Brussels (AFP)

Alphabet boss Google’s parent company Sundar Pichai on Monday called on the EU for a “proportionate approach” to regulating artificial intelligence in a speech in Brussels.

The EU, like the United States, is currently studying how to better regulate artificial intelligence, a technology that is expected to revolutionize the economy and society with serious consequences for a certain number of jobs that are on the verge of disappearing.

Next February 19, the European Commission must make proposals to develop a regulatory approach in the EU: the aim is to propose a whole series of rules to ensure respect for European values ​​(notably on the protection of privacy ) in sectors as different as health and transport.

"Sound regulation must take a proportionate approach, balancing potential harm and social opportunity," said Pichai, in a speech at an event organized by the European think tank Bruegel in Brussels.

"The question is not whether to regulate, but how," he added, indicating that he was completely open to regulation.

CEO of Alphabet and Google, Mr. Pichai is scheduled to meet Monday afternoon with two of the three executive vice-presidents of the European Commission: the Dutch Frans Timmermans, in charge of the Environment, and the Danish Margrethe Vestager, in charge of the 'Digital Economy and Competition.

"We want to offer our expertise, our experience and our tools while we are faced with inevitable tensions and compromises (to be made)," he added.

In his speech, Mr. Pichai emphasized two problems posed by artificial intelligence: first, "deepfakes" or hypertreats, this deceptive content generated by an artificial intelligence algorithm, and secondly, facial recognition technology.

"It can be used in new assistive technologies and tools to help find missing people. But it can also be used for more harmful purposes," he said.

He was careful not to give examples, but the use of this tool in China, which is particularly widespread, is very controversial, since it allows increased surveillance of citizens.

Pichai explained that because of the problems, Google had chosen not to offer a turnkey facial recognition service until rules and safeguards were reached.

Asked what he thought of a potential five-year ban on facial recognition technology in public places (a project the European Commission would work on), Mr. Pichai replied that it was important that governments take up this problem "sooner rather than later".

© 2020 AFP