and key takeaways from the sessions.
Opening Remarks and Event Overview
Krisztina Stump, Head of the Unit in charge of combatting online disinformation at the European Commission (EC), opened the event by emphasising the EC’s commitment to tackling disinformation and preventing the misuse of deepfakes to safeguard democracies.
She noted that disinformation has been identified as the top societal threat by the World Economic Forum, with a significantly high level of concern among populations as shown by Eurobarometer and Ipsos surveys.
Although recent European elections saw no major AI incidents, the risk remains, as evidenced in Slovakia and India.
Stump particularly highlighted the dual role of AI as both a threat and a tool in fighting disinformation. To this end, the European Commission has invested €28 million in Horizon Europe projects for AI solutions, with regulatory frameworks like the Digital Services Act (DSA), the Code of Practice on Disinformation, and the AI Act aiming to mitigate these risks.
Finally, she stressed the importance of technology and regulation working together to address the challenges posed by AI.
Conclusion
Peter Friess from the European Commission’s DG CONNECT concluded the conference by highlighting the importance of bridging knowledge and competencies among stakeholders both large and small. Friess elaborated on the challenges ahead and expressed hope for a collective statement on dealing with generative AI and disinformation, outlining the need for clear actionable steps to use AI in fighting disinformation.
The long but rewarding day ended with an informal networking session, also providing an opportunity for participants to discuss insights and future collaborations over refreshments.
Authors: Heini Järvinen & Inès Gentil (EU DisinfoLab)
Editor: Jochen Spangenberg (DW)
View original article on veraai.eu
