IBM pushes for EU to make AI open and collaborative

Make trusted AI a reality in Europe. This is one of six priorities IBM laid out for European Union leaders, if they want to advance Europe’s global digital leadership and competitiveness through 2030 and beyond.

IBM put forward its six recommendations while unveiling its new digital policy agenda for Europe. It believes the new agenda outlines key policies for the EU’s new institutional mandate.

In the agenda, IBM states that making a trusted AI a reality in Europe will involve implementing the AI Act successfully. That means actively supporting companies’ compliance efforts.

The European AI Act came into force on 1 August 2024. Its mission: to foster responsible AI development and deployment in the EU.

Additionally, a trusted AI reality will involve open AI innovation and advance risk-based AI regulation globally, IBM outlined.

“With a robust AI regulation in place, the focus should be on ensuring it works in practice,” said IBM EU Affairs Director Jean-Marc Leclerc.

“Promoting and protecting open, transparent AI ecosystems will be crucial to build the trust we need going forward.”

IBM’s non-AI priorities for EU

IBM believes EU policymakers also need to enhance Europe’s digital competitiveness and strengthen resilience through collaboration with trusted partners.

Big Blue has called for EU leaders to restore the region’s open trade policy. It described the decision to revert to more inward-looking policies as “protectionist rules that are primarily designed to exclude certain players from domestic markets”.

It warned: “EU policymakers should avoid conflating economic security with protectionism. Discriminatory digital policies and restricting participation in standard setting and research funding will weaken Europe’s competitiveness in the global data economy, risking opportunities for economic growth and innovation.”

Further, IBM wants the EU to narrow the digital talent gap and promote the growth of “green” technology.

“We know that innovation will continue to accelerate over the next five years,” IBM EMEA government and regulatory affairs VP Thomas Reynaert said.

“In parallel, the EU has a great opportunity in this mandate to demonstrate global leadership in technology by balancing robust policy with protecting a business-friendly environment.”