Discover how Spain's creation of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA) sets the stage for responsible AI governance. Explore Spain's commitment to ethical AI development and leadership in the evolving landscape of AI regulation.
Spain has emerged as one of the pioneering European Union (EU) nations to establish a dedicated agency for regulating artificial intelligence (AI). The newly formed Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligence (AESIA) will work in conjunction with the national digital strategy to ensure that AI development within the country adheres to principles of inclusivity, sustainability, and citizen-centricity.
The Council of Ministers granted approval for the establishment of AESIA through a Royal Decree on August 22. The agency is a vital component of Spain's National Artificial Intelligence Strategy, which aims to position the country as a frontrunner in AI innovation. This initiative has marked Spain as the first EU member state to create a specialized agency for AI governance.
The AESIA is a collaborative endeavor between the Spanish Ministry of Finance and Civil Service and the Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation. It signifies Spain's proactive commitment to shaping AI's growth in a manner that aligns with ethical and societal values.
In June, the EU introduced the Artificial Intelligence Act, a legislative framework designed to oversee AI governance comprehensively. This act, once enacted, will impose restrictions on certain AI services and products while prohibiting others outright. Technologies such as biometric surveillance, social scoring systems, predictive policing algorithms, emotion recognition software, and untargeted facial recognition systems are slated for complete bans.
Interestingly, generative AI models like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Google's Bard will be allowed to operate within the framework, provided that their outputs are clearly labeled as AI-generated. The EU AI Act mandates all member states to establish their own national agencies dedicated to overseeing AI technologies.
Spain's initiative to create the AESIA underscores its commitment to ethical AI development and governance. By proactively establishing a regulatory agency, Spain seeks to lead the way in AI innovation while ensuring that AI benefits society at large.
(DAVID ATTLEE, CoinTelegraph, 2023)