The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, has claimed that the race for an "ethical and trustworthy" AI should be in the hands of society and governments and not a reduced number of companies. This was stated at the opening ceremony of the First meeting of the United Nations Panel of Experts on Artificial Intelligence held in the Lower House. A "historic" event, as the President of Congress, Francina Armengol, has described it, who thanked the UN for choosing Spain as the venue for this first meeting.
Representing the Government, the president has been accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, José Manuel Albares, and the Minister of Digital Transformation and Public Function, Óscar López.
Before a panel of experts, Sánchez has acknowledged that AI is an issue that "raises many questions" as we find ourselves at a turning point. "Who decides the direction of AI? The answer is clear and uncomfortable, it is not decided by societies, the legislative power, governments or the market, but by a small number of companies," he assured.
In this regard, he has lamented that five companies concentrate 60% of the global generative AI market, and that the European Union is left in the background. The President of the Government has pointed out that the 27 only represent 5% of the total market, which is fostering a "silent colonialism": "We are not talking about concentration of capabilities, but concentration of power." "Governance must be in the hands of the people. Neither societies, nor the Government, want to be observers," he insisted from the Constitutional Chamber of Congress.
However, Sánchez has also wanted to boast about the Spanish presidency of the Council of the EU, under which the first common AI framework was approved: "Not to curb innovation, but to channel it." Before concluding his speech, the leader of the Executive emphasized the Spanish vocation to contribute to the process and not be a mere participant in the race for "ethical and trustworthy" AI.